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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Katherine Ryan hits back at mums who criticised her for potty training 8-month-old son

Katherine Ryan has responded to criticism that she received after encouraging other parents to consider potty training their children early.

The comedian, 38, previously potty trained her daughter Violet, now 12, at 10 months and she recently spoke about doing the same with son Fred, who is 8-months-old.

Her comments attracted support from many people, though there was also some criticism, including on social media and from users of the parenting forum Mumsnet.

She addressed the "haters" in the latest episode of her podcast Telling Everybody Everything - and explained her method of training to listeners.

Katherine Ryan and partner Bobby Kootstra welcomed son Fred last summer (kathbum/Instagram)
The comedian has another child, teenage daughter Violet, from a previous relationship (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Katherine recalled sharing that Fred's potty training is going better than she had expected. She said he "reliably" wees on the potty - or a potty seat that's put over the regular toilet.

The comedian, who shares her son with husband Bobby Kootstra, said Fred has had "maybe four soiled nappies this year," with her discussing the "real simple" training.

She said that the training begins with encouraging your child to poo on the potty, adding: "The wees just follow." She said that her children just began to wee on the potty in time.

Katherine said she takes off the nappy if she suspects that Fred needs a poo and then puts him on the potty. She asks if he needs to use it and he "acknowledges" this.

The comedian has been vocal about training her son to use a potty (instagram.com/kathbum)
She recently opened up about her experience on her podcast Telling Everybody Everything (Getty Images)

She said that after he's used the toilet, she "celebrates" with words of encouragement and leaves the nappy off for a while afterwards. She later puts it back on and the process is repeated whenever she notices he might need the toilet.

The stand-up comic assured that there is "no pressure" on her son to use the potty, but told listeners of her podcast last week that her son "all of sudden weed in his nappy less".

Katherine stated that a friend had asked how she is able to constantly be aware of her son's needs. "I'm always looking at Fred," she explained in the recent podcast episode.

Katherine has said she used the training technique with her daughter Violet, now 12 (Instagram)
Katherine and Bobby entered into a civil partnership in 2019 (INSTAGRAM)

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The TV star said she is "very privileged" that she doesn't work in a factory or an office, adding: "This culture prohibits people from potty training their kids." She said this is due to the work-week and the fact children are often in day-care.

However, she said that "most of the world" potty trains children, rather than rely on nappies, adding: "They can't afford to keep their kids in nappies until they're three."

Addressing the criticism, she said: "Mumsnet is f***ing alight with haters. Haters being like: 'If your child cannot walk yet then it is you who has potty trained not them.' Bingo b****."

In response Katherine said that "everything" an 8 month old does is their parents doing it, rather than themselves, adding: "That's what parenting is."

She said that the backlash suggests that some people don't like to "think outside the box," with her questioning why people can't "make up their own minds about stuff."

The comedian concluded the discussion during the recent podcast by stating: "Whatever, potty train your kids or don't. Slag me off or don't. I mean imagine if I gave a s***?"

The NHS website states that you "cannot force" a child to use a potty, stating: "If they're not ready, you will not be able to make them use it." It adds that in the meantime, the best thing for parents to do is "encourage the behaviour" that they want.

It states: "Most parents start thinking about potty training when their child is between two and two and a half, but there's no perfect time." It said may parents find it easier to start in summer, when there are fewer clothes to take off and washed clothes dry quickly.

The website suggests working out when your child ready, listing signs that show children are "starting to develop bladder control".

This includes them knowing when they've got a wet nappy and them letting their parents know when they need to pee, saying so in advance.

Episodes of Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything are available through podcast streaming services.

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