Girl Potty Training

Updated on May 03, 2009
B.H. asks from Springfield, MO
21 answers

I have 3 children, my first 2 are boys and my 3rd is a girl. I am very familiar to potty training boys but was wondering if girls go earlier than boys. Mine were 3 when they started to show signs of potty readiness but my 19 month old girl is already showing signs. Should I start now or am I being too eager?

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P.M.

answers from St. Louis on

yes girls do, my daughter let me know when she was 18 months that she was ready when she came to me with her soiled diaper in her hand that she had taken off herself and when I went into the bathroom there were signs she hadtried to get on the big toilet to use the bathroom, my son took a little longer to train.

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V.F.

answers from Topeka on

I have heard that girls usually are ready earlier than boys. I had 3 kids
girl totally potty trained at 3 1/2
boy totally potty trained at 2 1/2
boy totally potty trained at 4 1/2
Each child is so different.

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C.S.

answers from Topeka on

B.,
If she is showing signs there's no harm in starting. Just don't get discouraged if she changes her mind. My older daughter was completely trained by 27 months. My younger daughter showed signs early, but then completely shut down. She was a month shy of 3 before she decided she was ready again. Then she was done with diapers in a matter of days.
Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity of interest. I would go with it. I haven't had boys, but my girls were fully (and easily) daytime potty trained by 19 months and 22 months. If they're showing you it's time, I'd try. If they push back, you can ease up. Enjoy!

K.

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C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Both of my girls started to show signs of readiness at around 18 months. For one reason or another, I didn't potty train either one at that time. The oldest is now almost for and trying to potty train her at 3 was a nightmare! If your daughter is showing signs, then don't wait. The longer you wait, the more of a battle it will become.

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S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

If she is showing signs I would start I went back and forth with the idea with my daughter who is 27 months old and had been showing signs since she was 2 I started last wednesday with underpants and she is getting it very well the first day was very rough with alot of accidents but after that one day she was always telling my potty and we made it way more that the last so yes it takes a couple of days so I would pick a weekend where you will be home all weekend and just put her into straight underware and let her go! Good luck!

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter will be two next week, and we've been potty training for several months now. If she's ready, then you should be ready too. Go buy those pull-ups!

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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

My son was day trained by 21 months. It is very doable, even if they don't show any of the "readiness" signs that diaper companies would have you believe are necessary to training.

K.M.

answers from Wichita on

yep-girls often show signs at a much earlier age. check into some great potty training products at www.healthybabyboutique.com. They have the "Potty Train in one day video", hard to find waterproof potty patty training pants, sticker charts, and more.

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T.K.

answers from Springfield on

I had two boys, but I've always heard girls are ready earlier than boys. If she's ready I'd go for it!

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B.S.

answers from Joplin on

It's VERY common for girls to train much earlier and easier than boys.
It's also very common for a third child to train much earlier and easier than previous siblings.
Go for it !

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M.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi B.,

I have two girls (4 and 2) and a little boy that will be one next month. My girls started showing signs that they were ready around 16-18 months believe it or not. What we did was put them on a little training potty when we would have to go. Sometimes they would go sometimes they wouldn't. BUT they got the idea. Sometimes they would say they needed to and would or wouldn't go. Anyway, they were both completely potty trained by two. That being said, we just took it slow and went on there cues. Praised them for trying and rewarded when they went. I can tell you that the major cue to me when I knew that we were ready to go to panties was when they got the "fear" to go #2 in the potty. They would go #2 all the time and then they got some fear of it. That's when I knew. Because they could control their bodily functions then. They could hold going to the bathroom and wait until the diaper was put back on. So I put them in panties (real panties only use pull ups for bed time and still call them panties... we call them night night panties) They would get upset if they had to go #2 but I made them sit there and I would sit there with them and tell them that it was ok and that I was there. After a couple times of that they were over the "fear". And completely potty trained!!! Once you go to panties DO NOT go back to diapers. You will confuse them. I hope that this was helpful and not too confusing!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

My Best,
M.

M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I havent potty trained a boy yet, so I cannot comment on the fact/myth that girls do it sooner, but my daughter was completely potty trained at 2 1/2. So at 19 months, I wouldnt say its too early. I would def encourage her interests! Good luck!

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R.C.

answers from Wichita on

Some experts (eg Brazelton, he has a great book on potty learning) recommend waiting until ALL signs of readiness are present, eg being able to take her clothes off and on, waking up from naps dry, etc. Personally I don't think there's harm in letting her sit on the potty if/when she wants to, but don't assume that means she will progress at any particular rate, or be done earlier than a kid who starts later. My oldest daughter was interested at 18 mos, but not out of diapers in the day til after her 3rd birthday.

Also, keep in mind that while there may be general trends ("girls are easier than boys"), they may not apply to YOUR kids. They're all individuals, and the only guarantee is that nothing works for every kid. :)

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S.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Both my girls were 2 1/2 when they were good and ready to potty train. The oldest showed some intrest around 2, but she wasn't really ready. My step-sister, who has 4 girls had told me that 2 1/2 was the magic age for girls. And I think she was right. At 2 1/2 we went gung ho with the potty training it only took about a week for each of them. We used realy panties (pull up at night only) and I don't know if my kids are just odd, but they would not use a potty chair, it had to be the big potty. So se just got the little seat insert for the toilet and they were happy. From about 2 to 2 1/2 we would let them set on it when they wanted and praised them when they did. Good luck!!

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N.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I would say if she's showing signs, go ahead and start! My son did the same thing...he's now 2 1/2, and I have no doubt he will be completely potty trained by his birthday at the end of August.

Good luck!

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K.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Assuming everyone is healthy, girls typically have a more rapid pace of development than boys.

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G.N.

answers from St. Louis on

Its totally your call, you can introduce her to it, maybe get a potty chair let her see it, u can let her know what its for, get books at your local library about girls going on the potty. I just got a book from the library called The potty book for boys, but they have one for girls also, its by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. The thing to do is let her go at her own pace, dont push it as she is rather young, but all kids are different. Let her take the lead of wanting to do it or not. My son was 19mths when he showed interest, peeing on the potty, it went on for 2mths then he wanted nothing to do with the potty. He would go back to it for a bit then nothing. Let her see you going potty and just talk to her about what your doing and that someday u will be out of diapers and peeing and pooping in the potty just like mommy.

Good Luck

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C.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter began showing signs at 14 months. I tried potty training by going straight to panties at 16 months but I wasn't quite ready yet. That method takes constant supervision for several days and I knew at her young age it would be a little bit so I decided to wait. By 19 months she pretty much forced my hand. I couldn't keep a diaper on her for anything and the final straw was when she took off her poopy diaper, tried to finish on her potty seat and then came to find me with a poopy butt. I went ahead and started potty training that day, again going straight to panties. It only took 4 days before we were able to get out and about. The information I used suggested waiting until she was 22 months so that the process wouldn't take as long. That was my plan but she had another idea. Based on my experience if she is showing signs of readiness I would definately encourage her. I used 3daypottytraining.com. My girl friend used the same with her son at 3 years old and she was done in 3 days. Night time took a couple of extra days for both of our kids.

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M.T.

answers from Springfield on

My daughter showed signs at 10 months and was completely potty trained, even through the night, by 18 months. Good luck.

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B.S.

answers from Springfield on

Perfect timeing - put her in dresses with pretty panties and a potty chair close by. While you are temporarily a SAHM your window of opportunity is great.

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