When and How Do You Introduce the Potty?

I wouldn't worry about this now, honestly. I wouldn't even think of trying to train a boy until at least two and that's only if he was showing a real interest in it. Potty training is a horrible process -- took forever with our oldest (boy, who had zero motivation and didn't train until he was three ... still had accidents until he was six) and even when our second child (girl) asked to use the potty when she was two and did brilliantly with training, it was still a month or two to finish up training daytime.

Skip the Train in One Day programs unless you have an easy, passive child who pretty much does whatever you suggest. We tried that with our oldest and still laugh today about how silly we were using a peeing doll, throwing potty parties, etc. Our son looked at us like we were nuts and he didn't even train!

Also skip the special potties. It's more practical to just use a potty training seat on top of the regular potty. Get a step stool for climbing up. A lot less messy than a special potty and your child learns right on a regular one.

I would also collaborate with your son's daycare provider. They'll usually have a preferred way of handling training and can give you pointers.

The best way to introduce yoru kid to the toilet is for him to see you and his dad using the toilet. It's natural. Forget the bells and whistles - there's nothing magic about it. It's all about postiive reinforcement. But I think ti's prety safe to say you have another year before you need to think about buying a potty. enjoy the baby times - toddler / preschool years come soon enough.

We used Elimination Communication (very slacker EC, though!) with both our boys, so they were familiar with pottying from very early on. They wore diapers, but pottied several times a day as well.

One of the big payoffs with EC was when they got red-faced and started tooting, I could put them on the potty to take care of it. Took a few minutes, but it sure beat cleaning up poopy bottoms! Plus, when they were ready to be done with diapers the sensation of pooping on the potty was familiar and easy to transition to.

We bought a potty for our son a little before he was two years old, just a very simple one from Target. All we did was have him sit on it and show him what it was for. He, on his own, decided that he only wanted to use the big potty, which was fine by me because it is easier, one less thing to clean. His potty can also be used as a step stool which was perfcet. I bought him a potty training seat but he doesn't like it, he prefers to just hold himself up on the big potty.

I've never forced him to use it, I've always just let him decide and try to make it fun for him. He gets a sticker after he goes sometimes. At 2 1/2 I bought him some cool underwear and let him wear those around the house. I think they work better than the pull-ups because he can actually feel when he's wet. At 34 months now he's pretty good about always using the potty when he has to pee. I'm hoping that by 3 we'll be done with diapers but I'm not counting on it. My advice is don't rush it, let them go at their own pace w/ your encouragement.

I have heard that kids who wear cloth diapers often do become potty trained sooner because they can feel the wetness more than when wearing a diaper...that may have been what your mom was talking about but I'm not so sure I believe by age one. That's much too early.

I would repost this in about 18 months at least! Enjoy your 6 mo.

Most preschools request "potty trained and 3" as a requirement for attending. Really, kids use a toilet when they're ready and not a day before!
If he's not ready, you'll be frustrating him.
A potty ring works well on the regular toilet.

no, not too soon to tell baby about potty. check out
http://www.bornpottytrained.com/

Lori,
You can introduce the potty at this age. It's called Elimination Communication.

Each and every baby on this earth is born knowing that they need to pass water,etc. They have cues. We just have to learn them.

Some Moms I know have used EC since birth. Successfully. Some have used it since they learned about it - 3 months, 5-6 months, a year. Sometimes successful, sometimes not (well, what do you do when you're on the Interstate and between exits?)

We have tried it. My husband successfully scared my then 3 month old silly rushing to get him to the potty. He wanted no part of it. So, I waited. 2 weeks ago we had our first catch! Then our second! I hope to learn more and help him more.

Our chiropractor's son has been cuing and crawling to the potty since 5 months. She didn't think it was possible!

Google EC, and any of the other terms here and you'll find plenty of information. I wish I could answer the rest of your qustions but my babe just woke. Again.

Good luck!
M.

PS: the EC store is online - the HAT potty is the BEST. If you can't get that (sometimes they are out of stock) the Baby BJorn potty is a close second. And a great training potty.

My kids (one girl, one boy) trained right to the toilet. I wouldn't go with a gimmick potty, toilet teaching should be about using the toilet, not playing, unless you want an extended process. I'd suggest using cloth diapers or cloth training pants - it's how they learn what it feels like when they pee - they get very wet and start to understand what it feels like just before that happens. When he's ready, take him regularly during the day, every day, all of his waking hours. Dont ask if he has to or wants to go, it's not a choice or a game, it's part of the routine. Good luck!

I think the best way is to talk your baby through the bathroom steps as YOU do them. For example say "Oh, I think I need to go bathroom! I better go so I make it on time!" then you and your boy go to the bathroom. Narrate everything you do from going to wiping to flushing and washing hands.

That will get him used to the routine so that he will know what to do before he even does it.

My daughters uses to love this, because when they got old enough, and before they could even talk, they would help me with the steps. They would squirt the soap in my hands, or hand me the toilet paper, or hand me the hand towel, or remind me to do a step that I had "accidentally" skipped. It was fun for us, and they were learning too.