Potty Training - Sacramento, CA

Everyone kept pushing me to push him to go.. The best advice i got was " They will let you know when they are ready." And Boy is it the truth i have a 3 1/2 year old boy whom i tried to push to go and alls it did was scare him.. Then we stoped forcing him and a few months after that it was amazing he just went potty and ever since then weve had NO ACCIDENTS no wetting the bed nothing .. So Just wait until hes ready He will let you know... Hope this helps

Hey D.,

I don't agree that he's too young. My daughter started showing interest at like 14/15 months. I bought a chair at BabysRus (cheaper at target I found out). It has the option of staying on the floor at their level or taking the top off and putting it on the big potty. I love this one for two reasons, 1. It has handles on it for them (big help for the fearful ones), & a small hole so they won't fall through (my daughter is tiny), 2. You can get them used to being up high on the big potty so you don't have to transition again (from floor potty to big potty). Aslo, when it's on the big potty, the base opens up to stairs so they can climb up themselves!

Granted my daughter has just now started going on a regular basis (she is 25 mos.), but I really think that sitting on the potty alot for practice, getting her comfortable with the idea first so it's not so scary, and not pushing has made all the difference. I remember assuming that she would be potty trained well before the age of two, and making such a big deal about it that she decided she no longer wanted to even try. Kid's will do that to ya!

So my advice to you is keep the potty around (let him play with it, etc...) for familiarity purposes, make it fun and light (NEVER get angry if he doesn't want to because it will only backfire and cause back pedaling), and let it be a decision that HE makes. Giving little ones some sense of control does wonders for their self esteem and ego. Always praise him, make a VERY big deal when he wants to try, and an even bigger deal when he actually goes potty.

Oh, and be prepared for months of trying with no results. You may struggle because what you want isn't always what they want, and they like nothing more that to prove you wrong. :-) At least my daughter does.

Alright, I think I'm done. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to chat! I'd love to hear your progress!

Good luck!!!
Have fun!!!

T.

____@____.com

Stacy J posted almost the same question on Fri. Apr. 20, 2007
She asked "I was going to purchase a Potty chair for my son, and the one I was going to get is now discontinued. He is going to be one and he weighs 30 pounds. So I was looking for a good sturdy one. Can anyone help."

Good Luck, -J

P.S. Isn't it funny how 2 moms with kids the same age can get such different responses?!? If you're ready, and he's ready, go for it. My mom used the regular potty for my brother and says he was about 98% trained by 1 year. She said that he would wake up around 6:oo am and ask for milk, but would still be bone dry. If she put him back to bed, by 7:00 he was SOAKED, and so where is blankets and sheets. So she says she started taking him to the toilet as soon as he woke up and had him sit there to drink his milk. She said it only took about 3 days for him to figure it out, then he'd PEE like an elephant! According to her it was about 2 more months to get him the rest of the way potty trained. (Execpt the 2%, "I'm too busy having fun" part. :O) )

So I say, if he's showing signs of readiness, then go ahead and try. Even if it takes him a year, you're no worse off for the exprience!

Again, Good Luck!

I agree w/the otehr responses....he's too young. I'm sure you're anxious to be done w/diapers but it could be more of a headache than you're both ready for. It could be that since he's so young, the potty training may take longer as he doesn't really possess the maturity - developmentally & emtionally - that's needed to potty train which is why I say it may be a bigger headache than you're both ready for. If he's interested, sure, buy a cheap potty, they don't need a fancy one, & when he wants to sit on, more power to him! we have 2 sons, 6.5 years & 22 months. I started training our older son when he was about 33 months old. He just started preschool & was seeing other kids, boys specifically, pee in the potty so he was more interested. He got the peeing part in about a month but the pooping part took a bit longer. So, all in all, he was totally potty trained in about 3 months. Your son is at such a great age now....his little personality is coming out more, he's probably starting to say a few words & develop favorite boosk & toys. Just enjoy him & wait to potty train for another 1.5 year or so. Hope this helps.

I found a potty chair at Walmart that plays a tune when they potty. That really made my little ones day when she finally went. It turned from fussing to smiles and claps.

Make sure you talk to him often about what will be happening. No more diapers, big boy potty, and underwear or pull ups. Then just give it a shot! If it doesn't work, give him a little time and try again in a few months.

I think 14 months is too soon to try potty training. Sorry.........

Dear D.,

I don't know about the potty to buy, but I do know that you are starting too young. His body is not mature enough to do all of the muscle work that learning to go to the toilet requires. Sorry. Just keep on diapering, Honey.

Sincerely, C. N.

no offense, but you are setting yourself up for failure. Potty training should begin until after 2 years of age and most kids especially boys aren't completely trained until after 3. I know your sick of diapers but you have at least another year before you should consider it. Even if you do get him potty trained the odds of him backsliding and going back into diapers is huge. Then you have to train him twice. enjoy him now as a baby and don't rush him to grow up, it happens soon enough.

I work with children ages 24-36 months and have worked with as young as 8 months and am the mother of a 7 year old. The youngest I have experienced a child successfully potty trained has been about 18 months. The child really needs to develop the cognitive awareness the sensations of needing to use the toilet. The child needs to possess the language to communicate that he/she needs to go to the potty. The child needs to possess the desire to use the potty. And as far as potty seats are concerned, you child should really be taught the skills to know how to use a regular adults sized toilet, as when you are in public or over at family or friends house and you child is in underwear, you are not going to have the convenince of your fancy potty seat. You also need to make sure, that if you are ready to launch you child into toddler hood by potty training at the age of 14 months, you should consider the other changes that should be made (i.e. as sleeping in a bed rather a crib, eating in a seat like the rest of the family, and ditching bottles, pacificers, and sippy cups), as transitioning into toddlerhood should be comprehensive and ephirical. Good luck.