Oliver is he too early for the potty?

Nykee - posted on 01/27/2010

I think whenever your child shows interest in the potty and starts to recognize when they have to go. My daughter is 18 months, and she goes on the potty intermittently. She usually tells me before she poops, but I don't think she knows in time that she has to pee. I don't think it's too early if he's showing interest. My daughter actually started to want to sit on it at 15 months, and while she rarely went in it at that point, she was excited when she actually did - so she's catching on. Good luck :)

Brandee - posted on 01/26/2010

My pediatrician has said that I should be concerned as long as my son is potty trained by 3 1/2 years old.. I am going to try the 3 day potty training technique once he turns 22 months just to see how it goes.. I don't think you should include "potty trained at night" as part of being fully potty trained.. Some kids are just bed wetters no matter what you do.. I restricted fluids and took medicine as a child and I still wet the bed on occassion through elementary school.. I even had an accident one night in college.. My husband said if it happens in our bed I have to start sleeping on the couch.. haha.. It happens and at night kids can't help it.. I fully expect that my son (and future children) will be an occassional bed wetter probably into middle school.

Alisha - posted on 01/25/2010

We brought the potty in because our 18 month old was having constipation issues and the potty really helped. Anyway, ever since we brought it in he has been using it! He doesn't use it each time he pees but pooping will not happen anywhere but the potty! And if we set him on the potty and ask him if he needs to go, he pees every time. I thought 18 mos was early but hey, might as well stop paying for diapers if they are ready right?

Stella - posted on 01/23/2010

I've heard that with boys it tends to be 2-3, rather than girls who tend to be 1-2. When it came to potty training my now 4yr old, I didn't want to push him as I'd heard this just drags the process out and makes it unpleasant for everybody, so I started just by having the potty in the bathroom. But to be honest, it must have nearly a full year later before training in earnest began as he just started taking his nappy off as soon as he'd done one wee, which for a baby who had always been happy to sit in a dirty nappy for several hours if I forgot to change him, was a noticable change. So we put him in pants, kept asking him every hour to go and within 2 weeks (of normal life- no locking ourselves in the house) he was clean and dry with only 2 accidents.

I'd say the thing to do is try your 18mth old and see how he responds. If it turns out he's becoming aware after the fact, but not actually ready to pre-empt it, just postpone it for a few more months and try again. best of luck and keep us posted with his progress

Jackie - posted on 01/22/2010

I worked at a daycare in the 2-year-old room and 2 1/2 seemed to be the magic number for most kids. Of course, if he's watching his older brother go he might go a little earlier but I would wait until he's at least 2.