2nd child/potty training 1st

Marie - posted on 03/06/2009

hi there, if i was you i would get first potty trained, i have 3 boys under 3years  one is 3 in may one is 2 in august and youngest is 5 months all in nappies and it drives me insane to say the least, i wanted my children close together so they'd grow up close and i could save money etc on passing things down but it is hard work.  there are pros and cons for when ever you have your second, do whats best for you all

Stephanie - posted on 03/06/2009

There is not "great" time to have a second. I was overwhelmed at first when I found out my boys were going to be 14 months apart. But I wouldn't have it anyother way. Two in diapers isn't too bad, I actually used it to my advantage when I did start potty training. Now my second one is all aboard to be potty trained, just like his big brother. Good luck

Julie - posted on 03/06/2009

Helo There i had my first child when i was 22 years old but we dicided like you to try for another baby when she was 2 but Becuse of Medical reasons we ended up Haveing are Second child wen the first child was Seven and she was in school and she didn,t feel left out or jellouse ov,e her little Sister when peaple came to visit our new baby in fact she helpted me and when i poty training her at 2 and we found it much easeyer and less stressfull aswell

Heather - posted on 03/06/2009

Potty training is all about interest - generally the rule of thumb if your child has not shown a general interest in the potty is to begin encouraging around 27 months.  Very young toddlers (18 months) unless they are already showing interest in using the potty, is just going to give you a lot of heartache - the biggest part is knowing your own child and determining whether or not they are ready - then it will take lots of patience and help and encouragement.

Our son is now 28 months and is working on using the potty, but we havent made the complete transition.  We are expecting #2 in a few weeks, and from what I understand with the introduction of a new baby or any other sudden changes in life, it will generally cause a toddler to revert slightly for a short period of time, so i didnt want to go full fledge with him, and then have to deal with a newborn diapers and accidents, when I have no problem doing diapers for both - I never saw what the big fuss was with diapers, I think baby BM's are just precious! LOL

As it is he is great at telling me when he needs a new diaper, and is such a big helper, so I am planning on going into it more fully once the new baby is born, especially since a newborn is so easy to handle until they really start spending more time awake.

We started trying at 18 months for a new baby also, and I think its going to be the perfect age gap of 2 1/2 years!  They will be close enough to play together and share interests, but our toddler is such a big little helper now, and able to communicate his needs and wants that it wont feel like two completely helpless and dependent children.

Good luck!!

Lisa - posted on 03/05/2009

my son is 3 1/2 and not fully potty trained. My youngest is 2 (18months apart) and is starting training.  I haven't really been pushing at all... when they showed interest in using the potty I let them use the potty. I remind him to go on the potty.

I think age span is a personal thing... some people like having their kids further apart, others like close together.

I think 3 yrs apart would be nice because they are more independant at that age, but having them close is nice as well, they play together really well.

Valerie - posted on 03/05/2009

My son is almost 3 and still isn't fully potty trained. It takes a lot of patience and not all children learn at the same pace. I would love a second child and it is easier for the second child to be potty trained if the oldest is trained, and at a younger age possibly. Goodluck!