when should I start potty training my toddler??

Meredith - posted on 11/10/2010

I agree with Tara.. my daughter is 15 months and LOVES sitting on the potty.. she knows when she's going but doesn't have the words for it.. I take her with me everytime I got potty and explain what I'm doing as well. I also set her on the potty at the same time.. She shows a few signs of pooping/peeing and I try to catch her.. We introduced the potty at 12 months.. Don't let it frustrate you, even though it can be at times! lol.. we try to make potty time a happy time.. Read books, do flash cards ETC.. and when she does pee on the potty we make the biggest deal about it! and then we say "bye bye" to it when we flush it.. Be very repetitive too, using the words "poop", "pee" and "potty" A LOT.. lol.. hope this helps! Good luck!

Tara - posted on 11/19/2008

you can start getting them interested early. i'd take mine to the bathroom with me as soon as they could walk. i'd let them watch and explain what i was doing. when i'd see them pooping or feel them peeing(if i was holding them) i'd tell them they what they were doing and that it goes in the potty. as soon as they would wake up dry from naps usually around 18mos, i take them out of diapers(no pull up either) and dress them as usual. when they potty they know it because they feel it and you tell them they need to do it in the potty. its easier if you can stay at home for a about a week. it is messy but if you give them lots of encouragement they do figure it out. i have 2 girls trained by 18 mos and a boy by 20mos as well as 2 nephews by 2 and a neice who was 17mos(which i take no credit for because she insisted on using the potty). i think there is a window of opertunity early and if you wait til they are older then it may become a power struggle. people in other countries all over the world potty train their kids around 1 1/2, and we did in this country as well before we had disposable diapers. and just so you know i only gave my kids posative reinforcement and they were so proud of themselves that it was a really good experiance for all of us