Is anyone starting there 18 month old potty traning?

Poppy - posted on 04/29/2009

Quoting Hayley:

my daughter is scared of the potty! she is also 18 months old and she plays with her potty but when it comes to sitting down to do wees she freaks out! maybe someone out there could help me also!

As with all things related to young children, it depends entirely on the childs personal development, not every 18month old will be ready for potty training but a few will be. My daughter (this is for you Hayley!) was petrified of the potty and still was when i tried her at 2 1/2. No probs, just leave it, if a childs frightened of it you shouldn't continue as it could cause all sorts of problems - constipation etc By 3 she was absolutely fine and had mastered daytime by 3 1/2, she  took longer for nights but it didn't worry me, women worry too much about these things i think, she's nearly 7 now and definitely not in nappies! My son is different, he's 18mnths too and some time ago started alerting me to the fact he'd done a poo by getting a nappy (diaper) and wipes out of the box and laying down the changing mat!!!! Because of this i've introduced a potty, not forcibly so but we have it out esp at bathtime and we talk about it and he's completely happy sat on it and has done a few wees to rapturous applause from me and his sister!! What i will say though is, unlike one mum on here, i wouldn't use food as a reward, food should never be used as a reward, it's the reason for so many fat kids around. Good luck!!

Brandy - posted on 04/27/2009

we have kinda hes peed 3 times and pooped once he only seems to be more in it when his dad is around myb its funner to stand up and pee

Shawna - posted on 04/27/2009

My 19 month old daughter is poop trained. She has not had an accident in her diaper since January. She also tells us before bed, pee pee potty. We put her there and she goes. The pee pee isn't consistent and we are not forcing the issue. But she will not go poo poo in her diaper, she will scream and yell for the potty before she goes in her diaper. It is great!

Kari - posted on 04/25/2009

I have been letting my 19mo old daughter into the bathroom with me just about every time I go. She will get mad and bang at the door if I try to go without her and leave her with her daddy. She has tried to sit on my lap a few times (which is awkward to say the least) but we will be getting her her own potty soon. We even brought her to the store to let her pick out the one she wants. Its one that sings.. go figure. I will put it in the downstairs bathroom (the closest one) and let her have at it when I go in. I know that there is no rush, but I would like to see her trained by her 2nd bday,

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2009

After my initial post on potty training, we decided to start training our little girl.  We bought her own little potty so that she is more comfortable sitting on it.  So far we haven't had a bad start.  I ask her every hour if she has to go potty.  Sometimes she goes, other times she just sits there, gets up, sits back down...etc.  She gets excited if she goes potty.  We make a big deal about it, clap, and give her fives.  However, if she's playing she'll ignore me; plus with summer coming up I know she won't want to stop playing outside to go inside and go potty.  If you start your child, be consistent, PRAISE< PRAISE and PRAISE them.  Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2009

After my initial post on potty training, we decided to start training our little girl.  We bought her own little potty so that she is more comfortable sitting on it.  So far we haven't had a bad start.  I ask her every hour if she has to go potty.  Sometimes she goes, other times she just sits there, gets up, sits back down...etc.  She gets excited if she goes potty.  We make a big deal about it, clap, and give her fives.  However, if she's playing she'll ignore me; plus with summer coming up I know she won't want to stop playing outside to go inside and go potty.  If you start your child, be consistent, PRAISE< PRAISE and PRAISE them.  Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2009

After my initial post on potty training, we decided to start training our little girl.  We bought her own little potty so that she is more comfortable sitting on it.  So far we haven't had a bad start.  I ask her every hour if she has to go potty.  Sometimes she goes, other times she just sits there, gets up, sits back down...etc.  She gets excited if she goes potty.  We make a big deal about it, clap, and give her fives.  However, if she's playing she'll ignore me; plus with summer coming up I know she won't want to stop playing outside to go inside and go potty.  If you start your child, be consistent, PRAISE< PRAISE and PRAISE them.  Good luck!

Candice - posted on 04/15/2009

My 18 month old to me is not ready yet. I try to show him the potty and he has no interest. All children are different and they will do it when they're ready. I think I'm gonna try again in June.

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2009

Potty training is all in the kids!!!!! I tried to get my daughter on the toilet around that age. After she turned 3 she said I'm done with the diapers. My son, he wasn't even 2 by the time he was completely trained!!!! I am starting on my 3rd child. She LOVES her potty. I let my son run around naked while at home. He did make a few messes on the floor but he was trained fast!!!!!!!

Lisa - posted on 04/15/2009

give her a drink and strip her down. Time how long it takes for her pee after the drink. It helps for two reasons: the pee running down her leg helps her to identify the action and when you give her a drink again you can take her to the potty on a timed schedule. Also, make it routine. Wake up, sit on potty, eat lunch, sit on potty, brush teeth sit on potty. And rewards. M& M's are best.

Brittany - posted on 04/13/2009

she knows to take the toilet paper, wipe & flush the potty

Brittany - posted on 04/13/2009

she's now 18.5 months & loves going on the potty

Brittany - posted on 04/13/2009

ive always let my daughter in the bathroom with me while i potty. well around 12months she wanted to start trying to potty. she goes on the potty about half the time. dont pressure just ask & help them.

Melissa - posted on 04/11/2009

I have an 18 year old daughter.  If we can catch her having a b.m. in her diaper we tell her that we go potty on the toliet and go to the bathroom.  She will go to the bathroom, turn around to sit on the toliet.  But we aren't consistent with this.  She knows that we should go potty on the toliet, but she doesn't grasp that concept.  I think it all depends on if they child can grasp the concept of what is actually going on, if they are ready to be potty trained.  We are going to wait until closer until she's 2.  Figured summer will be a bad time to potty train since she's not going to want to come inside to go potty.

Kristie - posted on 04/08/2009

hi there, my son is 18 months old 2 and i bought him a potty to try, he was so scared of it and kept running away from it, ur baby will show u signs if they r ready and if urs is anything like mine then she is not ready yet!!

Chianti - posted on 04/07/2009

my daughter will take off her diaper if it is wet and hold her nose if she poops and she says  "stink". She will actually sit on the potty with the help of jelly beans and toilet paper. she loves toilet paper. But after 30 minutes or so she ges up and brings me a diaper. I know she has to go then but she has sat on the potty so long by then she doesn't want to get back on it. I know its not too early. Go for it!!! I'm trying hard.....

Lucy - posted on 04/06/2009

My little girl loves her potty, and always tells me when she has done a wee or a poo in her nappy. She will sit her on her potty, if in right frame of mind, but never done anything on it yet, also loves sitting on toilet with a childs padded seat on it - think this is more to copy me or her older brother. My son was in pants at 2 and much preferred sitting on big toilet rather than the potty. Just be guided by your little girl, dont push her but if she's ready she will take to it quickly and you will know its the right time. Good luck!!

Jessi - posted on 04/04/2009

hi, as everyone says i think it depends on the child. My daughter is just over 18 months (born on the 27th of sept.), and shes been pooping on her potty for about 4 1/2 months. about a month or 2 ago she started telling us when she has to pee too. she still pees about half the time in her diaper, but as for #2 we havent had an accident in a couple of months. she was interested in her potty, and when i noticed her grunting away in the corner, i would ask if she wanted to "potty on the potty" and if she said yes id take her in the bathroom and let her finish on her chair. after a while she got the hint and now doesnt even start going in her diaper just walks up to one of us, taps her diaper and says poop! now were working on the pee part.. but i think as alot of the moms have said dont push it if the child is showing a big aversion to it because that can halt the process.

all kids are different.. if you think yours is ready go for it, then if its not working try again later..

Hayley - posted on 04/01/2009

my daughter is scared of the potty! she is also 18 months old and she plays with her potty but when it comes to sitting down to do wees she freaks out! maybe someone out there could help me also!

Amandah - posted on 03/31/2009

I definatly don't think it's too early!! My daughter was born Sept 25th, and right after her birthday, I brought the potty in our bathroom. She didn't notice it for a few days, until she walked into the bathroom and I was peeing as I was running her bath water. She pointed at it and I stuck her on it. She peed on it right away, so I started putting her on it every night right before baths. Sometimes she peed, sometimes she didn't. Sometimes during the day she will point upstairs and say "Pee Pee" so we go upstairs & again, sometimes she goes. She's starting to poop on it already too. Likely 10 times now atleast!

Amandah - posted on 03/31/2009

I definatly don't think it's too early!! My daughter was born Sept 25th, and right after her birthday, I brought the potty in our bathroom. She didn't notice it for a few days, until she walked into the bathroom and I was peeing as I was running her bath water. She pointed at it and I stuck her on it. She peed on it right away, so I started putting her on it every night right before baths. Sometimes she peed, sometimes she didn't. Sometimes during the day she will point upstairs and say "Pee Pee" so we go upstairs & again, sometimes she goes. She's starting to poop on it already too. Likely 10 times now atleast!

Danielle - posted on 03/27/2009

my daughter has started and we have had one success doing a wee and a poo  so far, she sits on the potty every night before she has a shower. Thats as far as we  have taken the potty training. I will have start using it more during the day. 

Michelle - posted on 03/27/2009

I put my little guy on the toilet when I would see him grunting or see his penis sticking up at around 12 months, he is now 18 months and I still do it, and give him lots of praises for going. He started indicating at about 16 months when he has to pee and would go and loved the praises. I think if you put her on before her bath or when she starts to grunt then and praise her like crazy when she does do something its a great start. I have been criticized for starting my son so early, but I have never forced him and never given him trouble for not doing anything, and it wasnt until a couple months ago he would point to the potty and say "pee-pee" and he still goes in his diaper from time to time but its generally when he is playing with other kids or at someone elses house. I think as long as you keep it fun and eventually when you start to see they are pressing to use the toilet more then you can start being more consistant with it, but for now just have fun with it and she will eventually take it on, on her own terms.

Summer - posted on 03/24/2009

Santa brought a potty for christmas... we didnt make her use it!!!   It has sparked some interest.  I put it in the bathroom and she likes to come sit on it sometimes and I tell her thats where she goes pee-pee or the other.  She isnt that interested yet so I will wait.  I think it really just depends on the baby!!!  (child)

Inmar - posted on 03/24/2009

I started potty traning my son as soon as he strated walking @ 13 months, now he is 18 months and most of the time he lets me know when he is going to pee, he tryes to get his diaper off,  but he likes to pee standing up in his little potty, so its pee everywere!! but at least he is trying. so I dont tell him anything as I clean the mess,!! so far he is getting better..

Kamilla - posted on 03/24/2009

Well, I guess it dependson the child. I potty trained (according to my mother) at 19 months of age. My daughter will be 18 months and lets me know that she is going poo. Bladder control seems to be a little tougher but... she lets me know when her diaper is wet. I have a potty chair and let her sit on it 4 or 5 times a day (before breakfast, before lunch, before nap and before dinner and sometimes before bed). Just be consistant and let her let you know when she is ready to potty train!

Krystle - posted on 03/24/2009

Everyone has their own opinion.  At around 16mths as I was potty training a 3 1/2 year old that I nanny for my daught (16mths became very interested in the potty and for the most part tells me when she has gone poop or pee in her cloth diaper.  Now don't think I'm nuts I didn't use cloth until after 6mths of age as I'm not completely crazy.  Anyways there is a book out "Diaper Free before Three" (don't remember author) but this book says you can introduce the potty after/at the time your child can sit on their own.  It doesn't hurt and allow your child some naked time or if your scared of accidents (don't use pull-ups) but Training pants that are cloth so they can feel when they are wet because they don't feel it in Pull-ups or diapers because the companies have made it so much easier for parents to not have to change their kids as often because of an inconvienece.  I use disposibles when traveling and extremely busy days.  She loves the potty but hasn't really gone on it to many times just a couple but we will be going more naked as it warms up here in the West Coast as its winter right now. 

Heather - posted on 03/16/2009

hi. my son is 18 months old and i have a potty chair in the bathroom and the livingroom. my thought is that he'll be comfortable with it and it won't be so scary for him. he's nowhere near ready and is afraid of his privates right now, so i know it'll be a while. but in the meantime we take him to the bathroom with us and try to get him to sit even if it's just for a sec to try to get the potty training started for him. it worked with my one daughter, she was completly out of diapers at two. but she she loved to sit on the potty. she'd pull it up infront of the tv and sit for the longest time. i had to start limiting the time she spent on it.

Tristan - posted on 03/13/2009

I was potty trained at 18 months, so I figured i would do the same for my son. He's had a potty since he turned 1, because he is very observant and I figured it couldn't do any harm to take him to the bathroom with me and let him see what he's supposed to do and where he's going to be doing it. He is 18 months now, and I have no idea where to start. He still follows me to the bathroom when i go and sits on his potty, and he knows what the purpose of it is....I'm just not sure where to even begin, or if I should so early.

Jenny - posted on 03/12/2009

hi i started potty trainning my son harry at 12months old evrytime he has his nappy done we sit on the potty then has his nappy put back on he was starting to have dry nappies in the day and wasn't as wet through the night so it isn't to early to start potty training but its everyone to there own.

Laura - posted on 03/11/2009

I say to early, in my experience anyway

Andrea - posted on 03/10/2009

My oldest was daytime potty trained by the time he was 18 months. It only took us a month of trying with him and he had it. We were right on it all the time though... he had a potty chair in the living room and about every 15 minutes we put him on it and had him stay there (we kept him entertained while he was on it) until he went. When he went we made a HUGE deal out of it. That's not to say he didn't have the occasional accident, because he did, but he LOVED (and still loves) going on the potty like a big boy. It took him quite a bit longer to get night time trained, but he was night-time trained by 2 1/2. Now my second son just turned 17 months and we're going to start trying with him pretty soon because he has been pulling at his diaper and tells us everytime he goes potty just before he goes. He also always wants to sit on the potty. So we're going to be starting with him here soon... we've already switched him from diapers to pullups just like we did our oldest. So we'll see, but it is definately do-able as long as he's ready and you have the time to devote to it because it is very very time consuming!!

Audrey - posted on 03/10/2009

My daughter is now 18 months and she is fully aware of the the concept of the potty and she tells me when she is going to go poopoo.  She does not get the peepee thing yet...  However, even though she knows what she is doing and where to do it, everytime i take her to the potty when she tells me she is going to poo, she flips out...  I dont really know why but she is so wierd about the toilet.  She will agree to go to the potty but then once sitting on it she cries and throws herself off.

Anyway, I believe if your child shows interest and is telling you when he or she is going potty, then it cant hurt to try.  I wouldnt press the issue if  she refuses like my daughter but keep trying on and off until she is fully ready.  It is important to listen to your babies cues and not what the books say.  She will let you know when she is ready!!!

Hope this helps!

Amber Lynne - posted on 03/10/2009

no-it's not too early!   I introduced my son to the potty before he was a year old.  He's now 18 months old-and is doing very, very wellin the potty training.  :) YAY! I am hoping that by summer we'll be fully trained-and definately before his 2nd birthday.  Yesterday he was wore big boy underwear all day and stayed dry until about 7pm.  Great day.  I've taken the laid back approach-made the potty fun-with a bucket full of board books or other things that can be easily washed often.  We wave bye-bye to whatever he put in the potty as we dump it into the big potty and flush, so there'sno fear of the flusher.  My son gets LOTS ofpraise and Mighty-Tiny cookies every time he puts peepee(1 cookie) or poopoo(1 cookie) in the potty.  2 cookies if he puts both.  He still can't get his pants down by himself, but he will occasionally take himself to the potty and sit on it fully clothed, and if I don't get there intime-he will have gone in his undies.  I try to take him every 30 minutes and encourage him to put something in his potty and he'll get a cookie-he almost always does.  So he's getting the philosophy.  I have pull-ups for night-time and church or a shopping day, but I am either at home or at my mom's, so during the day he wears training pants and vinyl pants to keep the mess contained, but he can still feel the yuckiness of being wet.   I always make sure to point out that he doesn't get a cookie whenever he has an accident, and that he should remember to holler for momma, so that we can go in the potty and get a cookie.  He's doing really well esp since he doesn't talk very much and can't verbally say he needs to go except for saying my name and showing me.  I'm told that boys are harder to train, but since we intoduced early and he didn't get used to and comfortable with going in a diaper (once he's aware of what he's doing...squating, hiding, etcc...)  It's working for us though.  I'm just taking the slow approach-since he's still young, but I ampretty certain he will be potty trained before he is 2!

Ashley - posted on 03/10/2009

I started potty training my oldest daughter when she was 19 months old and she was completly trained by the time she was 2 and a half. My youngest daughter has already showen interest in using the potty so I have gotten her a potty to start teaching her. It all depends on whether or not they are interested in learning and as long as it doesn't seem forced I'd say go with your gut. If they seem like they don't like it or are afraid of it then maybe wait but if they are willing to sit and even pretend to use it then I'd say keep going. That's what I did with my oldest and she did great with it.

Annabelle - posted on 03/06/2009

I have introduced the potty since Christmas (Amy is 17 months old) and although she still isn't asking for it, whenever i see she needs to go i take her (often we run there! :) ) Then she does in it! I think it is good to let them know what it is for, without putting pressure on them. When she dirties her diaper she now comes to me and says Mommy poo poo, so there is a significant progress and i'm sure she'll be trained soon! Good luck!

Hellsbells2311 - posted on 03/05/2009

Quoting Sarah:

I have three kids and my youngest is 18 months, It's impossible to potty train an 18 months old. You should probably wait.

I would say your children weren't ready more than it being impossible to potty train an 18 month old, I to have 3 children again my yougest is 17 (almost 18) months old and he's ready, he tugs at his nappy and shouts to get a clean one. My older 2 were both out of nappies before they were 2 and dry day and night by 2 and a half, I think personally it's all about your child being ready and your commitment to potty training. Summer is best cause they can run around in pants and you don't have to worry about extra clothing. One thing I will suggest to ALL parents contemplaiting potty training this summer, is buy a CHEAP buggy/pushchair (if you still use one) that you can either remove the seat or is VERY easy to wash as there will be accidents in the buggy/puschair.

Sarah - posted on 03/04/2009

I have three kids and my youngest is 18 months, It's impossible to potty train an 18 months old. You should probably wait.

Kristin - posted on 03/03/2009

I have an older child and I learned routine is key!  My son was takes off his diaper and is obsessed with the potty. He doesn't us it, but we constantly talk about it. When she's ready, you'll know. Be patient, I'm ready to get rid off diapers too!!!

Natalie - posted on 03/02/2009

When WE go potty we leave the door open and say "pee-pee" or "ca-ca".  Now our 17 month old looks at her Elmo potty training book and every time she see a potty she says "ca-ca".  I'm assuming that's a step in the right direction.  We haven't actually tried it with her yet because we don't think she's ready but I'm hoping she'll be ready soon.  I've heard the worst thing you can do at this point is force the issue.  Apparently it can delay the training.

Brittany - posted on 02/28/2009

My daughter had just turned 17 months but I can't imagine her being anywhere near ready in 1 month to start potty training. I think 2 is a good time to start. I havent even bought a potty yet.

Catherine - posted on 02/28/2009

I think it will be awhile before I start potty training my 18 month old...

He isnt "mature" enough yet, to master the potty... think Ill wait at least another few months xx





Good luck to all those that are trying though....

Lilyan - posted on 02/28/2009

My daughter is 17 months and hates her potty chair!! She is DEFINITELY aware of pee and poop... in fact she will poop on demand in her diaper... she just does not want to sit on her potty seat.  I have stopped trying for the time being and will reintroduce it to her over the summer (late july)... Good luck!

Heather - posted on 02/28/2009

Jina, Carleigh started potty training arounbd this age and it worked out great!!! I say if you think that she's ready you can start by just introducing the potty. get her interested in it by inviting her to sit on it when you are in the bathroom. Maybe in the beginning add a book or something to get her interested. Then, when she likes the potty chair, take her in to the potty regularly. I remember taking Carleigh about every 15 minutes and when she went I praised and rewarded her with an M + M . One note, if it doesn't work well to start with don't get discouraged you can either keep trying or wait a few months because 18 months is early to start. Best of luck!!!! We'll be praying for you guys!!

Maria - posted on 02/27/2009

I bought a potty chair....and I let my little guy eye it up.  He went pee on it once.  I 'm not consistant on it though, because most of the time, he doesn't care he peed in his diaper and I have tp sit on top of him to change the diaper

Marissa - posted on 02/26/2009

My almost 18 month old is still mastering walkiing and hasn't mastered any words yet. He's no where near ready. I finally got my 3.5 year olds potty trained.

Misty - posted on 02/25/2009

One thing you have to remember is that potty training isn't just will power on the child's part.  There is a part of the brain that controls the bladder and bowel movements   At this age it is not development enough for a child to be "trained".  So my opinion is yes it is too early.  I would wait until she is 2.  for boys I would say 2.5yrs.  It can be very hard to potty train and unless you are fully commited you could confuse her if you start then stop.  I have potty trained only one classroom ( I am a teacher for infants and toddlers) and we started when they where two.  I feel for my group it was alittle too soon.  Most of them weren't potty trained until they were closer to 3.

Brandi - posted on 02/25/2009

Hello there, I also have introduced the potty and we talk about it and my daughter is now very aware when she is going potty in her diaper. I started now because she has been showing interest in our toilet. I would say if she is not showing interest it is too early but like everything else it is a process and she will do it when she is ready. Hope this helps.

Brandi