did i start potty training too soon?

Pat - posted on 03/03/2011

no if she is ok w/it and is not fighting u then go for it i had my first potty trained at a yr there is no set age

Carmine - posted on 02/20/2011

No way! we introduced my daughter to the potty just after Christmas in 2009, she was 11 months old. She would sit on it, and after a few days she figured out what it was for. Then she got to the point where it was fine going potty, but she'd still sometimes go in her diaper. She turned 2 on jan 28th and had been getting up in the night because she'd have to pee, she was still in diapers but would hold it. On Christmas "break" my husband started hardcore potty training and no diapers. She still has the odd accident but tells us when she has to go (and gets put on there about every 2 hours) and has been out of diapers for almost 2 months now!

Madilyn - posted on 02/13/2011

My brothers and I were fully potty trained at 1 so it's fine as long as she is into it

Elizabeth - posted on 02/10/2011

Not at ALL!!! I am doing a process called Elimination Communication with my daughter, who just turned 1. I've been "sitting"her on/over a potty since she was 2 weeks old, and she has no fear of toilets, does not regard them as toys, and eliminates in them rather than her diaper about 80% of the time!

There are no rewards or punishments if she goes in the potty or in her diaper. She simply chooses to alert me or not, and of course I pay attention to her indications and react appropriately.

Her diapers have gone from very full and needing an additional liner at bedtime, to barely wet!

She refuses to poop in her diapers, and when she wets them she often removes them herself and walks them into the bathroom to be replaced.

The bottom line is, they will go when they are ready! Let her explore and experiment. Some days she may be 100%, others. . .not so much! Either way, it is ultimately her decision!

Good luck!

Melinda - posted on 02/09/2011

I think it is great that you are letting her go on the potty. It sounds like she is ready. I started my first daughter at the age of 18 months. She wasn't too interested so I waited amonth and tryed again. She was ready at that time. she was potty trained in 3 months. My other daughter is having a hard time. We tried at 18 months..no go. So we waited. She just has a hard time of it. I don't even know when to start my 18 month old boy. I've heard boys are diffent. I think I'm going to buy him a potty and just see what he does. As many have said each child is different. Great job on the potty training with your little one.

Talia - posted on 02/09/2011

If she's into it--you're LUCKY, keep going!!!

Stephanie - posted on 02/09/2011

My little girl started showing interest in going potty around 9 months (now 13.5 mo). Some days she goes a few times a day, and others she won't go at all, but I see no reason to stop helping her go since she thinks it's fun. I believe the reason people say not to start until 2 is that physiologically her little body won't be able to control going potty until 18-24 months so there will be accidents, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. I agree with Rebekah Grey that starting later is probably more difficult. I don't know personally just what friends have told me of their struggles.

Michelle - posted on 02/08/2011

It's fine. My grandma was always happy that one of my uncles was potty trained at a year. Once upon a time (about a 100 years ago) people used to start potty training at 3 months (because they only had cloth diapers that caused horrible diaper rash and it was better for everyone involved). The potty training age has been steadily pushed back since the invention of the disposable diaper (which also led to improvements in the cloth diaper). Just don't expect this to be "it" for training. It might be that she gets it and holds onto it, or it might be that she has a phase or two of regression in another year. But if she's doing it, go with it. There's nothing wrong with what you're doing now and it doesn't seem like your expectations are out of line. Good for you!

Ambyr - posted on 02/08/2011

I think if she is ok with it and she is actually achieving the goal then its fine. I have heard of kids being potty trained from the ages of 1-4 so as long as your not pushing it ( which I am not saying you are just some parents do), then it is fine.

Stephanie - posted on 02/08/2011

Not at all, theres people out there that start as soon as they've figured out their new borns schedule. They hold them over the potty and they don there business. If it's working don't worry about what others think. Your the mommy and you know whats best.

Alina - posted on 02/08/2011

You can't start too fast! Wearing dippers is not natural to our kind (remember we used to be apes, do you see them wearing them?!). And the feeling of being wet and sticky? If newborns could speak (and they do in their own way), they would tell you they don't really like being wet. But we force them to it because it's more convenient and easy for us, so they actually loose the sense of when they rally have to go. I made that mistake with my son, that way and now at 5y he still has trouble feeling when he has to go. My daughter of two always knows, although she sometimes tells too late (we are always prepared anyway). I started potty training when she was 4-5m by holding her above the toilet and using the sound shhh, and at 6m started with potty. At 20m (it was summer) she stopped using dippers during the day and few months ago she refused them at night (it was dry in the morning anyway). We still have to be prepared for the unexpected, but, my God if I new it could be so easy when my first to kids where babies!

Daisy - posted on 02/07/2011

That is great stick to it! I think it would be confusing to stop start!!! I just started my son he took to it really well and he is just over two! Although I wish I had started earlier because I know he hates that I am asking him if he needs to go all the time!

Amanda - posted on 02/07/2011

don't listen to what others tell you if she's doing it and not having issues with it then your fine. you have to base such things off of your little one and not others.

Jamie - posted on 02/07/2011

No, everykid is different! You should feel lucky that she wants to pee in the potty. If you feel like you start to soon stop for a month or two and try again.

Stephanie - posted on 02/07/2011

if she is interested in going potty, then your doing a great job! my daughter showed interest in going on the big girl potty when she was 10 months old! and since then she goes on the big girl potty! If she is doing good then keep it up, those articles are just statistics, every child is different! Keep up the good work guess your lucky and got an easy going girl! lol!

Staci - posted on 02/07/2011

I think it is fabulous that she's taking so well too it!!! Don't let other's opinions get to you....you are her mother and despite what others may think about things, you do know what's in your child's best interests. Kuddos to you for getting her started so early!! I am just beginning with my daughter and she is 19 months old...I hope we have as much luck as you have had :)

Lawren (CINA) - posted on 02/07/2011

if she's doing well keep at it, if she's not progressing hold out a little longer, buy a book to introduce her that way, all kids r different...

Melissa - posted on 02/06/2011

omgosh no! ur one of the lucky ones if shes showing interest already! it would confuse her if you stopped now...and y would u? it apparently takes 8months to potty train completly, not sure where i heard that but...my son trained completly in about 4-5months. by completly i mean to the point where i wasnt worried if we were gona have accidents while on outings. he was 2 when he started. mu lil girl, 18 months, peed on the potty once...she sometimes will sit on it while she poops in her diaper. im just gonna keep it out and around so she can if she wants to. but i dont thik shes quite ready just yet. altho i did buy her panties already! ugh theyre so CUTE! lol

Yolanda - posted on 02/06/2011

No, I don't think so. I think that if she is doing well with it, then she is ready. I don't think 1 is to young. I say go ahead and switch to underwear if you think shes ready.

Rebekah - posted on 02/06/2011

I've found that older children resist potty training more than younger children. From my observation, kids who start much later (2.5yrs-3yrs) are more likely to make potty training into a power struggle. So, if you can potty train your child while she still things you're cool, and is interested in it, then by all means continue! I started both of my children around 18 months and they were both completely potty trained by age 2.



ETA: My son wasn't very interested at 18 months, so I waited until he was 23 months old, switched him to underwear, and never looked back.

Taheasha - posted on 02/06/2011

I.think you should wate until she few more months as she know what's going on but two is the right age girl learn faster. Than boys

Carol - posted on 02/06/2011

If she can do it now, why not?

Marie - posted on 02/06/2011

some countrys potty train from 6mths if you little girls ready then its a bonus and well done. my boy has just turned 3 he thinks the potty should be on his head, he's not ready but were trying, little harder for me got a son with special needs still in nappys so my youngest thinks he's getting special treatment when we have to change him, try'd rewards now trying stars, wish me luck.

Laurie - posted on 02/06/2011

Girls are usually ready much earlier than boys. If she thinks it's great and it makes your life easier - no more diapers - then go for it. My son - now just over three knows how but has no interest. If I sit him down he'll go usually but there is a fair amount of protest usually and he will not initiate it. Sounds like you daughter is ready. My son is not. Sigh... I hope he changes his mind soon and decides diapers are for babies. I suspect my daughter, now sixteen months will be potty trained before he is. She isn't talking yet but I'm about ready to see if she is interested.

Sammi - posted on 02/06/2011

no each child is diofferent she must be ready if it is workin x

Tercia - posted on 02/02/2011

I think if she's progressing then it's fine, dont listen to everything you hear. i've heard of mom's potty training at 8 months. There is a possibility that she'll regress at some stage when she goes through something stressful (change of playschool, etc), but that can happen to children who started potty training at 2 also. I say, relax. If she's willing to use the potty then let her - cheaper on the pocket ;-)