Should I start trying to potty train my daughter 15months or wait a little longer?

Lianne - posted on 07/17/2009

I waited til three for all my kids and on the their third birthday I would ask everyday "Diapers or underwear?" I wanted it to be their choice-they have control over so little that eating and the potty can become real power struggles-also I think it is easier to change a diaper than hunt for a bathroom! LOL!

At any rate it worked real well-I did have issues with having to put a diaper on my second son to poop in...I complied for a while and then told him I gave the diapers to the babies at the hospital...he was mad but started going on the potty.

Jennifer - posted on 07/16/2009

Wait I found the best time is between 20 and 21 months

Stori - posted on 07/15/2009

Each kid is ready at different times. My oldest was almost 4 by the time she was fully potty trained and it took almost a year. My second, I started when he turned 3 and it took about 1 month. My third, was 2 and a half and it took maybe 2 weeks to be fully trained. My fourth was 2 months shy of 3 and took about 3 months. Just don't make it a battle of will's....it will make it unbearable. hope that helps!!

Bokeia - posted on 07/14/2009

I have 3 children and all of them were trained by two years of age. i think if your daughter is ready and showing you signs that she want to go then u should start.

Teresa - posted on 07/13/2009

My 15 month old son has a potty chair. He spends a lot of time around a couple of 2 year old boys that are potty training, so he really loves sitting on it. When he wants to sit, I take his diaper off and help him sit on it. When he wants off, I take him off and put his diaper back on. At this age it's all about introducing the concept and making it a happy thing. :)

Karen - posted on 07/12/2009

i am a program director for a day care, we have around 230 children and i get asked this question very often. i tell my parents that physically a child is not ready to potty train until they can stay dry during a two hour nap or during the night. This is because the childs spincter muscle is not strong enough for them to control the urine flow. This usually takes place around 2 years of age or older. we have had the rare child that will be ready before age 2 and if you feel your child is that exception than you don't want to miss this door of opportunity. If she is just showing interest in sitting on the potty, go ahead and encourage her to sit, but don't get worried if she doesn't show consistency. let her get used to the potty without the stress of having to "do her business". When her body is ready you will know and then you can start a regular routine of taking her to the potty with the expectation of her using it. My own chidren started potty training at just over 2 years of age and one potty trained before age 3 and the other had some medical issues that needed to be addressed and finally was fully trained at 3 and a half. i wish you luck in this new adventure with your precious little one.

Tam - posted on 07/11/2009

Your daughter can tell you if she's ready by her signs. Is she staying dry at night, all night? That's one of the biggest indicators (unless it comes down to small bladders, like some kids).

I have to tell you though, my own daughter didn't get trained until she was almost 3. We tried off and on and I honestly think that pushing her before she was ready is one reason she delayed it.

Pray to God to open your eyes to the signs and then pray for patience, lol. And you will get through it when she's ready. There will be days you question it, but whether you start now or later, just pray. :)

Heather - posted on 07/11/2009

I started introducing it to my daught at about 15 months. I taught her a little dance and song. When she went to the bathroom we do the potty dance!! Sounds silly but it worked!! We go, " I went peepee in the potty, peepee in the potty!!" Then I would give her a mint or a piece of candy. Just until she got the hang of it. She is now 2 1/2 and very well at it! Sometimes she pees in the bed so she wears a pull up to bed but other than that she is very good!

Cathy - posted on 07/10/2009

I have four girls and this is what worked for three of them. I felt that 2 years old was the best time to start so that's what I did. For about 6 months it would be pure torture for everybody involved---trying to get them to go on the potty, trying to catch them before they went, trying them w/ training pants, trying NOT to get upset when they pottied in their training pants for the 1000th time, etc. etc. At about 2 1/2, I would give up, deciding that it was too early and it just wasn't worth the trouble and the tears. Then, ALL THREE OF THEM, when they were around 3, started going on the potty pretty much by themselves. THEY decided it was time and they went! So....I don't know if I'm advocating going through 6 months of torture to get to that point or not!!!! But, my point is, when they were ready, it was VERY LITTLE TROUBLE and when they weren't ready it WAS TORTURE! So, introduce when you feel the time is right, try it for awhile and if it doesn't click, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

Belinda - posted on 07/08/2009

We've been a little different to some of the other mums. My daughter is 10 months old and we introduced the potty to her about 6 weeks ago. Obviously she can't yet tell us when she needs to go, but I put her on the potty when she first wakes up in the morning and after her day sleeps and just before bed and she always wees and I catch most poos in there too. She doesn't mind sitting on there at all as it's just part of her routine now and it isn't a big deal. My mum started sitting my and my sisters on the potty at 6 months of age several times a day and we were full trained night and day by 2 years of age, but the big thing was we never had any tantrums or worries about being sat on there like some children have because it was always part of our normal daytime routine. I'm not saying this will be the case with all children but this has just been my experience so this is what we are trying. Good luck!

Debra - posted on 07/08/2009

I agree with Anne Watkins and Melony Page. Definitely don't push it. I found with my daughter that when I pushed she back further away from it. Matter of fact she was three months shy of 4 when she finally trained. I spoke with our family doctor multiple times and said that when she was ready it would happen.

Bonnie - posted on 07/08/2009

I would suggest waiting a little longer. I usually start the day after their 2nd birthday. It wouldn't hurt to introduce the potty chair to her if you are going to use one (I never did). If you are not going to use one, then let her see what goes on in the bathroom, how to sit on it, flush, and wash your hands. She will enjoy learning these things with you and will be eager to "go" when the time is right.

Monica - posted on 07/08/2009

Go ahead and introduce the potty to her. Nothing forced or any pressure. Let her go to the bathroom with you to let her see what to do. My daughter was trained when she was 18 months. But, every baby is different. Go for it.

Rebekah - posted on 07/08/2009

You can try, but if she rejects it, don't force it. Some people train at 15 months and I've heard of them having their babies trained by 18 months or even 17 months. Usually 2 is when most people start, but some babies are ready earlier. But like Melony said, create a positive time for the bathroom - use the potty and have her sit on her baby potty. A sure cue that your baby is ready for training is they usually get fussy when their diaper is just a little wet and want to be changed as well as waking up from naps completely dry. Good luck!

Susan - posted on 07/08/2009

I would think 15 months is a little early, but take your cues from her. Some children might be ready this early - but physiologically, a child's body isn't ready until a little later on. Very early toilet training is really 'toilet timing'. I waited until my daughter was just over 2, and she toilet trained very easily within a couple of days - no accidents at all. I waited a bit longer for night training and again was rewarded with no accidents. I don't think my daughter could have done it any earlier as she wasn't aware of the body signals telling her when her bladder needed emptying.
Having said that - if you feel your daughter is ready - follow her cue!

Anne - posted on 07/08/2009

Hi Victoria, Melony's advice is spot on. There are also several story books about using the potty. Once Upon A Potty For Girls (I can not remember the Author's name) was the book we used when I had Child Care in our home when our daughters were little. I also started talking about how yeckie messy diabers were and that soon she would use the potty like the big girl she was becoming. Although you will not hurt your daughter starting to potty train your daughter at 15 months you will be VERY frustrated bueause their muscles are not developed enough for her to have the controll she needs to be successful. Some of the sighns she is close to being ready are hiding when she has a B.M., staying dry for longer amounts of time, and waking up dry from her nap or overnight.. I also bought under ware with the cartoon characters she liked at the time. On a lighter note our daughters were healthy children with no underline reasons that would interfere with potty training, and guess what when they were filling out college entrance papers, they did not ask about when they were potty trained, gave up a pacifier, or bottle. Our daughter are now 21 and 25 years old Enjoy this time you have with your daughter because I can attest to the fact that they grow up in what looks like a blink of an eye.

Melony - posted on 07/07/2009

My little girl is 16 months old now, and I have spoken to her teacher at school, she said that they olny start them on 2yrs of age, but what I am doing at home is that each time I go to the loo, I take her with. She's got her own baby size potty and when i do my thing I have her sit with all her clothes on, on her potty and when she does make a big happy fuss about it, so as to create a positive vibe now already about the potty thing. Hope this helps, maybe some other moms will differ from me, but this is just my way. Good luck hun!! And God bless