When is it ok to start potty training?

April - posted on 02/26/2010

My son is 15 months old(almost 16 months) I've been putting him on the potty for months now just to get him used to it. He's gone pee 3 times on it. Everyone keeps telling me that this is too early to start potty training, but i don't think so. My son has started pulling at his diaper when he pees once in it and wants it off. He knows where his pee comes from (which he thinks is hilarious btw) I went and bought some training undies for my son and he's been wearing them even though he usually pees through them all by noon, i'm still trying. Also, a friend of mine told me about pull ups made by huggies that get cold when they pee. She said this worked really well with her children. Good luck and be consistent and patient. :)

Megan - posted on 02/25/2010

most other places in the world use something called elimination communication, they don't use diapers because they don't have them. there are a lot of people who practice EC even with access to diapers. I would have loved to, but with three other kids it was a daunting task I didn't want to take on, I mean hey, wouldn't you love to not have to change a dirty diaper? my 15 mo old walked into the bathroom and went straight to the toilet today when I asked him if he wanted his diaper changed. He sat on the potty a second and them got off. I praised him for trying, he got a kick out of me being goofy. I don't think there is anything wrong with starting now if he is ready. I have heard people say that when they wake up with a dry diaper at nap time that that is a sign they are ready. We live in the country, so I think I will wait till this summer to really try when he can pee on a tree, boys always get a kick out of that, in the mean time I am going teach him the sign for potty so that he can communicate his needs with me. hope this helps.

Melissa - posted on 02/25/2010

Well with my daughter, I just started introducing her to the potty, because whenever she would poop she would squat in a corner, and want to go in te bathroom whenever I'm in there. So now when I see she is going #2, I'll take her to the potty, and whenever I'm in the bathroom, I'll take her too, just so she kind of gets used to the idea. I've heard that you aren't supposed to start potty training until (at the earliest) 18 months. But I went ahead and started doing that for her to get used to it.

Glenda - posted on 02/24/2010

I've been putting my 15 month old on the potty before every bath since he was 6 months old. Although he would pp and poo-poo a couple of times, it was more to get him so he wasn't afraid of the "big boy" potty. Now he sits on the big boy potty before each bath and has gone "pp" a couple of times. I say, it can't hurt. They say he has to "show interest" and be able to say he needs to go, but if I ask him if he is p.p. or poo-poo, he goes to the toilet. So I say, buy some pull-ups for the day and start. Good luck. Learn some potty songs.