Is it to early to potty train?

Hope - posted on 07/15/2010

My daughter is 17 months now and i just started the potty training process. She is fasinated with wiping and using the toilet paper so when she sits on the toilet she gets to wipe with toilet paper after she sits there for a few... She seems to think it is fun.. She hasnt actuall went in the potty yet she just sits there. But if i ask her if she wants to go potty she will follow me to bathroom to sit on the potty. No rushing but just geting her comforatble with it. I am a single mom so she follows me everywhere and usually when she wants to sit on the potty is right after i get done using the potty. So thats usually when we do it.

Karen - posted on 07/08/2010

Since my lasy post 2 weeks ago DS was just sitting on the potty with nothing coming out yet. Last week he sat on it and I made grunting noises like I was trying to poop lol. Well he did it to and peed! I praised him like crazy and ever since then he has been peeing.
The first few days were non stop, on the potty off the potty. It has slowed down a little but he doesn't wear diapers except for nap or bed or going out. We even went somewhere last week and big sis had to go pee and he wanted to go too and sat on th big toilet and peed! I was suprised by that one. He has accidents in his undies or naked sometimes but I'm washing a lot less diapers now.
He totally makes the connection so I think this is a good age to start. Who knows how long it will take to completely train...heck my 4yo still pees when she sleeps so it could take a while.

Tina - posted on 07/07/2010

Hi

I have a 16 mth old and have started to train her, we put her on it before her bath and let her sit on it whenever she wants, she has gone a couple times, but not regularly yet, my says it may be too early so I am going to start more regularly when she is 18 mths. Is your son interested, or no? If he's not I wouldn't press the issue too much.

Tina

Kelley - posted on 07/07/2010

If he's showing signs that he's interested I say go for it! My son was trained with "peeping" at 2 1/2 years old...the BM's were more of a struggle and I won't get into all that (it was a horrible time!). My daughter, however, is almost 17 months and I feel is ready. We're actually bringing the potty chair upstairs this weekend! She'll tell us, as she pats her bottom, "poo" - when I check there's nothing there, but a few minutes later she has a dirty diaper! So she is telling us when she has to go! She also tells us when her diaper is wet and needs to be changed. So, I think she's on the verge of being ready, but we're going to start letting her sit...very casual, no pressure...and see what happens.

I would say go for it but don't force anything. I'm definitely not in a huge hurry for underwear, but getting the concept of going on the potty down would be a huge step! Good luck to your little guy!!!

Jene - posted on 07/07/2010

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Erika Giordano-Williams
June 27, 11:44 am Add to CircleSend Message Block user .My lil girl is 16 months today. She has been wakin up in the mornin and taking her diaper off and seriously lauchin the thing at me. She stops in mid run to squat and tee tee or poo. And I can't seem to keep a diaper on her for the life of me bc she rips it right off as soon as I can get it on her. I've talked to folks about potty trainin her but everyone says its wrong to start her now. They say it waaay to early. I'm sooo new at this so.. any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

....I would say that your daughter is already ready. My brother decided that at 18 months old he no longer wanted to be in nappies and refused to have them put on!
Good luck, maybe try and get her the pull up nappies which would seem more like 'underwear' than nappies.

Venessa - posted on 07/06/2010

I don't think it is ever too early to start, just as long as you let your child direct the progression. It's great your son knows what he's suppose to be doing. Maybe try nappy pants, may be easier for him to understand. That's what's confusing my 16 month old, the nappy. I'm going to change to the pants and see if that helps. Good Luck !!!

Casey - posted on 07/05/2010

I have potty trained 4 kids and have a 5th one to do. They all did it in different ways. some younger some got it right away and others it took a while. The oldest wasn't mine but i was watching her at the time, she took the longest because her parents didn't catch her when she was reasy to learn and then it was a battle later on. So, regardless of a childs age, you need to do it when they show readiness.

Jaca - posted on 07/05/2010

thank you all very much...

Jo - posted on 07/04/2010

Awesome thread, Thank you!!
I worked in daycare and was constantly asked this question and always responded with the usual 'once they are wetting their nappies less and showing you that they are aware of their bowel motion etc.' However, as a Mummy, it is somewhat different and you dont always know if you arent seeing signs that you want to be seeing in readiness etc. My little girl is taking quite an interest in what I do when I go to the bathroom and I cant remember a time where she didnt follow me in once she started walking. Its winter here in Aust so Im going to introduce the toilet chair soon to familiarise her and then get it all underway properly in the warmer months. Thank you again!!

Isabella - posted on 07/04/2010

my son is 16months now...sometimes he misses the potty but he always goes to it to check if he needs to do something...i too hardly ever have to change a poo nappy ...infact i only go through about 2-3 nappies a day :D ...potty training is a big money saver haha :) good luck

Martha - posted on 07/04/2010

My daughter is 17mos and she's been trained for about 2 months now, She rarely has an accident, and when she does it's usually because shes tired and she's only had them at home, not out. It depends on your child. Don't push it, but he's showing signs of being ready then there's no reason to stop his interest.

Krisi - posted on 07/03/2010

I don't think it is EVER to early to introduce the potty. Get them use to it, make it something fun and safe for them. As long as you aren't pushing them, and it is stress-free an something they enjoy, go for it!! Everyone has their own opinions about what they did with their kids and you should listen to them... Everyone is different an does things different with their own children, advice is nice, but you know your child. You will know if he/she is feeling pressured, if that happens, just stop and save it for later! It's that easy! But making the potty something familiar and fun for them can do nothing but make them feel more comfortable later when the real potty training starts!!

Sharlene - posted on 07/03/2010

I have been talking to my daughter for a couple of months about what Mummy is doing on the toilet and that is where big girls do wees etc....lol. She has been taking it all in and I get her to flush the toilet and she loves it. Have put her on the big toilet with a baby toilet seat on top the last couple of nights before her bath and asked her if she wants to do a wee and she has both nights - lots of lots of praise and I think slowly does it. Too young I think at 16 months to do much more. And easier in summer when you can have them run around with no nappy on.

Jen - posted on 07/02/2010

My daughter is going to be 17 months tomorrow but we've already started. She is really interested in the bathroom routines of me and her dad. She has gone on the potty for the last 5 days and really seems into it. We are just taking it slowly and letting her lead the way. I think everyone is right when they say let your child's cues tell you.

Emma - posted on 07/02/2010

Go with the flow, my children were introduced to their potty before their first birthday, mainly to get used to it, and they were all walking well then. My 16 month old uses his regular as he knows that he gets lots of praise when he goes on it. Although we do also have some accidents. Plenty of praise goes a long way and they love the attention.

Jennifer - posted on 07/02/2010

I don't think so at all! My son is 16 mos. now, and he loves using the toilet. We have a seat that goes onto the toilet seat, and when I ask if he has to go pee pee, he walks to the bathroom, we walk in, he will hand me the seat and as soon as I put him on the toilet, he will actually try to go. He went three times today in the toilet for me. He claps for himself every time, and when he gets down, I tell him to flush, so he flushes (with help, can't quite push it on his own) and then he waves bye bye when the water goes down. There was even a time almost a month ago when he walked to the bathroom door on his own, beat on the door until I opened it for him, and he picked up his potty seat. So I put it up for him, and he peed right away! He totally gets it, and my husband and I just have to start remembering to have him go periodically throughout the day.

Yvonne - posted on 07/01/2010

He went pee to day hurray. No poo it's ok taking it slowly reading books on the his potty.

Mel - posted on 07/01/2010

It's definitely not too soon. My son is 16 months and he has already go it practically down. He understands a lot more than babies are typically given credit for. It only took about a week for us to get him to grasp the concept. I understand that he is still pretty young and we still use diapers but he lets us know most of the time with occasional slips of course. Doesn't need to be a fluent speaker either. He's got the two key words down.
Good luck!

Emily - posted on 07/01/2010

My daughter is almost 17 months old and is doing pretty well. She tells me when she has to go. I am not forcing her but I would be thrilled to get rid of diapers.

Heather - posted on 06/29/2010

I think there are some that can do it earlier, but like one of the ladies above stated, most start around 2. I've got 4 kids, one I started at 18 months and had some set backs due to a daycare person forcing him. (He wasn't with her after I found that out.) He started to hide to go to the bathroom in his diaper. He wasn't completely potty trained until 4 and he was one my one with bed wetting issues until 10. My next daughter was my youngest potty training completely before she was 2 1/2. My other daughter went and got herself a pair of panties out of the drawer on her third birthday and never looked back. I'll start my 16 month old when he starts showing interest in it. Right now he just wants climb up and use it to get to the sink. :) He does want to go to the bathroom with me, but that's because he wants to be every where I am.

Shara - posted on 06/28/2010

We have started putting our 16 month on the potty a few times a day. Just trying to make the connection that this is a comfortable place to go. No pressure, but I certainly praise her when she does happen to go!

Jenny - posted on 06/28/2010

We got our daughter her potty chair at 14 months ... for Easter. Since she was born we have used sign language with her and she would follow me into the bathroom saying potty. She was aware of the concept but not ready to follow through. She's telling us "poo poo" as she goes and I do try to get her to sit on the potty. She sits on it closed and has opened it to sit her stuffed animals on it. She understands what it's for but seems afraid of it. She'll be 17 months in a few days and I think I will be trying to have her sit on the chair as part of her bed time routine soon. We are not pushing it because I have seen that backfire too many times with my friends and relatives kids.
Go slow and follow your son's cues.

Faryn - posted on 06/28/2010

I don't think it is too early to start letting him sit on it, even put him on it without his pants sometimes. If you talk to earlier generations, kids were potty trained MUCH earlier than they are now. When people used only cloth diapers, it was more convenient to go ahead and potty train. Now that people use mostly disposables, many find it more convenient to just keep changing diapers. My son is 16 months, and although I am not PUSHING the potty train thing right now, I do have the potty chair out and encourage him to sit on it both with and without clothes. He often pees in the tub, so I have been sitting him on the potty right before his bath. He hasn't used it yet, but eventually he will! :)

Sue - posted on 06/28/2010

If your little girl is giving you that much of a hint then it won't hurt to try the potty with her. Every child is different. You are the best judge of what's right for your child. People will always have an opinion and many people feel the need to give it to anyone they meet but ultimately you are the parent and the decision-maker. I've heard of some tricks to try with boys for peeing in the toilet but none for girls. As has been said above, make it stress free as you can. They will get the hang of it eventually. :) Good luck!

Erika - posted on 06/27/2010

My lil girl is 16 months today. She has been wakin up in the mornin and taking her diaper off and seriously lauchin the thing at me. She stops in mid run to squat and tee tee or poo. And I can't seem to keep a diaper on her for the life of me bc she rips it right off as soon as I can get it on her. I've talked to folks about potty trainin her but everyone says its wrong to start her now. They say it waaay to early. I'm sooo new at this so.. any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Stephanie - posted on 06/27/2010

The pediatrician and most books will suggest to wait until 2 years- statistically it will take less time if you wait until they are older. BUT not all children are the same- if he shows signs of readiness (wakes up w/ dry diaper, signals with facial expressions or words that he is about to go, etc) it's okay to start, just make sure to be as casual and stress-free about it as possible.

Tonya - posted on 06/26/2010

My son has a cute throne potty. He poos in it but I haven't figured out pee yet. He actually peed on it tonight so I am hoping it is a good sign. He likes to sit on his potty. We watch for signs he is going and then put him on. I rarely change poo diapers which is great! Good luck!

Vickie - posted on 06/26/2010

i am potty training my 16 month old. she's getting used to to going potty.

Crystal - posted on 06/26/2010

I have a lil boy... lol so it might be a lil harder. he loves playing with the lid to the toilet. and any thing that has to do with the toilet. lol

Sascha - posted on 06/24/2010

I have been wondering the same about my daughter. She16 months tomorrow. Now i kind of feel that I've fallen behind. Look like potty training begins tomorrow. Thanks everyone

Karen - posted on 06/24/2010

My little man has been interested in the potty for a little while now. It's no wonder there are 3 little girls in the house he sees going on the potty. He tries taking his diaper off and says peepee. He likes to sit on the potty but so far nothing has happened lol. I let him run naked sometimes and I think I will get him some Gerber trainers. I am in no rush and not pushing anything.
I think as long as you don't force it, it won't be a problem.

Yvonne - posted on 06/24/2010

Thank you this helps me a lot I think I am going to start doing a lot more.

Yvonne - posted on 06/24/2010

Thanks now I don't feel like I am trying to do something that is going to stun hi growth hah..

PuffyBaby - posted on 06/24/2010

You never to early to start a potty training :) I started when my daughter was 7 months which I think is a bit late. Until now, she only get her diapers when she sleep at night. She always tell me when she want to poo. But for pee, well... sometimes she told me after she already pee :(
Btw, I started with a potty chair, then when she was almost a year I just put her on adult toilet, of course I always hold her hands. I really find it much convenience since I don't need to do double job, to clean the potty chair.

Catherine - posted on 06/23/2010

I don't think so. My son has been sitting on his potty since he was 9 months old. He is no where near ready for underwear, but then he is only 16 months old. He definitely gets the point of the potty and is very proud of himself when he does something in it. He very rarely poops in his diaper, and if we leave him naked he will go to his potty and sit on it by himself. Granted, sometimes he does this right after he pees or gets off just before he pees, but it is progress, and he is only 1. It is fun for him, and I feel that when we begin potty training in earnest it will go quickly.