Are We Potty Training!?

Amanda - posted on 12/23/2010

My daughter (15 months) tells me everytime she does a poo or a wee in her nappy and takes my hand to change her. If she is in just her nappy she will take it off say mummy wee wee and walk to the bathroom, sit on the pot (not do anything) and then pretend to tip it down the toilet. I think she is copying her brother (2 3/4) coz he likes to show her how he uses the toilet, but the understanding of what she needs to do is there. When she is in the bath she can also wee on demand, and stop and start the flow on her own.
I have no plans on toilet training her yet, she's still a baby, but when I do I will be doing it the same way as I did my son and that is to wait until she tells me she doesn't want a nappy on anymore and wants to wear big girl pants.

Erin - posted on 12/21/2010

No way! I started with my oldest when he was two and probably not ready and it was a nightmare! I will wait with little man til he shows interest. As long as he has it down by kindergarten I'm fine with waiting and taking our time.

Kylie - posted on 12/18/2010

Well i personally feel its way to early, she would have no idea yet! I was told to not pressure toilet traing else it makes it a stressful time for the child!My 4.5 year old was 2 years and 6 months, he is the best doesnt wet the bed now and is so good going! I was told if you rush them they can have problems later because they are concentrating so much on trying not to and they are so worried about it they have accidents often. My daughter is 15 months and toilet training is not even on our agenda.My sisters girl was 2 in august this year and shes just started in the last few months, and she is having accidents. Its a slow process and requires alot of persistence and patience!! They need to have control of there bowls and urine to know when its coming before anything. My son hated the feeling of both so he soon learnt quickly to tell me. Sorry if i rambled on.

Reana - posted on 12/17/2010

My son who is a early sep 09 bub Knows when he wee's, we say wee wee when he does it & have been starting to sit him on the potty, so he can start to learn, But we are not rushing him, i think its a bit early for him to fully understand yet! :) he does know where his "doody" is & knows when his weeing when he hasn't got a nappy on, so thats a good start! we didnt get our eldest trained till he was 3. i think thats a good age, because they understand a lot more! good luck with it regardless :) Merry Christmas everyone!

Claire - posted on 12/09/2010

I trained my first daughter at 2 yrs 4 months and only took a couple weeks. I think good to wait as she was ready.

Sharna Marie - posted on 11/28/2010

omgosh i couldnt even think of trying potty train my little girl yet. She is 14 months also and is talking quite well but even this that i dont she's old enough to understand the concept of going to the toilet just. With saying that though when he nappy if full she gathers everything i need to change her, including the mat, lol. I will prob start when i feel she is ready.. :-) I dont believe their is a rush...

Karalyn - posted on 11/27/2010

I agree with Brittney, I dont think 14 months is old enough for potty training. I also agree with you, how can you potty train if your child doesnt know how to tell you that shes ready. Give it a few more months =)

Summer - posted on 11/27/2010

HECK NO! I started potty training my son when he was 18 months old and the toilet became a toy and game to him. I didn't get him trained until he was 3. Not because he didn't know what to do, but it was a game, not a necessity, if that makes any sense. I am waiting until DD turns 2 to potty train her. It shouldn't be a long, drawn out, stressful process. When I did finally train my son, it took ONE DAY. In my opinion, that's how it should be. Take your daughter to the bathroom with you when you go and introduce her to the concept but don't push potty training on her now.

Jessi - posted on 11/27/2010

I also think it is way too early. I only have two kids, but when I was trying to decide when to start with my oldest, I asked every mom I know and the consensus is that it happens at about age 3. That was the case for my daughter. I'm not saying to start at 3, but that's the age they're potty trained by. The week of my daughters 3rd birthday was the week she stopped having accidents regularly. We started heavily training heavily about 6 months before that. I got the first time mom excitement and started her at 18 months and that was WAY too early!! It just ended in frustration with me and with her.

Family is good about pushing milestones and being judgemental. Just remember you're her mom and you know what's best!

Lisa - posted on 11/26/2010

Golly gosh, hadnt even thought about starting yet, lol, feel a bit bad now, but my nearly 14 month, is not even walking yet, let alone needing to toilet train, my first toilet trained at around 30 months, after the potty was introduced at 18mths, and was dry every night at 4 years, so will get the potty out in the next few months, but i am in no hurry, and neither is my daughter. Why the need to rush, they are baby's for such a short amount of time, I say enjoy the ease of nappies whilst you can, it will be all too soon, when you have to run around trying to find a toilet, NOW, Mummy........Do what you feel is best for your baby!!

Amanda - posted on 11/26/2010

Progress with my son lol.. we started him a couple weeks ago. he is 14 1/2 months I ask him "do you need to go potty?" and he goes to the bathroom and pats the potty and I sit him on it and he poops. not so good a the peeing yet but that isnt a problem for me lol. wet diapers are absolutley no problem lol. sometimes he gets confused and wants to take a bath. but he is still young lol.. if I am home all day I will sit him on the potty about every half hour. sometimes he crys because he would rather play so I immediately take him off cause I don';t want him to not like the potty and confuse him. taking it slow. we r not forcing it. I found tha he poops the most when he wakes up and after eating lunch. do wat you think is best. if you are busy a lot and not at home. then wait till you are more at home. we have the kind of potty that just goes on the toilet I find it more clean lol... and it help with the confusion when they go out in public that they already know how to go on the big potty. sometimes I take the potty seat with me. like if I go to my mom's and stuff like that.... well ood luck..

Karen - posted on 11/25/2010

I have friends of African and Chinese origin. Their children have been potty trained since 12 months. Their culture do not use nappies, so they learn their babies signals at birth and get them to a receptacle which the baby in turn learns when touching it that is where they should do their thing. It is not unusual. My parents who were born in the 40's were potty trained by 12 months as well. It was the norm then. We are just so lucky to have modern washing machines and disposable nappies that make our life easier. Have to admit that my 2 eldest started at 3 and 2. Very quick for the 3 year old. 2 year old having night issues. My September baby will be stating this time next year as it is our summer and easier to get wet bed clothes dry then. Potty training happens when you are ready not when the baby is ready. Good luck with your decision and remember it is your decision.

Knue - posted on 11/25/2010

Every kid is so different. My first daughter who is now 3 started to show signs at 18 mos, she would take us to the bathroom and want go pee. We got all excited that she was ready but around 2, it all backfired. It wasn't until 3 that she finally got it.



My siister waited til her daughter was 2 and one day just decided no more diapers. Her daughter seriously took 2 days of accidents and figured it out. I think it was bc her daughter was old enough to understand her.



We have introduced the potty to my 14 mos old. We have her sit on it in the morning or before she baths and she will occassionally pee and poop. My thoughts is to just get her comfortable with it, no pressure. Its ok to introduce it but I wouldn't get to upset if she doesn't get it quite yet.

Kellie - posted on 11/24/2010

Okay so after reading this thread we went out and bought a potty. My son pees on the bathroom floor 9 times out of 10 before his bath. SO we decided to buy a potty and stick him on it before bath. He peed tonight on the potty. Granted, he doesn't know what he's doing there yet but hopefully it will just become routine and make potty training easier when we actually start trying.

Megan - posted on 11/24/2010

simply put, provide a potty for her and show her if you like but in the end she will start potty training when she is ready, my son started useing the toilet at 9months of age (his discision) but stopped afetr a couple of months then he started agian for a month or so and stoppped sometimes he asks to use the potty but my 14 month old daughter has no interest in it what so ever, my kids are 12months apart, and both follow me to the bathroom but every child is different

Teela - posted on 11/24/2010

I started at 13 months and she loves it. She goes before bed and as soon as she wakes up. No child is the same try it, it wont hurt.

Crissy - posted on 11/24/2010

My son, 14 mos, likes to sit on the potty and will take his diaper off and try to climb up himself. I know it seems to early but if he happens to actually start peeing then Yay us!

Noreen - posted on 11/24/2010

A good friend of mine has her 17month old completely potty trained! Kiernan will sign to her mommy when she has to go potty and will hold it. She was partially ECed from birth.

Kyla - posted on 11/23/2010

I have spoken to childcare experts and doctors about this and have been told that the nerve endings in the rectom are not fully formed until 24 to 26 months. Before then you child doesnt have full control of when they go to the bathroom. It is possible to get them on a scheldule but in that case I have met parents who are taking the child to the bathroom every 30-45 min. to try to get them to use the potty. I have two older children and started potty training around 26 months with both of them.

Vanessa - posted on 11/23/2010

It's been so interesting reading everyones differant coments on this, a freind of mine has a 17month who
is almost fully potty trained! She is due for her second any day and didn't want 2 in nappys! I have a baby born 6th sep 09 and he knows when he has done a pop but not a pee yet! When I was a baby my mum said all babies were potty trained by about 18/20months these days it seems to be 2/3 years of age, I think we will start when my son is 2 that way it will be summer here in Australia and that's a good time to start I think..

Noreen - posted on 11/23/2010

Sarah Bell- I do save a ton of money! Especially since I have never bought a disposable diaper! We excursively cloth diaper, even while traveling!

Michelle - posted on 11/23/2010

My son was born Sept 21,2009 and he doesn't even walk yet nevermind potty training! Reading some of these posts is giving me anxiety. I really think it's a little too early for my little man to go on the toilet.

Sarah - posted on 11/22/2010

Noreen, I DO believe that it's possible for a young baby to go potty on the toilet. I bet you're saving a ton of money...especially since you aren't using disposable diapers! With my next baby I'm going with cloth diapers. I wish I had done that with my son, but oh well. :( I think it's great that your LO can use the potty...I just don't think my son is ready for that quite yet. I do plan on starting him pretty soon. :)

Kendra - posted on 11/22/2010

my daughter is 13 months.. she can't say when she has to pee or poop but every time i sit her on the potty she knows to go pee.. i just take her in there about every hour or so and let her sit on the potty and then when she is down we clap and i tell her how good it is she pottied in the potty chair :) she loves it.. she loves going into the bathroom to use the toilet.. i think it matters what you want to do and how you think your daughter will react :)

Tranda - posted on 11/22/2010

I have introduced it to my son... he sits on his potty int he morning, usually nothing happens, but one day we did get a little poopy:-) I'm not pushing it, cause I agree that it is too young, but I would like to have him potty trained by 18 months! I am a mother of 5 and taught preschool for 15 years, so I do know every child is different and only you know when you and your child is ready...

Noreen - posted on 11/22/2010

Noreen - posted on 11/22/2010

It's not that I don't care if I change her diaper or not. It's just a natural thing to do. But then I guess with her using cloth diapers she is more aware of going potty and loves to sit on the potty and go potty. I was just saying that i was disagreeing and saying that my 14 month old CAN go potty and that it is POSSIBLE that a baby as young as 7months can go potty on the potty. Actually, a baby as young as a day old can go potty.

Sarah - posted on 11/22/2010

Exactly, Kellie! :) I don't have a problem changing my 14 month old son's diaper. I mean, it's not the most exciting thing in the world, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! I'm not going to rush my son. He's still itty bitty & he'll be potty trained in his own time. If EC or early potty training is for you & your family, that's great...but obviously it's not for everyone.

Kellie - posted on 11/22/2010

Noreen, do you want a trophy? It's not a competition. Our babies will get our of diapers eventually...they're 14 months for crying out loud!

Noreen - posted on 11/21/2010

So.... I guess most of you all think it's a miracle that my 14month old has been going potty on the potty since she was 7months old.

Danielle - posted on 11/21/2010

it is too soon to potty training.....I dont think you start that until age 2.

Kelly - posted on 11/21/2010

I feel torn My son is 14 Months old but only just started to walk although very independant with everything else. I dont think he can understand when he wants to go to the potty yet but my dilema is that nappies hardly fit him anymore so im just starting to introduce him to the potty, letting him watch mummy and daddy ect and hope that it helps him to understand more.

Dina - posted on 11/20/2010

I believe it is too early and if it is pushed, it can be a control thing and will take longer. Right now what I do is I have her potty chair in the bathroom and when I am in there, I sit her on hers fully clothed and tell her it is time to pee pee. When I flush the toilet, I praise myself for going potty and her for sitting on the potty. That way she won't be scared of the toilet.

Erica - posted on 11/20/2010

My son turned 14 mos on the 17th, we introduced the potty at 12 mos. I dont expect him to use it but he will go in there and lift the lid and sit on it himself fully clothed. We didnt want him to be freaked out when it was time to start potty training. I dont think its to early to introduce her but to expect her to kno what to do, yes.. all in all its up to you, dont let your family rush you or her into things if ur not ready

Justyna - posted on 11/20/2010

It all depends on the kid. My older daughter was potty trained when she was 13 months. I had no problem teaching her, my younger daughter screams at the sight of potty...........I am in no rush.....Will teach her when time comes :) I wouldn't worry too much about it :)

Good Luck

Jennifer - posted on 11/19/2010

I was told to wait till they want to learn or are interested in it. I heard it makes it a lot easier. My daughter is just learning to say poop and pee. And just learning to know what they mean so, I am going to just take it as she wants to and see how it goes. GOOD LUCK!

Bridget - posted on 11/19/2010

DON'T RUSH HER!! The most important thing to remember is every child is different. No child will potty train the same as any other. You need to just be patient with her and wait til she is ready. She will show signs that she is uncomfortable in her diaper or if she wants to be changed soon after she wets or dirties herself. Also, the one thing that i have learned is that introducing her to books or videos about potty training can help as well as showing her where the potty is and teaching her what its for. Repitition and patience are key. My child is 3 and she is still working on potty training. So don't worry too much about when she will be potty trained. Just know she will get there eventually. Forcing it on her will only make it harder on you and she will feel frustrated and revert back to not wanting to do it. Hope this helps.Good luck.

Cheri - posted on 11/19/2010

If she is ready she will let you know. My son, who is 5 now was potty trained at 1 year old. I started out trying to notice when he would look like he was getting ready to go and we would both go in and sit on our potties. My husband & I would also bring him whenever we would go. I did not pressure him at all his last diaper was before he was 1.5.
My daughter is 14 months and doesn't have a drip of interest in it. She has used it one time when we both had to go and that was it. lol. She likes to try to wipe & pour her potty when I bring her in with me but doesn't want her pants down or to even sit. When she is ready she will let me know. Some children are not ready until they are waking up dry after short naps. That is how you know their bladder is mature enough and often times what many developmental experts will tell you. They need to be able to pull down their own pants & they need to be able to hold their potty. Some people will disagree but I am speaking from a child development perspective, 20 experience working with kids, & 2 kids of my own. :) She's still very young let this be another happy experience in life.
My last 2 cents, when she can understand "Elmo's potty time" she may be ready! ;) Awsome potty training video for kids! My son learned from Elmo! lol. Try not to let family pressure you, some of the old ways of parenting can actually hurt kids. Good luck!

Mary - posted on 11/19/2010

No potty training here! My little girl watches me sit on the potty and I tell her this is where we go pee pee and poo poo and she'll say the words back to me. They are way too young to understand the concept of holding it and going to the potty. They will do everything in their own time.

Jamie - posted on 11/19/2010

I would not start potty training until she gives you more signals that she is ready like dry diapers and interest in the potty, etc. 14 mos is early in my opinion, 2 yo is the standard age and even later for boys usually.

Samantha - posted on 11/19/2010

god i wish, my dd is 3 yrs and 7months and still having accidents!!! tried everything, rewards, stickers, etc but still peeing maybe 1a day in her panties... im at my wits end. so the thought of trying to toilet train a 1 year old too, sorry aint gonna happen!

Bobbi - posted on 11/18/2010

Both of my daughters were potty trained way before they turned 27months. My youngest daughter was potty trained before she even turned 2--she began at 15months (her choice, not mine). Every child is different and it seems that many moms think that they are all the same. There is no calendar that says "begin potty training at such-and-such date" nor is there a handbook that says it's time to potty train when they are off the bottle or can talk or whatever. My son has been off the bottle since he was 8months old...But, he still wasn't walking yet...No biggie. We know it's wrong to force children to do certain things before they are ready, but isn't it just as bad to hold them back and force them to "stay my baby" a little longer??? (by the way, that was a general statement, not aimed at anyone in particular)

Jessica - posted on 11/18/2010

We do elimination communication too, 8-10 months was a great age, almost all elimination was in the potty :) Had a massive pause until just a few weeks ago, and now we are back to about half of it being in the potty. He is 14 months today, and I expect to move exclusively to trainers and undies in the next few months.

If your little one has been in diapers from birth until now, then they are effectively "diaper trained", and no longer recognize the signs that they have to eliminate. So, I would wait for the traditional readiness signs, to avoid frustration.

The point of EC isn't to say "ha, my kid was potty trained at X early age", it's to help your child communicate his or her potty related needs more effectively from birth on, which in turn leads to them remembering the feeling of needing to go.

My son has dry nights on a pretty regular basis, and from as early as 3 months old he was able to hold it for up to 3-4 hours if he didn't want to use his diaper (obviously if I'd realized he was waiting I would have pottied him, but I was out at dinner and didn't know he was still dry!). So training before 24 months is certainly possible, but requires a very dedicated caregiver.

Noreen - posted on 11/18/2010

Karen- did you not watch the video of my daughter going potty at 8months on the potty?? Both of my boys where fully pt by 24months. And they are BOYS! Boys are so easy!

Karen - posted on 11/18/2010

Good lord no! I have read that it is basically physically impossible for kids to really potty train before 27 months(especially for boys). Why go so early if it will only frustrate them and you!

Bobbi - posted on 11/18/2010

I would say go for it IF she is showing signs of being ready...Otherwise, I'd wait for the signs. My son began showing signs about a month ago. He would pull at his diaper to get it off when it was wet and then I asked if he needed to potty and he ran to the bathroom and beat on the door. So, I went in there and sat him on there (backwards, my sister learned that trick at a daycare) and he peed in the toilet...He did that 5 times that day AND stayed dry through his nap and went in the toilet when he woke up. And he still uses the toilet whenever he wants to. He IS pretty young for it still, in my opinion, which is why I don't push it on him, BUT if HE wants to, I'm not going to hold him back. They are smarter than we think and they know when they are ready and even if they can't talk, they can still communicate. I look at it this way--if he sticks to it, great...if he doesn't then he's just not fully ready...no biggie!

Noreen - posted on 11/18/2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination...

This is my daughter at 8months going potty on the potty. She knows exactly what she was doing in this video!

Kimberly - posted on 11/18/2010

Not starting here yet. My son is also a Sept 09 baby. I am considering getting a potty to have around so that if he shows interest, it is there, My daughter did not fully potty train until she was 2 years and 9 months. Boys are slower, so I am in no hurry.

Shannon - posted on 11/17/2010

DaKotah has just started using her potty.... She is a very intelligent 14 month old.... But I think its because we live in a house with my sister and her almost 3yr old so DaKotah wants to be a big girl just like my niece....

Sabra - posted on 11/17/2010

Studies have shown that on average most children don't have proper control over urination until 18 months of age. The muscles in that area just aren't developed yet so "potty training" before then really isn't doing a whole lot. I can see introducing them to the potty and getting them to understand what it is for and everything before that. I agree that they should be potty trained or very close to before 3 but with determination a year and a half should be enough time for that.