Potty Training My 18 Month Old Daughter.

Cat - posted on 11/04/2011

Tell her CONSTANTLY..but don't ask her if she needs to go, actually ask her to TELL YOU if she needs to go (it's slightly different). Kids have very short attention spans and memories. Don't take her unless she is actually peeing/pooing or asks to be taken. If you take her randomly, she's not really learning how to read her own signs and will become dependent on you to cue her.



http://www.squidoo.com/three-day-potty-t...

Cat - posted on 11/04/2011

Ask her CONSTANTLY. Kids have very short attention spans and memories. Don't take her unless she is actually peeing/pooing or asks to be taken. If you take her randomly, she's not really learning how to read her own signs and will become dependent on you to cue her.

http://www.squidoo.com/three-day-potty-t...

Sakina - posted on 10/27/2011

You should wait till she can talk at least...she might be too young. 18 months is very young.

Tanya - posted on 10/27/2011

my daughter potty trained her self at 18mths but she was ready my other daughter was 2yrs 3weeks and it took her about 2weeks to learn so my point is if they r ready it wont take long and they will tell u when they need to go i have 5 kids and thats what i have found with my kids ...good luck

Tanya - posted on 10/27/2011

my daughter potty trained her self at 18mths but she was ready my other daughter was 2yrs 3weeks and it took her about 2weeks to learn so my point is if they r ready it wont take long and they will tell u when they need to go i have 5 kids and thats what i have found with my kids ...good luck

Marissa - posted on 10/26/2011

In my opinion 18 months is a little early to push the issue. What i did was at 18 mo. I had the potty in the bathroom and every time I went I brought my daughter with me and let her take her diaper off and sit on the potty if she went I made a big deal out of it cheering and everything if she didn't oh well maybe next time as it got closer to her turning 2 she was getting used to going when we went in the bathroom and she was starting to ask to go so the day after she turned 2 I stopped using diapers except at night, I put panties on her with the vinyl panties over them and she went 3 days before her 1st accident and we haven't looked back. On the other hand my oldest daughter was almost 3 and I had been pushing her to use the potty since she was 18 months I would take her in there every 2 hours and she would never go finally at 3 I had to spend 3 days with her running around the house naked the 1st day was a couple of accidents then by the 3rd day she was accident free.

Liz - posted on 10/02/2011

For all of the posters that say that children at this age are too young to potty train, Remember that all kids are very different. Did all of our kids walk at the same age? Did they all start talking or teething or do anything along the exact same time line? NO they did not. My daughter is almost 17 months old. I challenge you to try to get her in a diaper. She has her mind made up and she will not wear them any more. She picked out a bunch of new panties and that was that. She was done with diapers. She doesn't need timers, incentives or reminders to go to the bathroom. She comes and tells me she needs to go. She helps pull her pants down and sits happily until she goes. She will even tell me when she needs to go when we are shopping, playing outside, or at someone's house. She may have a potty accident every 3 or 4 days but, she comes and tells me and helps me clean up the mess. She has not pooped in her diaper since she was 14 months old. She has been going on the potty since 13 months. I have not pushed it at all. Just following her signals that she is ready. ALL KIDS ARE DIFFERENT!! If your child isn't ready until they are 2 or 3 then fine, but don't think we are doing something "wrong" because our children are ready. It is not a race.

Charmaine - posted on 10/02/2011

For number 2 - I wait for the face and then bolt with junior to the adult toilet and place his toddler seat in it and leave him there with the rubber ducky. For urine, every 20 min should be ok.

Julie - posted on 09/27/2011

My daughter will be turning 3 next month and I have to say a month ago she decided she wanted to use the potty finally. I didn't stress too much, but we did introduce the potty to her last summer when she was just over 18 months but I had a newborn baby too, so I didn't push too much. Before she started wanting to use the potty, I would ask her if she wanted to go or I would try and see if she would go and she was not very consistent and even told me this past summer she didn't want to wear underwear she wanted to wear diapers still. So I just kept talking to her about it and letting her do the leading. Like I said a month ago she woke up and decided she wanted to start using the potty and she has been using it every since (not during the night though yet, that will come later). She has only had a few accidents in the last month too. I use training underwear on her right now, but I've decided based on my expierence with my daughter that they will be ready when they are ready... you cannot force them to use it or do it unless they want to. One day they will decide it's time and why spend all the tears and energy doing something that you want them to do but they aren't ready for. When it's my son's turn, I will introduce it and I will talk to him about it but I'm going to let him take the lead because he is the only one who will know when he's ready. They will not be in diapers forever. Good luck!!!!!

Billie - posted on 09/22/2011

I don't care what the "experts" say about potty training. 18 months is NOT the perfect age for ALL kids to potty train. My daughter is 2 1/2yrs and she's still not ready, she DOES NOT have control over her bladder. And just because I have 2 kids in diapers, does NOT mean that we're filling up landfills, that's what cloth diapers and cloth wipes are for. I feel very sorry for kids who have to deal with parents expecting them to do exactly what the "experts" say. No one knows your child better than YOU!

Denise - posted on 09/22/2011

18 months isn't too early to potty train. Remember it's up to a parent as to when they think it is time. My 3 children were trained at 1 year old and then 2. My son was 2 due to a surgery there and had to wait. girls were 1. Only a few accidents at night for about 2 weeks. It is a fulltime job for about 3 to 4 weeks but then you are finished. Always make it a positive experience and a happy time. Being consistant is the best for your child. I am also a childcare provider of 23 years and it is very easy. several of mine were done in 2 weeks and yes some of them were boys. Good luck and find what works for you and your child. games are good too. books that your child enjoys that you share just for potty time so they look forward to it. dish soap in a star so when they void it makes bubbles. this also works for boys when they stand too! : )

Susan - posted on 09/22/2011

The first day I suggested to my daughter every half hour. The second day she was really annoyed by it. (FYI 18 mos is young to start - so be prepared you may have to revisit the process in a while!) SHe fully got it for four days and then wanted to go back to diapers. (This was at about 2.3 yrs). No she's into training again and I ask her casually now and then and say we always try to go potty before we go outside "just in case"- even if you don't feel like you have to go. www.thesusie.blogspot.com

Joanne - posted on 09/18/2011

I found asking every 30mins or when she started tugging at her clothes, we also kept track of the time and what was done so we got to know when she needed to go! I also got her to pick some underwear She wanted and brought it's a treat so now when she wears it she is more focussed as she doesn't want to soil them! Unfortunately my daughter when 18 months regressed back to nappies so I left her until she was showing signs, finally she got the hang of it at 3 but it's great to see her happier and very proud that she is doing it al by herself!! Persevere and good luck

Bonnie - posted on 09/15/2011

18 months is too young IMO. If you push her too much when she isn't ready, she will regress, but if you feel she is ready. Ask her every 30 minutes or put her on the potty every 30 minutes. I would expect to see much progress though.

Debbie - posted on 09/15/2011

My grand daughter is almost 18 months is already telling us when she had gone poop in her diaper and she is grabbing her diaper when she pees not all the time but most of the time. I think it should depend on the child not the parent some kids are ready younger and some not til they are almost 3.

Jenn - posted on 09/08/2011

ditto to she's young. They really do tell US when they're ready. I play around an keep it fun when they're under 2 yrs old

Claire - posted on 09/08/2011

go to potty boot camp - did it when my daughter was21 months and it took 5 days - day 1 was hard but rapidly gets easier, i would recommend training before any child gets to two as using a nappy is then an ingrained habbit that's difficult to change.

EMILY - posted on 09/08/2011

I say go for it my daughter is 18months and she goes on the potty most of the time, we still have a few accidents. She started being interested about 3 months ago and she will tell us she has to potty, if shes interested go for it for sure.

Caroline - posted on 09/08/2011

Even 13-15 years ago when my kids were little, I tried to very aware of this from an environment standpoint--long before being "green" was the in-thing of today. Although diapers are ultra-absorbent, I would see mothers changing their kids umpteen times a day. Why? I would keep the changes to a bare minimum. If they felt the slight wetness or the weight, that only helped with potty training. I changed them enough to prevent rashes, but not too much so that they never knew what was happening. I think the infrequent diaper changes only helped with me being able to train my kids around 18 months, and never, ever even bought or touched a single pull-up (I never understood that item--it's 100% an unnecessary item that's pushed through marketing). As my kids got older, I saw the average potty-training age get older and older to a crazy average age of today. I can't believe that there are 3-5 year old who aren't trained yet. That's crazy!! And for people advocating to not even START until 2.5-3 years old is completely irresponsible advice. If you do a little research, you'll actually see that even a generation ago, most kids were trained by 2. This whole "wait until the kid is ready" thing is crazy and is more to the benefit of the diaper companies than for the kids or the families.

Tracey - posted on 09/08/2011

Early start training is just what I was talking about a few pages back! It's not about bragging "my kid was trained at 9 months", it's about a cleaner home environment (no feces to deal with), a less-painful experience for the baby (no "rash", which is actually acid burns), a less-stressful experience for everyone (because there wasn't ever a battle of wills), and as Caroline mentioned, fewer diapers in the landfills, or less water used in rinsing out diapers. I didn't know about this until my 3rd child, and the experience compared to the other two was that she didn't cry nearly as much (no rash, ever and so cost for rash cream), we didn't spend anything like the amount on diapers we'd spent on each of the other two, and the house smelled a heck of a lot better (even though we had a Diaper Genie--you can still smell it). So I'm not coming on here bragging, but trying to pull the wool off of the eyes that the diaper companies try to cover up.

Caroline - posted on 09/08/2011

I wish people would stop posting that 18 months is too early. Not only does that not help this mom by not answering her question, but it's absolutely terrible advice. ALL child development books say that 18 months is a perfect time for kids to start. I know many kids who were fully trained by then!!! It's a matter of making it a routine and being aware of your own body--and a mom who wants to teach that to her children gets major kudos from me! BTW, there is new research now that even babies as young as 6 months old can be potty-trained. We all know when a kid is peeing or pooping. It's suggested that you start training by taking your 6 month old directly to the toilet (not potty chair) when this happens. By doing this every time, you are equating bowel movements to the bathroom. You are creating the healthy association and pattern. Doing so early on (whether at 6 months or 18 months), you are "training" them that much earlier. And the earlier you do it, the less diapers to buy and less diapers to fill our landfills and pollute our earth.

Caroline - posted on 09/08/2011

That is so GREAT that you're starting potty-training now. ALL research shows that normal 18 month olds are DEFINITELY ready to be trained at this age. Doing so will teach them not only awareness of their own body, but also self-confidence and self-esteem. I just posted on another question where the mother is having trouble training her almost 5 year old. 5 years old!! Wow, talk about missing the window.

Anyway, you can repeatedly ask throughout the day if she needs to go, reminding her. Let her watch you as you go to the bathroom. Of course, do the obvious ones--first thing in the morning after she wakes up, after meals and last thing before going to bed. If she's able to get the sensation and complete the cycle properly of going to the bathroom for just one of those, you'll be on the way. IMHO, the morning one is the easiest one to accomplish so I would start/emphasize that one.

Elisabeth - posted on 09/06/2011

what i did with my daughter when she was 2 and it worked was take her to the bathroom once every hour and let her sit there for 10 minutes, then i would do every 2 and every 3 and so and so on, for a few weeks and it should get easier for her and also applaud her doings , yay poopy yay pee pee she should have it in no time!

Denise - posted on 09/06/2011

she should be reminded about every hour to hour and a half. remember she is in training she isn't sure she has to go until she is reminded and the bladder trained. : )

Simone - posted on 09/06/2011

I have 3 children 1 boy and 2 girls all of them were fully trained day and night at 18mths old it was the best thing i ever did girls I found were much easier than boys everyone was always shocked they were toilet trained so early, I think everything 15 to 20 mins is good it worked for me and I never used a potty I used a step later to the toilet so I didnt have to train them on potty then toilet I cut out a step I found that heaps easier good luck oh and It only took me two weeks to train them.

Maggie - posted on 09/05/2011

arr hun different for every one. i would ask her every couple of hours.

Supriya - posted on 09/05/2011

With my daughter we let her be without a diapers in the summer and had a potty sitting out.1st 2 times she had an accident and then she got it and would run to the potty when she felt it coming and still had maybe another 2 accidents or so but then she got it.It took her just a week. Do not put her in Pull-ups its just like diapers,if she does not like getting her self wet she will go in the potty,We also treated her with just 1 M&M and then when she pooped we gave her 2 M&M's:) . Also if she does it and all done with the training and when u take her outside to go potty(Restaurants etc. carry clorox wipes in a small Ziploc) so you can clean the Potty before she uses. But just don't push potty training on her. All the Best :)

Michelle - posted on 09/02/2011

When my mom was potty training me, she would sit me on the potty, strap me on the potty with my dad's belt and turn on the musical, "The Sound Of Music," which is a 3 hour movie. She should have done something by the time the movie is over. Good luck Nicole.

Kim - posted on 09/01/2011

A lot of mothers want their child to be potty trained due to preschool wanting them to do it, or cut cost in diapers or to say "My baby was potty trained a X age..they are advanced" well, there is a problem with all of that. I was potty trained at 18months and wet the bed for over a year after that. If a child's bladder isn't developed enough to hold it, it won't work. Children let you know when they are ready! Potty training will not work if they are still on a bottle at anytime day or not. I bought a potty chair and set in our bathroom so everytime I needed to go or even when I didn't (every hour on the hour) I would have my daughter go in with me, she got were she resented it! Finally I was told, they will let you know when they are ready. I said ok, so I pulled the potty chair in the livingroom...yep the livingroom..a place she will see it all the time. I had bought some ruffelly panties and showed them to my daughter and told her, when you decide you are ready to be a big girl and potty in your potty chair, you can have the pretty panties. Approx. 2 weeks later I noticed the potty chair was out of the livingroom. I peeked around the corner in her room and she had pulled her pottychair in there, had her diaper off and did number 1 and two, I praised her cleaned her up and gave her the big girl pretty panties...she neverrrrrrrrrr never ever had an accident ...never wet the bed, never any issues while we were out shopping either. My son well he took longer, which most boys do...I had him going in with his dad when his dad had to go to see how to do it, or while they were in the yard (we live on 5 acres) to pee on a tree, which he found fun and ran with that one! Wishing you the best!

Candi - posted on 09/01/2011

An important developmental step for every child is potty training. Most children begin using the toilet as toddlers, usually between 18 months and 3 years old. (Note: It usually takes a little longer to potty train boys than girls. Boys, on average, can be successfully potty trained in 12 weeks. Girls, on average, can be successfully potty trained in 10 weeks.)

Signs that your child may be ready to start potty training include:

Staying dry for at least two hours at a time.
Having regular bowel movements.
Being able to follow instructions.
Being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and asking for them to be changed.
Asking to use the potty or saying that they need to urinate or have a bowel movement.
Showing interest in the toilet and/or wearing “big kid” underpants.
When you begin potty training:

Dress your child appropriately for potty training. Garments with elasticized waists, Velcro, and snaps are usually easy for your child to take off and put on.
Choose a potty seat that your child can easily use on their own.
Your child may want to personalize his/her potty: by letting him/her write his/her name on the little potty, a sense of ownership can develop. Your child may be more likely to use a potty if s/he feels it is uniquely his/hers.
Assure your child that s/he will not fall in the potty (many children have fears of falling in a toilet while sitting on it).
Encourage your child to use the potty at regular intervals - or whenever s/he show signs that s/he needs to go.
Use proper terms (urinating and defecating) as well as the terms your child may be more comfortable with (peeing and pooping). Make sure that you define your terms so that your child becomes adept at using the terms him-/herself.
Start with the basics. Both boys and girls should be shown how to potty from a seated position first. Once boys master urinating from a seated position, they can “graduate” to learning how to urinate while standing. The reason boys should learn to urinate while seated first is that bowel movements and urination often occur in the same bathroom visit . . . additionally, the delay in learning to urinate while standing minimizes the likelihood of your son making messes while enthralled with the spray he can create by urinating.
Teach your child to wipe properly. Show him/her how to remove toilet paper from the roll, wipe, and throw the used toilet paper in the toilet. Instruct girls to wipe from front to back, which helps avoid urinary tract infections. (Note: your child may need help to wipe effectively, especially after a bowel movement, until about age 4 or 5.)
Be supportive and use rewards, such as stickers, when your child is successful on the potty.
Use praise, applause, special songs, reading a special book in the bathroom, or whatever else resonates with your child.
Avoid pressure: your child will likely have accidents during the process. Don’t punish him or her for any setbacks.
Be sure that your babysitter understands your approach to potty training and is consistent with rewards, praise, etc.
Let your child pick out new ‘big kid” underpants with his/her favorite characters (Dora, Thomas the Train, etc.) on them.
Use potty-themed books and videos to reinforce key messages.
Don’t begin toilet training during a stressful time (e.g., moving, new baby, starting a new preschool, etc.)
Recognize that your child has control of his/her bodily functions, and you can’t get him/her to “go” on the potty until s/he is ready. Don’t turn this into a power struggle because it’s one that you won’t win. If your child seems to develop a resistance to potty training, don’t continue the potty training. You can resume potty training when you child again expresses an interest in learning to use the potty.
When your child has completed a visit to the potty, show your child how to flush the potty. Some children experience fear of the flushing mechanism: they fear that they themselves may be flushed away. You may need to flush the potty for your child for a period of time, until your child observes no harm resulting from each flush. At that time, your child should naturally develop a desire to try his/her own hand at flushing the potty. Once the potty is flushed, show your child how to wash his/her hands.
Calmly and patiently teaching your child how to use his/her potty can be a trust-building, bonding experience for both of you. Let the potty begin!

Amanda - posted on 09/01/2011

I forgot to say - I bribe him too!!

Amanda - posted on 09/01/2011

My boy was 2 on July 11th and have had him sitting on the potty in the mornings (watching tv) for about six months, when he first gets up & again after breakfast. Once we got the morning toileting sorted, I have encouraged him to wear undies and sit on the potty every hour, tried pullups but they dont tell them when they are wet. The last two days he has been in undies all day and just had one accident each day! Tonight he told me when he was eating his tea that he needed to go wees so I am stoked. I have a friend whose boy sits on the potty every night after tea and is forming the same habits. I also think the potty needs to be in the family area at first & you have too be a bit brave about it - it certainly saves on nappies!

Mary - posted on 08/31/2011

Try taking her to a potty every two hours, weather she says she needs to or not.

Shannon - posted on 08/31/2011

Most kids aren't ready at 18 months.2 or 3 is a more reasonable time to start, unless she is showing signs of being ready...asking for the petty or asking about big girl panties, etc. Otherwise, you are setting both of you up for failure. Wait a while and you will have a much better chance of success.

Maria - posted on 08/31/2011

Okay so I haven't read any of the other replies but here's what I can almost 100% GUARANTEE will work and will also not stress you out. First of all..take her about every 2 hrs and sit with her for about 10-15minutes. You can read her a book, sing a potty song, whatever you can think of to occupy her mind. Also, if she has a potty chair, let her bring it out into the living room and watch some TV or play a game sitting on her potty chair. This will get her used to sitting on it and also make it fun. It's all about making this fun for her.
If she throws a fit or insistently does not want to get on the potty over and over, don't push the issue. My son did that for a while, and ONE DAY he just decided he was going to do it. Just like that haha It takes time, patience, and knowing that they won't do it until they are ready.
Maybe getting a sticker chart or some type of reward would help also.
Good luck!

Betty - posted on 08/30/2011

I start my son on potty train when he was 10mths... start in the morning only, trained him to pass motion in the morning. Slowly, every 2 hrs, we would bring him to the potty. When he was 1.5yrs old, we didn't let him wear pampers during the day at home, we'll kept remind him to wee wee before sleep & every 2 hrs. soon or later, when he knew how to speak, he will tell you he wants 'wee wee', immediately we bring him to the potty. of course, at the begining, he will urine everyway & keep changing his pant. Now, he is 2.5yrs old, he don't need to wear pampers during the day either at home or go out, also, no pampers when he is having his nap, but at night is a must for him. He will able to identify urin & past motion, and we will go to the potty himself, of course we have to clean for him.

Be patient
BET

Linda - posted on 08/30/2011

I raised 3 children, so let me tell u about my experiences. My daughter sat on the potty first time when she was about 13 months old and that was it. No more diapers for her. She was "trained" before her brother who was 14 months older. I don't remember how old he was when he finally gave up the diapers, it had to be about 2 1/2. The youngest one pooped his pants until he was 4, but only when he was at home....not nursery school, shopping, eating out etc. He knew exactly what he was doing!! What I am saying, they will do it in their own time, and so don't get so anxious about it Mom. It's a matter of muscle control and only they can do it. And this is one thing they are totally in charge.

Elizabeth - posted on 08/30/2011

We got a really cute kitchen timer, it had a puppy on it and we called it the puppy potty timer. We set it to ring about every hour. She would jump up and say it's potty time. It worked really well.

Donna - posted on 08/30/2011

I wouldn't worry about it being to young. If you think it is the right time for you then go for it. I have heard there are some people that start training their children to go to the potty as soon as they are 1wk. old. Their reasoning is that children only use diapers because that is what we have trained them to do and that it what is convenient for us as adults. I used cheap little stickers to potty train mine. What child doesn't like stickers and this time of year you can get a book of those little round stickers in the teacher supply sections that has thousands in it. I taped a paper on the wall right next to the stool where my children could reach it. There were two columns, one for peeing and one for pottying. For every time they peed they got to put one sticker on the paper, for everytime they pottied they got to put two stickers on the paper. I did keep the stickers out of their reach so they would have to come tell me what they did (and show me the evidence, most children can be exremely conniving when they think they are going to get a reward, lol) before they would get a sticker to put up. I did still use a pull up at night with them as it is just to hard for them to hold it all night and most of the times they just sleep through it. After a while though when their little bladders got stronger I would use the same pull up every night. If at the end of the week the pull up was still dry they would get to go to a store and pick out a little .99 toy hot wheels car (my daughter loved this as much as my son did). Hope you have been able to find some help from all of this.

Rangi - posted on 08/30/2011

every 20 mins or 10 mins even after giving her a drink ask her or you could play the sticker game every time she goes potty and does something she gets to choose a stick and make her a stick chart...make it into a game.don't worry if she doesn't do poo's just mastermind the wee wee's first then comes the poo's it does work they think its fun and once she is rewarded with a stick she will want to do me more and you just say to her if she does more wee wee's in the potty she will get another stick...

Joyce - posted on 08/30/2011

Congratulations for making the effort to potty train your daughter.... I have a grand-daughter who has turned 2yrs and is still in Nappies...
She is in full time nursery as my daughter works...therefore to try and train is a bit hit and miss.
When I had my daughter she was fully trained and in little panties by the time she was13months old and by 15 months completely dry 24/7
I put it down to the fact that she wore old fashioned Terry Toweling Nappies which kept the moisture in rather than channeling it away so that baby still feels dry.
My daughter is a qualified child psychologist and when I spoke to her about potty training her daughter I was told that the child will naturally become dry in their own time and that forcing them only puts up barriers...Poppycock!!!...
During a child's lifetime the most learning is done in the 1st 24months... They learn to walk.. talk ...express themselves ...etc etc... .I think its the nappy manufacturers cashing in on the fact that some mums have to go to work and stay dry nappies are the best bet making you buy more.
You keep up the good work Huni... your daughter will learn in time to ask to go "Potty" and she will do this by example.
Take her to the toilet with you and each time you go put her on her potty and if she uses it make a big thing of it ..clapping and cheering...Children love to copy what mummy is doing...Can you get trainer pants were you live.... They are like little pants but are made of Terry Toweling and have a plastic outside....they will absorb some on the liquid but at least it gives the child the sensation of feeling uncomfortable unlike the nappy which keeps them dry...
I hope all my waffling has helped.... Good Luck...and Keep on keeping on with the potty training....xx

Alison - posted on 08/29/2011

asked every two hours

Rachel - posted on 08/29/2011

I know this seems silly, however we bought the Potty Watch. And you can set the time on it to go off every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes, and so on. We started with every 15 minutes and put a potty chair in our living room. And we let her ruln around naked. It only took a few days and a few accidents to potty train! Now she is 4 years old and hasn't had an accident since 2!

Alice - posted on 08/29/2011

Has she shown signs of wanting to train yet? Mine did it early at 22mths but they were showing classic signs like removing their nappy trying to get on the toilet, actually going when i put them on, being happy about going when I asked. Dont push it with out signs or they will rebel again continuing. If they are showing signs be casual and ask about every 20-30 mins in a happy voice. I moment it feels like a chore to you, it will to them too :)

Doreen - posted on 08/29/2011

Your daughter is much to young to be potty trained. She will be ready when she can say "I have to go potty", when she can stand on a stool and wash her hands, and put her panties and pants on and off by herself. Prior to these abilities it will be you that is potty trained not her. I would suggest 2 1/2 at the earliest. I am mother to 5; was foster Mom to a lot and Mom-Mom of 13.

Annie - posted on 08/29/2011

While at home, I used to leave my sons' without a nappy or trousers and just put the potty where they could easily get to it. I reminded them about every half an hour, or so and when they successfully used the potty, I rewarded them with a small treat....a couple of chocolate buttons usually went down well. My eldest was a quick learner and was dry by 18 months, but my middle son was about 3. Just remember, all kids develop differently and your daughter is only 18 months, so don't stress yourself if she doesn't take to it straight away.

Jamela - posted on 08/29/2011

dont ask her, i did every 2 hours or an hour after she drinks something, both my kids potty trained before two yrs old

Helen - posted on 08/29/2011

You have had some very wise advice given! I agree with what has already been said, get to know your daughter and just give it a try. My boys were way too distracted to be bothered with silly things like going to the toilet! So they weren't trained until 31/2 and 4yrs - and this is not, as someone suggested, because I was 'too lazy' to take them - I spent many frustrating moments standing at the loo door singing sesame street songs for months! It is rarely the fault of the parent for TT problems. Anyway, my other piece of advice is to make sure the potty is relatively comfy for her; my boys, being that bit older, found the potty too small for their behinds, so we used one of the seats that go over the toilet. All the best with it, and well done for having the wisdom to ask for advice!

Tracey - posted on 08/29/2011

Like you're not trained to change diapers? Read my earlier posts in this thread, back about page 4 or 5. It's scientifically-proven and the method historically and around the world even today. When you have to clean diapers by pounding them on a rock in the river, suddenly waiting to train until 2 1/2 or 3 doesn't sound so good. Evidence shows it reduces risk of the rest of the family getting sick because their fecal matter doesn't come into contact with as many surfaces. Evidence also shows that there is less chance of Incomplete Bladder/Bowel Training Syndrome, where they have accidents more easily even as much older kids. The only "scientists" pushing late training are on the payroll of the diaper companies.

Tracey - posted on 08/29/2011

Like you're not trained to change diapers? Read my earlier posts in this thread, back about page 4 or 5. It's scientifically-proven and the method historically and around the world even today. When you have to clean diapers by pounding them on a rock in the river, suddenly waiting to train until 2 1/2 or 3 doesn't sound so good. Evidence shows it reduces risk of the rest of the family getting sick because their fecal matter doesn't come into contact with as many surfaces. Evidence also shows that there is less chance of Incomplete Bladder/Bowel Training Syndrome, where they have accidents more easily even as much older kids. The only "scientists" pushing late training are on the payroll of the diaper companies.