Is 15 months too soon to potty train?

Joanne - posted on 06/18/2012

At 18 months I attempted to train my toddler. I almost had her trained too. However, one day she didn't want to do it anymore and completely regressed. She refused to sit on the potty. I let it go for a while, I didn't want to push her too hard, and took it as a sign she just wasn't ready, even though all the signs were there that she was. I still left her potty out, and her sticker potty chart available, and one day when she felt she was ready, she sat down and peed. She was trained in less than a week. I say go with what you feel, but if it becomes frustrating, or your child loses interest, at 15 months, I wouldn't worry about it. I say, get them as familiar with it as you can now, and if it doesn't pan out, it will be easier later. Good luck! :)

Diana - posted on 06/13/2012

No it's not too early. I have "diaper free by age 3" by an American pediatrician. Most countries potty train as early as 6 months. The book also talks about the earlier you introduce the potty to the child, the sooner they will be potty trained. course they wont be going on their own until they can walk but it is do-able. I had to switched my daughter into cloth training pants/underwear with covers for it to work for me. She is 2 1/2 and is excited about using the potty like a big girl. I stop liquids up to 2 hours before bed to prevent night time accidents. it is working for me.

Melissa - posted on 09/15/2010

I would not say so. As long as he wants to do it and you are not making him.

ANSON - posted on 09/13/2010

My boy scare of poo-ing as it hurts. he eats heaty stuff. For peeing I straight take off his diapers jus keep asking him to go toilet. Nw trying to get him poo in the potty.

HANNAH - posted on 09/13/2010

It's never to early to train. Mine just turned 2yrs and was fully potty trained by 20months. Since ur son is taking off his pamper thats a sign that he doesnt like the doodoo feeling nd peepee will be soon. Just keep telling him when he pee's that he pee'd or doodoo'd. It'll get him in the habit of knowing whats, what. Ask often and doodoo maybe the first thing he only does in the potty and thats perfect, less mess for you to clean up. And as for the pee, keep asking and just put him on after a few drinks and say nooo peepee first and see what happens.

ANSON - posted on 09/12/2010

Hi,

I'm a mummy of one having my second one in Nov. My boy is nw potty train in peeing bt nt poo-ed. As I train him w/o diapers @ home. Sometime he forget to say. We have to ask him whether he wan to go toilet. Slowly he only wear diaper when taking nap as I scare he forget to wake up for peeing. And nw he is able to tell me he wan to go toilet and he don wear diapers the whole day other den when he is going to poo-ed. I trained him when he is 20-22mths. I use the harsh way though. haha. Too early train is nt very good as they don really understand.

Tamika - posted on 09/11/2010

My son was potty trained from about 18 months onwards, we use to catch the bus everyday so I was reluctant to put him into underwear for a while.. At 2 I got the courage to just do it and he was fine! I think the earlier the better, we have never had an issue with going to the toilet because my Son can not remember being in nappies, he is now 4 and about a month ago he has his first accident and started to freak out! Saying why did it do that haha, I had to explain our body will just go to the toilet if we don't listen to it. I doubt we will have the same problem again haha

Amber - posted on 09/11/2010

I just got done training my 2 year old. She showed some signs of being ready for the last year, but I wasn't really sure what to do (she's my first)...eventually I just went for it, and since I waited so long, we were diaper free in less than a week (with almost no accidents) because she was VERY prepared for it. I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long, but I wonder if I had started earlier, would she have been as receptive and ready? Mine sounds a lot like yours, very easy to teach and transition, I never had any problems with the bottle or paci or the toddler bed, and you know what? Potty training was easy too. The bottom line is, you know your son...you can get him a little potty and get started teaching him (I started mine on little trips to the potty at about 1 year, just to familiarize her with it) but if he's not ready, you'll be able to tell. Basically it comes down to his willingness at this point, since by all the things he's showing you, he's physically and mentally ready...if he wants to, he will, and it should be fairly easy, especially if he feels like it's fun and there's no pressure! Good luck!

Keyuri - posted on 09/11/2010

I just wrote a blog about this in July! Here is the link if you are interested. http://www.ontheballparent.com/blog/2010...

Maggie - posted on 09/11/2010

potty train that child! He is showing all the signs that he's ready and the longer you wait the more he'll learn to ignore the signs; making it harder to train him. I had both mine trained by 18 months and they were both BOYS, which are supposedly harder and train later.
It makes it a lot easier when he goes at the same time every day, too!!!!!

Michelle - posted on 09/10/2010

I don't think it is too soon. I have one child and she was potty trained at 14 months, as soo as she was 12 months and started talking very well we got her a pot. My mom actually potty trained her in about 3 days as soon as she turned 1, I only purchased one package if pull-ups and that was great.

Shannon - posted on 09/10/2010

i know my daughter isnt ready to be potty trained yet, shes 14 months, but we're going to buy her a potty soon and just have her sit on it and get used to it. that being said, i was potty trained when i was 9 months. i was at my uncles house with my dad, and my cousin, who is about a year older than me and had just been potty trained went to the bathroom and i followed her and i started using the potty from that day on. so anyone saying "too young to potty train"... is wrong. it depends on the child, when they're ready and also the parents, when theyre ready to train the kid. if you think he's ready, then maybe get him a potty and see what happens. good luck! :)

Gemma - posted on 09/10/2010

My daughter started sitting on the potty after meals at 9 months. At 14 months she only ever had a dirty nappy when we were out, at home she always used the potty although she was still wearing pull ups. By 21 months I got rid of pull ups and she was dry day and night within 3 days, I cold have done it sooner

Anna - posted on 09/10/2010

Thats why you start them very young. Like I did at 6 month, when they dont really have a will of their own yet and they do everything you teach them. Mine is 9 1/2 months now and is so close to being fully trained.

Tracy - posted on 09/10/2010

At this age I was doing a low key, low pressure approach. It's never too early to get them used to a little potty and the idea of using a potty. I wouldn't expect anything at this point and just make it fun (potty books are great to get them to sit when you know they need to go). My daughter was fully potty trained by the time she was about 2.5 yrs (not nighttime yet, just daytime) and we started slowly introducing the potty right around 18m old.

Christina Nicole - posted on 09/10/2010

15 months is not at all early, especially since he is showing you signs of readiness. My son started at about that time. Now he's wearing pull-ups only to bed and nap. When he starts showing that he's ready, then go for it. Always make it a big deal, like a party when it's time to go and when he does go in the potty. Try to keep it fun and don't force him to do it this young. He will probably have a regression period, don't get upset. I think they all go through that. How we started, was we just had him sit while we were sitting, so it was just more comfortable for him. Mommy and daddy are going it, why not me. Good luck!

Susan - posted on 09/10/2010

I say go for it.... He is showing all the signs he is ready. I trained my child at 15 months and he was extremely easy to train. Good luck to you!

Stacey - posted on 09/10/2010

POTTY TRAIN, POTTY TRAIN, POTTY TRAIN! Especially a boy; they are harder to train and usually aren't ready till 2 1/2 or 3. Good luck!

Teresa - posted on 09/09/2010

cant totally listen to the "boys take longer than girls" thing. my son is now 5 but at 2 1/2 he was getting potty trained. by 3 months before he turned 3 he was dry all day and nite. very few accidents. my girl who is now coming up on 3 1/2 was a monster to train!! she was a month away from being 3 when one morning she got up and told me she needed a change. fights til the end with her. i still have to help her in the bathroom sometimes. shes had more accidents than my son.

if your son is ready go for it!! it'll save money for him to train if you can put up with the accidents and the smell from those. give it a try and if he has good feelings towards the potty then it should work

Anna - posted on 09/09/2010

You might not want them to grow up to fast, but saving on diapers with them learning early is a HUGE thing for me. Like I have mentioned earlier in my previouse coments here, I started training mine at 6 months. He is 9 1/2 now and doing great!!! I think he will be fully trained by 12 months for sure!!!

Heather - posted on 09/09/2010

I started with both my boys around 15 months, just making the potty available then as soon as they realized they had gone in it and were excited i immediately put them in undies and never went back to diapers. My oldest son was completely trained day and night after only 3 days of accidents at 21 months old and my youngest son was completely trained day adn night after 1 day of accidents at 23 months. I was lazy with my younger son and he was ready before that but he was in all cloth diapers and they were so darn cute that i was just not ready to give them up :o) good luck!

Oh and i never bribed or gave them junk or anything like that, all i did was praise them like crazy when they were successful adn when they had an accident i would say stuff like "oh im so sorry we did not make it in time, we will do better next time. That must feel so uncomfortable to you. It must make you feel yucky to be all wet, im so sorry, etc"

Bobbie - posted on 09/09/2010

Yep, it sounds like he is ready. My daughter was easy to get off the bottle and paci too, and we have been potty training her since she first wanted to sit on the potty at 20 months. Good luck! :-)

Amy - posted on 09/09/2010

WOW!! I'm almost speechless. Personally I'm against rushing children into being 'all grown up'. With that being said, all kids are different and his actions point to the fact that he is ready. I'm training my 2 year old, and he is doing beautiful. I have a potty training dvd that he loves. On the dvd in the parental section the psychologists says training shouldn't even be an issue until they are at least 2 and the average age is 2 1/2. The most important thing no matter what age you start...early or later, is not to force the issue. I hope he's as easy to potty train as he was with everything else, he sounds like a smarty!! :)

Morag - posted on 09/09/2010

She is 28 months now. And knows when she needs to go, Says wee or poo poo. Can only just pull her own pants up and down. We live in Spain so her having no nappie on makes a big diffrence to her in the heat. Our first little one too so Yes I am A proude mummy and I work full time. So It was hard work but well worth it And Yes Daddy did help too!.

Anna - posted on 09/09/2010

So we are on the same page. I started off at 6 months for my son. He is 9 1/2 now. But I only started once he could sit unsupported. but my mother in law started her babies (my husband, and his brother and sister) off at 2 months. and by 7 months they already "asked" when they needed to go in their own way. I was just to scared I'd drop my son if i hung him over the bath tub. he was just way to fradgile. I applaud you!!!

Morag - posted on 09/09/2010

5 months. Just start off by putting them on the potty once fed etc. Just to get used to it. Then it is so straight forward,. You will be amazed how they get used to it.

Anna - posted on 09/09/2010

how old was she when you started?

Morag - posted on 09/09/2010

Sorry but my little girl was potty trained by one year old. Every little one can if mum and dad lets them.Best thing ever! No nappies at night time aswell ( only just this summer). She loves it! My mates little one same age is no where near potty trained which I think is just daft. Big diffrence in them. Pease do it as soon as possible for your own sake not just the little one.

Kathy - posted on 09/09/2010

yeah, he's ready!! but dont rush it or force it.

Anna - posted on 09/09/2010

It really does sound like you have a smarty on your hands. Congrats. I dont think that it is early at all. I started potty training my boy at 6 month. (aka as soon as he was able to sit by himself). Some may say that THAT is to early but for me that works great!!! Every morning as soon as he wakes up, I take him on his potty. At 1st its started that I would hold him over a bath tub and repeatedly say "psss psss psss psss" until he went. in a few weeks he was used to that sound and went pee as soon as he'd hear that sound. Then at 7 1/2 months we started to put him on a potty and teach him to go #2. We'd just try to catch him when we see that he needs to go poo and rush him to the potty and do grunting sounds for him. Every 2 hours I take him potty. right now he is 9 1/2 months and he can hold it for around 2 hours. I admit, sometimes its a hastle but we save TONS on diapers!!!

Dana - posted on 09/08/2010

Statistics show that in the last 60 yrs the age of potty training has been drastically postponed. In 1957, for ex, 92% of children were potty trained by 18 months. Today only 60% of children are potty trained by 3yrs in N. america. 50% of children around the world are fully potty trained by 12months. We encourage children to do everything else but potty train but why? I started potty training my daughter long before she showed "signs" of being ready...at 9months. Now at 15 months she pees on the toilet every time we put her on there-about 5 times a day. Based on the literature and research I have done, there is no rational reason to delay this maturation progression. I say put your child on the potty and see what happens...a few mins max and cheer your child on even if they don't go so it is a happy experience. Immediately after a nap and 20 mins after meals work best for us. Good luck.

Robin - posted on 09/08/2010

We started putting my son on the potty a couple months ago (he is 16 months now). He started crying every time he would go #2 so one day we just tried putting him on the potty and it made him happy so we do it every time now. He hates dirty pants. As for #1 he could care less either way but I figure he will figure that out eventually. Just go with what your baby is telling you...every baby is different. My other son wasn't potty trained till he was 2 1/2 yrs old, but once he showed interest he got the hang of it quick. My daughter was like my youngest...hated to poo her pants, so she was pretty easily trained as well(by 18 months). Just do what you think he is ready for. Good luck! :)

Leigh Ann - posted on 09/08/2010

He sounds like he's ready. Just don't force it, make it fun and exciting. Sounds like he's going to be an early achiever. Expect pee pee control before #2

Teresa - posted on 09/08/2010

it all depends on the kid

Sherron - posted on 09/08/2010

Wow, that's great news. My son is 18 months and we just started working on potty training and then he got really sick. Now we must start all over. It's really hard to stay on a schedule with everything else going on in the house and my other child.

Kristine - posted on 09/08/2010

Kids at this age go through phantom potty training. Especially boys. They appear to be ready by what you have described but when you actually start training they reverse back to using the diaper. I personally think that 15 months is too old. However that does not mean you can't start. Just start slow. Introduce the potty get some potty DVD’s. I suggest using cloth potty pants such as potty Scotty’s. I have found that cloth for potty training works better than pull ups since pull ups are like diapers but don’t hold as much. Kids can learn to us the potty before they are two again just beware I have seen kids regress when they starting potty training to early. If you are unsure than wait. If you would like to give it a try then by all mean do so just do be push let him go at pace. Good luck and remember you know what is best for your kid.

Nata - posted on 09/08/2010

Hi Amber! My first thought was that its to earlyfor a 15 monht old to potty train. But he maybe are ready, try it. But not with any forse, it has to be fun. Im a preescholl teacher, and I think he gives you signs that he wants to try! Good luck!

Shawanda - posted on 09/07/2010

go ahead and start potty training my son was potty trained at 13months buy a potty put in the bathroom with you and everytime you go let him go with you it worked for my son

Amanda - posted on 09/07/2010

Hi i was a nanny for 15 years and potty trained many children and they were all different!! However if you try it and its not working just stop and wait a month or so and start again, he will let you know if it is not time!! Just remember all children are different and what yours is doing and everybody elses has no relevance dont compare it never helps!!

Amanda - posted on 09/07/2010

Hi i was a nanny for 15 years and potty trained many children and they were all different!! However if you try it and its not working just stop and wait a month or so and start again, he will let you know if it is not time!! Just remember all children are different and what yours is doing and everybody elses has no relevance dont compare it never helps!!

Leanne - posted on 09/07/2010

i have a little girl shes nearly 3 and she is dry day and night and has been since she had just turned 2 the only thing i can say is i think that each child does it in there own time as i tryed my daughter a couple of months b4 and she wasnt ready. the best advice i eva got was if i were going to do the pottie training it is best to take them out of nappies altogether im not sayin at night aswell just wen u start, dnt put a nappy on because its conveniant to do it wen u go out this will just confuse the child i took my daughter out of nappies at night about a week after i had taken her out in the day because she were waking up dry. if ur son doesnt manage it this time give him a few weeks and try again so he doesnt feel like he has to do it, good luckx

Bernadette - posted on 09/06/2010

if he's showing you that he's ready, then it's not too early. I am just about to start with my 17 month old, because I think she's ready. She comes to me and says "Poo. Nappy change." I think if she can identify when she has done something, and knows that she needs to be changed, then it's a sign that she's ready. The only reason I haven't started yet is because I was waiting for the warmer weather but now it's warm, it's time to start. It sounds like your son is ready too as all the things you've mentioned indicate that he knows when he's done something, and he knows that he doesn't want to sit in any longer, so why not get stated?

Heather - posted on 09/06/2010

Try the training pants on a day that you all are going to be home. Ask him if he needs to go every hour to trigger him thinking about going on the potty. If he does well, then try again the next day. Never scold him for having an accident, but praise when he goes to the potty. Try placing a simple candy that he will only get when he goes on the potty. M&Ms work great for this. Nothing big or full of sugar, but just a little reward. You can also use star stickers on a "Potty Calender" above the potty. When he gets so many stars he gets some special outing or a new book or toy. May it something that he enjoys and feels proud of. Also, don't take it personally if he regresses. Just throw a diaper back on him and let him know that he can let you know when he's ready to try again. Good luck!

Rachel - posted on 09/06/2010

I started my twins around that time frame because my daughter was showing all the signs and she was about trained by the time she was two but regressed when I had our youngest. The baby is now 10 months and she has been potty trianed for 3 months now. Her brother is still working on it. It all depends on the kid and what he is trying to tell you he is ready for. Give it a try but if he acts not ready put it off for 2 weeks then try again.

Heidi - posted on 09/04/2010

Everything sounds promising. All you can do in introduce potty training. It took a long time to get my son on board with potty training. . . and honestly, it took constant, everyday, every hour, commitment on the part of Mommy and Daddy before we realised we meant business. If you're really for a battle, I'm sure he's ready to learn! Good Luck!!

Sharon - posted on 09/04/2010

you can start as early as 9mths just sitting thm on the potty. The western world are the slow ones for potty training 80% of children in the rest of the world are toilet trained by 12mths!!!! Read The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg!!!!My son started at 18mths and we could have started earlier. He had been using the potty full time since he was 23 mths and now at 34mths uses the big toilet on his own. Poos took longer than wees but he watched his slighly older cousin use the toilet and got over his embarrassment about poos!!

Nicole - posted on 09/04/2010

Take him in the bathroom sit him on the big potty. If he is cool with it, I say go ahead. My girls were about that age and my boy wasn't much father behind about 18months. good luck I say show him whats it all about. Tha'ts all I did, and all mine did it all by their selves.

Hillary - posted on 09/04/2010

Every child is different. Some are ready earlier than others. It seems like your son is showing signs of readiness! I have a 15 month old daughter. She often tells me when she needs a clean diaper. She will bring me a diaper and her box of wipes. She likes sitting on the toilet and making "pee pee" noises, although she never actually goes. She does all this because she is imitating her older brothers. My guess is that she will be trained at a younger age than they were. Good luck with your son. The situation seems very promising!

Janessa - posted on 09/04/2010

Do whatever works for you. I know my two older ones were older when I potty trained them, but really I didn't even potty train them, it was when they decided. I didn't want it to be a stressful thing for me or them, so I waited until they wanted to do it, my 2 1/2 year old overnight went from not wanting anything to do with it, to being completely done with diapers night and day. It was a very smooth transition. I personally don't want to potty train my 15 month old because it would be me basically being the potty trained one for my 15 month old. But if you think he's ready go for it. It might be a lot of work for you at that age, but if its worth it to you and you have the time go for it.

Shannon - posted on 09/04/2010

Here is my storey.... I have 2 boys and with my first son, around 4 months, found the book Diaper free before 3. I read it and loved the concepts and started putting him on a potty to sit around 6 months. I would put him there everytime I went potty so he got the idea of what it was used for. By the time he was 9 months old I did not need to change a poopy diaper except if he went first thing in the morning before we woke up. Success! just before he turned 2 he was staying dry during the day and able to communicate well, so after not having much success with the cloth training diapers I spoke to a friend with a boy the same age and she shared her idea with me. She would get him all excited about NOT wearing any diapers (pullups or cloth) and remind him several times that if he had to pee he would wet in his pants... ask him to pee in the potty and after 2 weeks "commando" under his pants, and some accidents, he was good to go. Happy he could pee in a potty and stay dry. I tried the same thing and had the same success! If he is showing signs of being ready GO FOR IT!!! Now with baby number 2 I have had him pooing on the potty with my support since he was 2 months old (Not Bragging, but I could read the signs when he had to go and would put him on the potty and give lots of praise) He has me trained basically :) I hope to have as good of an experience with # 2 as I did with baby boy #1!! GOOD LUCK!