Advice on toilet training an 18 month old boy.

Heather - posted on 07/29/2009

I think it totally depends on your child. My son was about that age when he started coming to me in the middle of the night saying he had to pee. We didn't even have a potty for him yet. I wasnt ready to do the training. So we got him a potty and he used it when he wanted to. Then after he was two I started having him use it before naps and bedtime and then when he woke up. This worked really well. Then we started working on BM and peeing on the potty all the time. I started taking him to the bathroom every twenty minutes. I did this for a couple of days and then it became more like when I remembered. We read Potty time with elmo everytime too. It had the buttons on the side that make sounds. So the book was interesting to him. After awhile he started saying when he had to go. When i got sick of reading that book I started doing the alphabet with him in sign language and this kept him busy long enough to go and he also learned his abcs for the most part. In sign language anyways. He finally strated pooping as well. I also would wake him up in the middle of the night and make him go pee. Usually he would start whining in his sleep and do the potty dance in his sleep. lol. So I would make him go. We never had any accidents at night. He was about 28 months by the time he was fully potty trianed. Night time too. Now he is almost 3 and we still have an occasional accident, like when he thinks he needs his sandals on before he can go to the bathroom or something else is just so important that he waits till the last possible second to go. this results in him peeing on the bathroom floor. Only has happened a handful of times though. Oh I also made him a chart and he got a sticker everytime he went pee and a sticker and a couple of chocolate chips for poop. When he filled up a chart he got to pick a small toy out at the store. We did this until he really got the hang of it and then I started to only give them too him for poop and then only when he reminded me. and then none at all. Worked great.

Good luck to you. i suggest you wait till he shows you that he is ready.

Cynthia - posted on 07/29/2009

I started my son at 16 months of age. I would put him on the potty as soon as he woke up, even though he cried a little at first-I learned that this was always when he peed. After the first time in the morning, I would wait every 20-30 min. and turn on a little einstein or pooh bear cartoon, and make him sit on the potty for about 15 minutes. I had to sit there with him, or he would just jump off. Sometimes he would go, sometimes not, but every time he went , he got a gummy bear. It didn't take him long at all to catch on. Another thing that helped, was letting him go into the bathroom with Daddy when he would go. Within a week, he wanted to "stand up like Daddy" and it's been a piece of cake ever since.

Pamela - posted on 07/28/2009

Have Dad or a close male family member "model" the correct behavior and do the encouragement. Taking the child into the toilet with them when they have to go and explaining that this is what "big boys" do. Shouldn't take too long if you keep the encouragement and modeling up.

Tina - posted on 07/28/2009

WAIT!!!! until he is older. Two to 2 1/2 is a much better age. 18 mos. is too young and immature yet.

Deborah - posted on 07/28/2009

I can't properly remember when we potty trained our first born. I think we began when he was about 2 and a half (as the warmer weather was on it's way). It didn't work. We were all stressed which made it worse. So we stopped. We had a couple more failed attemps. So we left it. I think he was getting close to 3 (2/3 months off) when it just seemed the right time to try again. We used the pull up nappies. For the first couple of days this worked well. We put him on the potty shortly after food and drink. then he had an accident in the training pants but didn't feel uncomfortable. So then he stopped trying. Despair settled in. I thought it would never happen. So I thought, enough is enough, we are doing this properly. So out went the training pants and in came proper pants. He didn't like it even when he had a little dribble. He soon started asking for the potty. Using the toilet came very quickly after (with a littile seat on the big on and a step). He went to nursery when he turned 3 (where older children were present). He had a couple of accidents to start with but this was short lived. He moved on to pants at night at about 3 and a quarter years. We lifted him (and still do, though he does get him self up also) once duing the night. When we started it the last time, it all happened really quickly and was pretty easy really. My 2nd son is 17 months old. I am not even thinking about potty training him yet. They also say, this sort of thing takes longer in boys than in girls.

Helen - posted on 07/28/2009

we tried to potty train our daughter at 18 months as she was telling us whenever she needed to do a wee or poo. she was quite happy to use a toilet adapter on the toilet itself at bedtime and upon waking up but she wasn't interested in a potty or using the toilet during the day. we tried again at the start of schools summer hols this year she's now 26months and although for the first two weeks there were both alot of successes and accidents she became very excited at getting sticker everytime she used the potty successfully, even if she'd started weeing then headed for the potty and only got a dribble in. she would choose a sticker from a sheet and place it on her chart then show anyone visiting, or daddy upon return from work, everyone had to be over the top enthusiastic. If we were away from home she got a wrist band that we bought from Tesco, again anyone with us was shown and praising, upon return home she traded every wrist band earned for another sticker. we're now 3 weeks in and there are very few accidents, we've only had 1 this entire week and that was when she's been poorly!

Tammy - posted on 07/27/2009

Let him stand up like Daddy......throw a handful of cereal in the toilet and tell him to hit it...lol I know it sounds funny but works every time....the cereal just dissolves and flushes with no problem! Good Luck to you

Heather - posted on 07/27/2009

I agree with angela.. my oldest was potty trained at 2.4 months when his little brother was born. I just let him come in the bathroom and we would place him on the toilet whenever we went... he soon found he liked going in there instead of his pants... he also wore pull ups... it didnt make a difference they feel wet on the inside when they go not dry. We never gave candy or anything.. we just verbally praised him. The only downfall to that was when he announces his bodily functions in resturants after he goes. Everyone was always a good sport though and congragulated him.

Angela - posted on 07/26/2009

I have two boys. I think you are doing the right thing by starting potty training at 18 months. My oldest was potty trained at 2 and the youngest 2 yrs and 4 months. I am shocked with some Moms who say their kid was not potty trained until 4 years old. If you plan to send your child to preschool at age 3 they must be potty trained. My oldest learned to read at age 4 in preschool not potty train.

I would let my boys watch me pee pee and before I put them in the tub at night I would turn on the water, undress them, and sit them on the big toliet and sing a little potty sign with them.

My youngest will not tell me when he has to go. So I have a potty in my living room and when he has to pee pee and poop he sees it and goes to the potty. Most of the time I am looking for his underwear bc he is running around naked bc he used the potty without letting me know. I have to put a pull up on him when we are out in public. Also he was very very scared to poop in the potty. I would catch him starting to poop in his underwear and run him to the potty. He would cry but after 5 times of doing this he was fine.

Simone - posted on 07/24/2009

Once again I would like to thank you all for your comments. They really are appreciated :)

Some people seem to think I am going to fully toilet train my son. Sorry this is my fault and I should have explained myself better.

This really isn't the case. I'm just allowing my son to get a feel for sitting on the toilet, not potty, and if he does anything great, if not, it's not the end of the world. He is actually quite happy to sit on the toilet and we'll read a book together. He's facinated when me or my husband go. We don't get to use the toilet in peace anymore in our house :)

I think I will use underpants during the day whilst in the house but will continue to use nappies at night. There's no way on earth I could expect him not to wet himself during the night.

Over the last couple of days he actually goes to the toilet door and trys to open it!!! It may well be a novalty for him, and if it is we'll put the seat away and try again at a later date. Some people have experienced sucess at such a young age and this seems to be really postitive but many others didn't experience sucess till much later ............every child is different.

Once again thank you, I'll keep you all posted and let you know how I get on :)

Tanya - posted on 07/24/2009

Hi Simone, My children are young men now. I potty trained 2 boys. When my son's were about a year, I sent them in to the bathroom with their Dad just to observe, but they were able to leave the bathroom when they wanted. At about 14 months they were encourage to stay in the bathroom until their Dad finished and washed his hands. At about 18months when either of us went in the bathroom and they came in they had to sit on their potty while the adult used the big potty. They realized what it felt like right before they had to go and by 2 years of age they were using the toilet on a regular basis.

Deena - posted on 07/24/2009

Hi Simona,i started training my son at the same age, my son now is 3 years old.

bring to him any thing he like to be a gift when he use the potty. i brought to my son a colour stamp & when he pee i gave hime a stamp on his hand it works with him.

Good Luck.

Amy - posted on 07/24/2009

If I tried putting Cheerios in the toilet, I am sure my 19 month old would try to eat them!

I have 2 boys and 2 girls. The easiest one to potty train was my 3rd (a girl) I waited until she was around 2 1/2. I gave her a reward (a sticker--I have a real apprehension about food in the room with the toilet, plus she could wear her stickers all day long) every time she sat on the toilet whether she went or not. Within a month of starting this,she was completely potty trained. She only wet her pants once after that when she went away to camp and didn't want to use the stinky latrine.

My friend who was a having a lot of trouble with her boy who was 3 changed to this method and a total turn around in her results. She used it again with her second boy and a immediate results like I did.

My 19 month old woke up dry and was "pointing" when I went to change him. I took him to the toilet and he went in it standing up. He at least got the idea that he can pee in the toilet from this. I will try it again when ever I have the same opportunity, but otherwise won't try full force until he is older since he isn't communicating his needs well enough yet.

Rebecca - posted on 07/24/2009

He doesn't sound like he is ready. My son would say poopy before he would actually go. That was his sign to let us know he was ready. I didn't do anything because I just had my daughter and couldn't get him on there when he needed to be. I look back now and wish I did (he is 3 1/2). He isn't fully trained but he knows what he has to do. A cousin has a son 6 months younger than mine and he is not interested. Don't push him because I have heard if you do they will have more accidents. I would wait a little bit before trying again, but keep the potty out so he gets used to seeing it. Also make sure he is in the bathroom with you when you go to show him that is what he needs to do. Keep the diapers on him until he is ready.

Deanna - posted on 07/24/2009

I have two boys 8 and 6. When it came time to potty train I was all into starting around 19 months. All of my well read friends with boys the same age and my doctor gave me the advice to wait till closer to three. The advice was that they were not ready yet and that there are higher instances of bed wetting with younger toilet training. So I waited till close to three and bought the book "potty training for dummies" my husband read it for about 30 minutes. That whole saturday him and my son went to the bathroom together and that was that.

Dianne - posted on 07/24/2009

It may be a little early, but I found giving them something they could only play with while sitting on the potty chair really worked.

Debborah - posted on 07/24/2009

Simone,I'm a grandmother with 7 grandchildren.I have worked in a pediatric clinic for 40 years.I think 18 mo. is a little young for potty training.Especially for a boy.Boys take longer than girls to potty train.There is a book called Once upon a Potty.Start reading it to him now.Make sure you get the one for boys.When you do start if he is not getting it,stop for a few weeks and start again.I started at two with my son and he wanted nothing to do with it.I stopped and in a few weeks he came to me and said "I going on big potty","I want to wear big boy pants."And he did.When he was ready he let me know.Don't make it a battle.

Michelle - posted on 07/24/2009

My nephew was fully potty trained at 20 months.... but i waited until my son was 2 to potty train and luckily it only took him a week i have another son now and im planning to try at 18 months if you dont try you will never know it does take time even for an older child if say in a month you havent had an luck try again in a few months every child is different...i used the fisher price music potty to which really helped.

Tracy - posted on 07/24/2009

Simone,



We started our son going outside behind trees, but what worked the best was putting Cherrios in the toilet for him to try & sink. Just keep a little bag on the back of the toilet.

Good Luck,



Tracy

Melissa - posted on 07/24/2009

Hi Simone

I thought our Son was ready at 18 months and took nappies off him. Turned out he wasnt really ready at all so i left it just before his 2nd birthday which i felt he was really ready. it took him 3 days. the first day there were accidents everywhere but you need to keep calm and explain to them evertime that its wrong.I let him run around in his pants so that he felt wet and didnt like the feeling. A jelly baby treat also worked for us then a big clap after he done a pee. the secont day was alot better and by the third there were no more accidents. The No2s were a diff story though! had lots of accidents for few weeks but he got there! i used to read him a story while he sat on the toilet.



hope this helps.



Mel

Claire - posted on 07/23/2009

Hi Simone



I've just posted a piece on potty/toilet readiness on my website www.inspiredparenting.co.za. I'm sure you'll find it very helpful.



Regards

Claire

Colleen - posted on 07/23/2009

try doing an internet search for 'elimination communication' they might have some handy tips for you. I've already started my son with this process at 5 months...he's now 7 months and goes regularly, 5+ times a day!

Ekta - posted on 07/23/2009

Yes,Simone--my son is 19 months old now and we started his potty training since he turned 18mths and also i felt that he is prepared for it. Initially--there will be accidents but all that i did was keep taking him to potty seat and make him sit - wether or not he wants to pooh or pee and i would keep telling him pooh pooh in bathroom -- pee in bathroom..He now conveys his bowel movements to me through a sign(any sign u feel comfortable and showed the sign whenever i used to take him to potty seat) as he doesnt speak yet..Its working for me now.No accidents for pooh but yes couple of accidents in a day for pee...Hope sign or code would help you..

Peggy - posted on 07/23/2009

I have 4 children.. 2 boy, 2 girls. They will let you know when they are ready, they won't want to be wet or stinky. Boy were just under 2...and the girls were 15 months and 18 months. With all 3 it took about 3 days and no more accidents...But they were ready. If they are not ready yet, and every child is different, there is nothing you can do to make them go. In fact, they will do just the opposite (they can be pretty stubborn). Three of them also quit wetting bed at just about the same time as daytime potty training..but one was 10 years old and it was a genetic thing..several other adult members of the family had done the same thing...everything is just not developed yet.
Don't make it a big deal....it is NOT a competition. Don't no matter how frustrated you are try to embarrass them about bed wetting or potty training...back fires in the long run. I also sent the boys in with any male adults in the family at about 18 months..they used a 3 lb coffee can with cheerios in it..right next to the toilet..

Karen - posted on 07/23/2009

It sounds like he is not ready to potty train. Do not worry about other parents training their kids early. There is always someone who mastered training their child early. Your child will let you know when they are really ready. All three of my children were 3.5 until it actually stuck. When your child is ready, there are less accidents. Don't be stressed about it. You child senses your tension. Let them enjoy being little.

Emily - posted on 07/23/2009

18 months is very young. My daughter went on the potty for a whole day when she was 12 months and hasn't touched it since. Although we did find she would much rather sit on the actual toilet with the add on then a potty chair. When she is 20 I don't think the outcome of her life will be based on how early she was potty trained. Good luck and don't spend so much time on the potty.

Pamela Nichole - posted on 07/23/2009

My advice is dont rush it, I tried to rush my oldest son but all it done was stress both him and I. Take your time with it not all kids are ready at the same time, some kids take longer than others. I was so stressed all of my friends had kids around his age and they all seemed to be potty trained, he didnt really completly get the hang of it till he was 2 and 1/2. Now at 3 and 1/2 hes a pro!

Shana - posted on 07/23/2009

LOL! I think every mother of a little boy have this problem Statistically, they are just so much harder to train than girls! I have a now 7yr old boy and twin 5yr old (boy/girl). Both boys just did not wanna learn. I asked everyone and they mamma the same question and came to the conclusion that they are going to learn when they get good and ready BUT this does not mean you should give up the battle. lol. I tried the cheerios in the toilet, let him go with his father or influencial male figure in his life (this seemed to help the most), put the underwear he picked out on him and when he wets it-make him throw them away (didn't work so well with mines but a few people said it worked well for them), do a star chart and reward him with one each time he uses the potty but make sure you encourage him to even when he doesn't, and if he loves Elmo as most kids do, he has potty training books out, try those. Best wishes! And don't get to upset if he just doesn't get it until he is almost ready for preschool. Every child is different.

CJ - posted on 07/23/2009

When my son was a year old i started the potty training thing. Everyone told me he is way to young to get it but i continued on. What i did was every time i went to the potty i called my son to sit on his potty like mommy. He didnt understand what he was doing but now likes to sit on his potty. I also bought him his fav character underware and that has helped alot. He doenst like to get elmo wet! I tried alot of different methods of potty training and there are alot of ways to do it. You need to find one that your child can understand. the other thing i did was bought an elmo dvd on potty training. this has helped out......hope this is helpful!

Deserie - posted on 07/23/2009

I'm Deserie my son his 19 months next week and we have been potty training very slowly for about a month. He has a 28month old cousin who is potty trained and seeing him started the interest. He is doing great. In fact today he has had not one accident. I think patience is key. Reward him for doing good and don't make a big deal if he has an accident. 18mo is very early to start. But if he is doing good go for it.

Donna - posted on 07/23/2009

Most kids that age do hate to wear a diaper. I also have a 18 month old and a 6 yr old. And in my experience its not up to the parent to decide when its time to potty train it is up to the child. Most 18 month olds are not mentally ready for that. (I also am a teaching assistant for 4K and work in a day care). Usually it is closer to 2 1/2 or 3 that they become able to feel the urge and understand that that is what it is. Im not saying it cant happen just most parents I know are not successful and try it at a later date and find that when the child is ready and willing, the process is quick and easy. (Most of the time the child is trainned in a few weeks including thru the night).

Denise - posted on 07/23/2009

He's too young.

Amanda - posted on 07/23/2009

boys don't usually start training until around age 3. u can take him to the potty with and see if he will sit but don't force him just ask him if he has to go my girl is just now potty training at 27 months.

Ann - posted on 07/23/2009

Put some ping-pong balls in the toilet! Makes it a fun game and it helps to improve his aim!!

SueAnne - posted on 07/23/2009

We started training our son at about the same time as you because he showed interest in it. He was trained in about three days and we never used as single pull-up or had to change sheets in the middle of the night. However, we did have to constantly take him outside to pee. I let him run around the yard naked and when he had to pee, we made it a game - how far up the tree can you pee, drown that leaf, fill the sand bucket, etc. He LOVED those games, but always had to go outside to pee - literally. I even let him poop out there - I didn't have to scrub any underpants! When it got too cold to pee outside, he stared using the bathroom effortlessly. So my advice is to let him pee outside and make it fun. Good luck!

~SueAnne

Shoshana - posted on 07/23/2009

hello--I have 2 boys, so I feel I have a bit of experience with this subject. Please don't hurry this toilet training thing. It takes time (especially with boys. )My older son (now 4 1/2) did the same thing for a long time (nearly a year) and we started training him at almost 3. It is clear to me NOW that he wasn't ready, even though I was ready for him to be potty trained. We tried many theories (3 day, positive reinforcement etc....) and nothing worked. I even took him to the DR because I thought something was wrong with him. He is a perfectly normal child, just not as eager as me to do the potty thing (even at 3). So, my advise to you is stop all the training for about 30 days, and try again! Maybe some interest will be there, if not, try again after another month.

Sarah - posted on 07/23/2009

It doesn't sound like he's quite ready. He's almost there, but more interested in the novelty rather than really wanting to be out of diapers for good. My advice is to wait a little longer. It's probably not something you want to hear, but really, the process will be MUCH smoother when potty training actually happens! Forcing your kids to potty train when they are not ready is so awful, and it takes so much longer. It's like slowly pulling teeth!
If he takes his diapers off, try duct tape on the front of the diaper. That worked for my first son, and I'm really glad I did it. Good luck!

Nicole - posted on 07/23/2009

Take it from me, it's not easy. My son is 2 1/2 and still not potty trained. When he was 18 mos I figured the same. Time was right...let's do this! He went! The first day we bought the potty. Could not believe it! After that, there was absolutely no interest.

The key here is to figuring if he's really ready. Does he tell you he needs to go? Are his diapers generally dry when he wakes up? If he learns how to hold it, he'll be easily potty trained.

Some parents use rewards. We've tried everything. I've sort of now just come to the realization that my little guy is just not ready. Eventually he'll go. I've decided not to push it, otherwise he'll never "want" to do it. What person, barring any medical issue, wears diapers? This summer, i let him water the plants outside. He's starting to hate that he's wet. For me, a good sign. We'll see where it takes us:)

Simone - posted on 07/23/2009

Thanks a lot everyone for your great advice, I really appreciate it!!!



I know 18 months is quite young to start toilet training and know it wont happen over night. It's going to a long process :o)



We did get him using a potty at 9 months old and we got to the stage where he refused to poop in his nappy, but as soon as he could walk, he lost all interest and just wanted to run around.



Over the last couple of days he's been quite happy to sit on the toilet and we've been reading books. I am going to look on line for some childrens books relating to potty training for him to look at as he loves books. I'm also going to buy some big boy under pants for him. I think this is a great idea.



Obviously I'm not going to pressure him with the training but I hope that by giving him the opportunity to use the toilet at a young age, I might avoid the stress that some older children experience when they start training. I do want to make it a fun time for him.



I can only try..............................fingers crossed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Krista - posted on 07/23/2009

sounds like he is not ready

Sharon - posted on 07/23/2009

I too am trying to potty train my 18 month old, its going slow at the minute, but he is starting to get the idea. I talk to him alot and explain it and he has had many accidents but I try not to make a big deal of it. A friend recomended rewards, so I tell him when he does pee pee on potty he will get a surprise so he sits proud as anything and gets a jelly bean when he goes. I have also got him little pants with his favourite character on, he hates to get them wet so that has helped too. Someone recently told me potty training comes in 3 stages, first they need to get used to the fact its wrong to go in nappy cause up till now its what they have been doing, the second stage is guilt,they need to know that its ok to have an accident and the final stage is like learning to drive, you know where the accelerator, brake and clutch are but need to learn the order to use them, some learn quicker than others, it makes alot of sense. I have also enjoyed reading your other comments and wish you every sucess,

Natalie - posted on 07/23/2009

hey how you doing.

well you just gotta chill out about it simone, he isnt gunna do it if you make something of it. try just leaving the potty near the t.v for a while and then just making it fun by putting his favourite teddy on the potty. and then rewarding the teddy by praise of your childs favourite sweet. soon enough your child will get the game. just plenty of praise but he wont do it until HE is ready. good luck

Kerry - posted on 07/23/2009

You may have a really hard time since a child's brain is not normally developed enough to have that kind of control until 2 years old, girls usually sooner. It may be an exercise in futility to try to potty train any earlier.

Tonya - posted on 07/23/2009

With my second one I put some cheerioes in the toilet and have him try to aim at them. Also I never used pull ups I went directly to underwear and when he had an accident he did'nt like the feeling of it and after that he was going potty. Good Luck.

Tammy - posted on 07/23/2009

I've personally never known a boy to potty train that early. My son was about 3. I think the youngest boy I know who is potty trained is a little above 2 yrs. I would keep showing him the potty and encouraging him to go when he is willing. Don't pressure him AT ALL. If you make it a battle he will totally refuse to do it. Just be upbeat and encouraging but don't have much expectation of him doing it regularly at this point. The more you make it fun and optional and no big deal, the more likely he is to do it.

Kimberley - posted on 07/23/2009

Hiya i am curently trying to toillet train my little boy hu is now 22 months old. i did try when he was 18 months but then he was poorly so it sorta stopped. i am finding it hard 2 cus he keeps wetting the floor lol. at first he didnt like sitting on his potty and wud sit on it 4 maybe 5 secs then get up lol but my friend showed me a gd way 2 get him 2 stay there a lil longer and that was by either countin 2 10 with him with his fingers or by singing number songs like 1,2,3,4,5 once i caught a fish alive and so on. also have you tried him with big boys pants? as in boys pants...u can pick them up in primark and mothercare...i put them on my lil boy to wear around the house so then he knows wen he is wet...i kno it means changin him alot but he wont like being wet so might encourage him 2 go on the potty? jst an idea x

Kristina - posted on 07/23/2009

This is all really great advice. I would just echo that you should be really patient and go with his tempo. We used stickers to track progress and that was really successful. We don't believe in the food as a reward model, but know of plenty other parents who used it and were wildly successful; it is a personal call really. We also purchased a lot of fun books about potty training and since we have a son, about tractors and cars. He gets to read the "special books" on the potty, which is great and relaxing, and helps him get things done.

The biggest piece of advice is to stick with it once you start (unless your son clearly isn't ready, such as him screaming when you put him on the potty or such). Going back and forth with pull ups is really confusing for little kids, so just deal with the accidents (and there will be plenty) but just be encouraging and focus on all of those good times when you have success. We give a lot of praise, even if there was an accident, and say "we know you tried really hard to make it in time, and you will continue to try your best". It allows the child to feel good and positive about trying and not being punished for failing, especially in a situation where they have little (initial) control over the function. Best of luck!

Jennifer - posted on 07/23/2009

Hi Simone, my son is 4 and we're almost done with the potty training process, it's been a long road with lots of stops and starts. What i've learned is to not stress and let them go at their own pace, they can pick up on your anxiety. Take him to the store, let him pick out some big boy pull ups and skip diapers entirely. That way he'll feel he's graduated to big boy pants and that should help, they make overnight pull ups too. Start with that, maybe! Hope it helps, there are lots of stages thru the process as they master one thing to the next.



Good luck!

Jen

Erica - posted on 07/23/2009

I know some people have used the baby signs toilet training kit for early potty training:
https://www.babysigns.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=235&cat=21&source=pjn&subid=23296
follow the link to check it out!

Breanna - posted on 07/23/2009

We initially thought we'd be able to start our first son's potty training at 18 months. We bought a potty because he seemed to want to sit on the toilet like we did and would tell us when he had to pee or poop. However, after a few successful efforts he lost interest and it became darn near impossible to get him invested again. He's potty trained now, but it took a lot of patience and trial and error--until he was 4. This is not to discourage you, just to let you know that it may not work right away. Give it a shot, but if it doesn't work don't worry. He'll get the hang of it eventually.