Why is everyone talking about potty training so young!?!?

Jeanine - posted on 01/28/2010

Nothing wrong with having the potty around and introducing it now...but I definitely think following baby's cues is what's important. There will be those 14 and 15 month olds who want to do all the cool new things now..but most of them won't. My first was an early walker AND talker...BUT she didn't potty train until 3. I had the potty around and talked about it...just wasn't happening. She is 6 now and we still have issues at night...some kids get it, some kids don't. With my almost 15 month old...she is walking steady and understands a lot but still isn't talking much. I have the potty out...but we aren't pushing it and she isn't interested yet.

I have heard that between 18 and 24 months is prime for potty training. Some say that if you wait until 2, they are developmentally doing other things and the potty training is harder...but again, each kid is different...That said, enjoy your babies. They are at an amazing stage now of learning so fast! Take the time to soak it all in! :-)

Caitlin - posted on 01/28/2010

I think it's waaay to early to start now, my daughter just learned to walk, and still does it rather unsteadily, she's not talking yet and the only indicator I get that she has to go is a very red face and little grunting sounds. Otherwise, she seems incredibly unaware of what is happening until the diaper is full, then she gets cranky. I have a potty downstairs, i'll bring it up around 18 months to let her get used to the idea (but know it will mostly be to play with for a while). She follows me the the bathroom and I explain what i'm doing, but I don't think she understands yet. I dont' mind waiting, i'll be dealing with diapers for a while anyways with #2 due March 1st!



When you think your kid is ready, go for it, but i KNOW mine isn't. She's not slow by any means, she's just a baby!

Moni - posted on 01/27/2010

Although I am not potty training, I am using a toilet with my daughter and have since she was about 9 months old. Some kids show an unwillingness to have wet diapers, mine was one of them. By no means do I consider what I am doing potty training, she does not tell me when she needs to go and that's a major part of potty training! I think several moms are like me and follow elimination communication, pretty much we're training ourselves to note when our little ones need to use the loo. My daughter is quite comfy on her potty most days and does use it as it's supposed to be used, other days, she wants nothing to do with it and that's fine too. I don't hink there's anything wrong with introducing a toilet at this age, as long as it's not being forced on them, and I've heard (but yet to expereince it myself as my daughter is too young) that it makes the transition easier once you start potty training as they are comfortable with the toilet already.

Mallory - posted on 01/27/2010

i agree completely! my son is no where near being ready for potty training, it just seems insain to me. i think they definitely need to be aware of whats going on, and have the ability to communicate about it.

Kristi - posted on 01/27/2010

I am totally with you, Amy. I think "potty training" this early is nutso ... and so not worth my effort (which is really what would be happening, me putting in the effort and my son not getting it).

I have been told by every parent that I know - DO NOT rush or push kids into potty training, or you will definitely regret it!

Liz - posted on 01/27/2010

idk if your referring to me chrystal but my comment wasnt directed to anyone. im sry if you took it as i was saying u r forcing your son into potty training butttttt like i said i know ppl who are like that and wasnt talking about anyone on this site but more so the ones i know who are friends and MUST have their kid do everything first. if u feel ur son is ready then by all means do what you want....im more so referring to mothers who force all these things on their baby and they just arent ready. i know my daughter is not even close to being ready to potty train and im fine w/ that. u know ur child more then anyone else so if you feel like he's getting it then thats great!

Chrystal - posted on 01/27/2010

I did not say he is not ready.
What I did say is that I will not push him. I have had a potty kicking around the house now for about two months. I have NEVER forced him onto it. He loves to carry it around and put stuff in it. When he poops (in his diaper) I talk about what he is doing. I say "Poop goes in the potty" and he goes and gets it. He loves to sit on it. It almost seems as though he IS ready would you not agree?
Doesn't sound to me like I am making him do anything. I am getting him used to the idea, so that the transition to training is easier, as far as i see it, there is nothing wrong with that.
Lastly It isn't all about littering, however, the environment should be foremost in our minds as we are trying to leave this world to these little ones we speak of.

Liz - posted on 01/27/2010

i agree completely!!! i think its ridiculous to try and potty train a 1 year old. i also agree that alot of moms are pushing for their babies to do things sooo early! my daughter is 14 months and not walking and i dont think there's anything wrong w/ that. i honestly think its harder for everyone if they are walking @ like 9 months. they are not mentally developed enough to be out n about walking...they prob still dont even know what NO means. im not saying anything bad about anyone who has babies that do things early. i just know of a few diff friends who PRAY their kids do it first and its like who cares ya know?? everyone is too worried that ppl may talk if their baby isnt doing this or that by a certain age. just bc ur baby walks before they are 1yrs of age doesnt mean they may not have learning problems....just saying. the reason i just soo heated about this is bc ppl make me feel awful bc my daughter isnt walking and im really getting sick of it.

Chandra - posted on 01/27/2010

Totally agree - I was noticing too and thought, are you kidding me????

Amy - posted on 01/27/2010

I don't think most people think that deaply about it. I think alot of it is just not knowing when to start and following the lead of those they know or get advice from. I understand why it was different for the older generation, but times have changed. Yes diapers get disposed with all the rest of our trash... but would u stop using light bulbs, sweaping your floors, disposing of everything else you do for that reason? i'm simply not going to potty train my child for over a year because of something like that. The fact is he's to young, isn't ready, and i'm not going to push him. No kids aren't stupid at this age, but i think they are too young to understand the concept of going on the pot. You admid your child isn't ready, say you aren't going to push him, yet also say that you will start training him because you don't want to litter? and because other people have done it? I simply disagree.

Chrystal - posted on 01/27/2010

The older generation did not have the high absorbency diapers we do now. They potty trained out of necessity because they had to wash every diaper that their baby peed in.
Every disposable diaper that a baby pees in goes straight to a landfill where each one takes many many years to degrade. Every time I throw one in the garbage I think of this. Yes, I COULD wait until he is ready. But we teach our children things every day, why not teach them how their bodies function and help to control that. I am not about pushing our children to do things they are not ready to do, but I do believe if it can be done, as it has been proven to be done by many others, why not get them started?
It may seem to take longer because I am taking it slowly, but I want him to feel relaxed about it rather than one day showing him a potty and saying "Here poop in this."

Amy - posted on 01/27/2010

I think overall I feel like people are trying to get their kids to do things younger and younger... they are only babies for so long! personally i'm going to soak it up while i can. my son walked when he was ready, he'll talk and use the potty when he's ready and old enough as well, i'm not going to push any of it on him... especially not because someone else says i should.

Talitha - posted on 01/26/2010

I agree! I tried to push it with my daughter before 2. It didn't work! When I let her do it in her own time it saved both of us a lot of stress. Now she is trained and doing wonderfully!