when should i try potty training?

Laura - posted on 09/13/2009

ok for my opinion, i have four kids my son was the hardest and he is the oldes two of my girls were trained by the time they were 18months, it's possible to do it early, if your a stay at home mom put the potty in the which ever room you are in the most, and let the child play in the nude or with either training pants or a pull up, every so often sit them on the potty with a book or a toy. and it helps to bring the child in while you potty or if daddy potty's, it shows them too. Boys will always start sitting down. and if it is a success when ever you go out put a pull up on, or else you will be stopping at every gas station to use the bathroom lol, you gotta stay on top of it. Don't take the child out with out a diaper/pull up if your going a distance, your just asking for it lol Hope it help's. give them lots to drink so you know they gotta go. and when they finally do a suprize will help them go again and i know it's silly but DO THE PEE PEE PARTY DANCE ALL AROUND THE ROOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.

Georgia - posted on 09/13/2009

One is a bit early for toilet training, however you can begin early toilet training. There is heaps of advice on early toilet training as well as regular training at www.pottytraining.com.au. My son was trained at 2 in a few days with very few problems using that websites advice, as well as a few gadgets (such as the Weeman and the 2 in 1 toilet seat). The lady who owns/runs the site is very approachable and helpful too.
Good luck!

Rachael - posted on 09/10/2009

I have heard 2. I think that the child will let you know when they are ready. If he starts acting uncomfortable in his diaper and can follow simple instructions then it is probably time to start. I suggest putting him on the potty every hour while he is awake and he should grasp the concept fairly quickly if he is ready.

Kristina - posted on 09/10/2009

you can start by "familiarizing" your bubs with the potty. We got DD a potty when she was about 13 months & just let her sit on it. When she was walking we moved it to the bathroom & whenever me or my partner would go toilet she'd come too & sit on her potty. we'd chat to her about going "pee pee in the potty" & how good it was to do so. She's now 21 months & goes potty =]. She only wears nappies at naptime/bedtime & when we're out. I also leave her with no nappy/pants on when we're at home.

Teresa - posted on 09/10/2009

I don't think that parents should worry about potty training until the child can walk unaided, and can say poop and pee. That is usually about 2 to 2 and 1/2.

Kelliann - posted on 09/10/2009

I say if they can tell u they went or have to go then its time... with my son once u started to tell me he went he went into underwear during the day then wore diapers at night till he started waking up dry... he will be 3 in a few days and he has been completely potty trained for over 6 months now

Brittany - posted on 09/10/2009

Okay I think trying to potty train at one is setting yourself up for failure. And if he's not walking confidently yet, he's going to have a hard time getting to the potty. We started at 17 months. I think you should just enjoy him. Let him tell you when he's ready. We started potty training when our son would wake up from naps and in the morning dry. We would run him to the big potty and it took some encouraging to get him to go, but he did. We never use the training potties. They don't make very many that are any good for training boys anyways. We are in Korea right now and they have a great one for boys, my neighbor has one, but Ethan has no fear of the big toilet so we just never bought one.

Just give it time and as he get's older and more stable :) you'll know when it's time to start. If you start him too soon, you'll only set yourself up to be frustrated. Potty training takes a LOT of time. Changing a diaper is quick. Walking them to the potty, pulling down pants and underpants (we left Ethan naked or in underpants SO much easier) sitting them down, waiting with them, wiping, pulling up pants, and washing hands (their favorite part!) takes FOREVER! But when you do start, we found setting a timer for the first few days/week for every 20 minutes helped. Our son drinks a lot so he was able to go every 20 minutes little bits. After about three days he started waiting to pee until he heard the beeping and we gradually increased the time. Good luck to you but I think you don't need to worry about it for at least another 4 or 5 months!

Carissa - posted on 09/10/2009

It's still ok to wait a bit longer till you know he's ready...there's still a good bit of time before he's 3 :o)

I plan to hopefully start just before she's 2. My girl is 16 months and I don't feel she's showing enough signs of being ready quite yet. I've heard you can start before they're ready, but that it can just be more negative to them, complicated, and take alot longer to be truely trained anyway.

When he's really ready I think you'll know, but this is a checklist someone sent me of some signs you can look for..





Physical signs



Is coordinated enough to walk, and even run, steadily.



Urinates a fair amount at one time.



Has regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times.



Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours, which shows that his bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine.





Behavioral signs



Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes.



Can pull his pants up and down.



Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty diaper.



Shows interest in others' bathroom habits (wants to watch you go to the bathroom or wear underwear).



Gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you.



Demonstrates a desire for independence.



Takes pride in his accomplishments.



Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet.



Is in a generally cooperative stage, not a negative or contrary one.





Cognitive signs



Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy."



Understands the value of putting things where they belong.



Has words for urine and stool.



Understands the physical signals that mean he has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until he has time to get to the potty.

Jess - posted on 09/10/2009

sure signs are when they start staying dry after naps & when they get up in the AM. try it then but dont force it. also, when your son poops, is he pooping after meals or at certain times of the day???? if you knew those times, you could sit him down then. just like every other motherly instinct we have, youll have one for this too ;)

Crystal - posted on 09/10/2009

when they walk well and can pull their own underoos down.....or if they tell you they pooped or peed their pants....try it out

Cindy - posted on 09/10/2009

You will know when it is time for your child to be potty trained. My son was 2 when I started trying to potty train and it was like pulling teeth he was not having it, but at the same time he was not wanting to wear his wet pull ups. He will be 4 in nov and I think we have it almost down pat (we are having problems with him pooping in the potty but he dont do it in his underwear....for some reason he does it on the bathroom floor). I knew when he was close to be ready to potty train thats when he would wake up from naps or even from the night before and dry. he would undress him self and take any wet clothes off and put dry ones on him self. My husband and I would take him every time we went to the bathroom and we would show him how big boys use the potty and how fun it was....we had to start him with the little potty at first thats where he felt comfortable, but it was a pain to get him to switch over to the big potty.

Laresa - posted on 09/10/2009

also my dr once asked me, "have you ever seen a child in kindergarten still in diapers or with pacis?" think about it. you know that your child will be trained by 5 years old.

Laresa - posted on 09/10/2009

when he is ready you will know. just try to sit him on a potty. see how he reacts. if he sits there interested...then u could start tryin to teach him. if he throws a fit, wait a lil longer til he starts walkin better. my son started potty trainin at about 17 months. there are other daycare children that are starting at 2 and 2 1/2 years. it really just depends on whether the child wants to do it! good luck.

Kris - posted on 09/10/2009

Our dr told us about two is when we start potty training

Marie - posted on 09/10/2009

ive heard of infant potty training so yes you can potty train your one year old i have a 3 yr old and a 4month old i was determined to get my 3yr old out of diapers by my due date and with the exception of night time shes potty trained just start taking him to the potty every 30mins or so and sit with him for about 5 mins if he fights or cry try another day hope this was enough help

Christina - posted on 09/10/2009

I all depends on the child but there are things to look for. Can he pull his pants down? is he waking up dry? I think it is still a bit early for him but you must go by your own child. Maybe at 2 try.