When Is the Best Time to Potty Train?

I would definetly say go for it! My daughter was 18 months old when she showed interest in the potty and was 100% trained by age 2. I didn't push her, but if she told me she had to go I would take her. One of the things I found worked WONDERFUL, was putting her on her potty chair at bath time, while the water was running! It never failed she went everytime! I would clap my hands and tell her good job and pick her up and hug her. In no time she was totally trained!

Hi B. it's Patti. We had a play date at the pool over the summer:) I introduced Katelynn to the potty at 18 months or so. I'd just have her sit on the potty and have her watch me go. I showed her how to wipe and each time she sat on it she wanted some tissue. She wouldn't go tinkle but she liked to wipe and then toss the paper in the big potty and say bye-bye to it. She just started a new daycare and the daycare lady introduces kids to the potty at 16 months and by 22-24 months they're potty trained and by 3 they're full-time potty trained (day and night). The daycare lady now puts Kate on the potty every hour and she uses a stamp/sticker reward system. If Kate goes potty then a stamp or sticker goes on the paper. The daycare lady does not like to use pull ups. They are like a diaper. When Katelynn was around 21 months or so my husband started putting her on the potty before her bath and eventually she'd go potty in the toilet. My husband still does this but now we started asking her if she needs to sit on the potty or have to go potty. The toilet seat is now in our livingroom where we spend most of our time. We do not pressure her at all. We get super excited and clap and say good girl! you went potty on your toilet! what a big girl! etc. We go overboard but she likes it and she goes on the potty. This morning she signed potty to me and she ended up going poo poo for the first time. I would sit her on the potty and have her watch you and just go from there. This is just what has been working for us. Katelynn turned 26 months a day ago and the new baby turned a month. Good luck to you and if you have more questions about what we do or what our daycare lady does feel free to ask me. I too was worried about her going backwards on the potty training thing once baby came but we didn't really do potty training at home until she started the new daycare at 25 months old and even then it's on her timeline. The baby hasn't effected anything at all. We prepped Kate so much on the baby I sometimes think she had a bond before our baby was born because she is not jealous and she seems to know that baby can't do as much as she can. Katelynn gets the attention she needs and so does baby. Each kids has turns. If I'm tending to Katelynn and baby is crying I have to verbally let Katelynn know that the baby is crying but they have to take turns and now it's Katelynn's turn and baby will just have to wait. We were going to wait on transferring her from her crib to toddler bed until baby came but I did it when she was 22 months and we are now to the point where she will lay down without fussing and her door can be open and she'll stay in her room. Potty training takes a lot of time and energy. I'd start now for sure while you still have the energy:)

B.,

I don't have advice for you, but wanted to thank you for this question, I can't wait to see what other Mom's say. My son just turned 19 months and has started telling me when he is pooping, or that he is about to go, he isn't interested in sitting on the toilet, but I am considering getting out his potty. That might be easier for him. He just seems so young or potty training, but maybe he isn't? I too am expecting a second baby, but mine is coming in about 4 weeks. Should I wait until after baby comes to get out the potty?

J.

If she's interested, I say go for it. It's great that she's showing interest! :) As far as when Baby is born, she may regress a bit, or she could see it as Baby is little and needs diapers, but she's a big girl and she uses the potty.

As far as being too young, my sister was fully potty trained by 20 months, my brother was trained at 3 1/2 years. All kids go at their own pace, but it looks like she's ready. :) Congratulations on both potty training and the new baby!

i would say go for it.. she is showing interest for a reason.. dont push and maybe get a reward system.. good luck and congrats on new baby coming..

Hi...I would take your time about it. Pushing the issue makes them fall back instead of getting happy about the potty. Wait untill the other baby comes along first. You'll be glad you did. Also let her set her own pace when both of you are ready to do it. Good luck and best wishes.

If she's showing interest definitely try it now. Every child is different & ready at different times so if she's showing her dolls and does it from time to time I'd say start having her wear pull-ups and take her out to pick out some "big girl" undies that she'll get to wear when she's able to keep her pull-ups dry for a week. You'll probably still need her to wear a diaper at bedtime at least until you're comfortable with her not (she's waking up consistently dry). Start having her sit on the potty every couple of hours so that you can catch her when she has to go & make a super big deal about if she does. If she can grasp the reward thing, a special sticker on a chart to show her progress could be helpful too!

Good luck!
A.

Hello Ladies,
This is a great question and just like everything else with children there is no owner's manual, but I will share my experience with you. I am a childcare provider and mother of 2 children ages 4 and 6 months. I am also going to school and just 4 classes away from my Associates Degree in Early Childhood. Some of the best ways to know if your child is ready for potty training are: being able to verbalize and understand whatever word you choose for the event such as potty, tinkle, pee pee etc; a willingness to sit on the potty chair/toilet regardless of whether they go or not; and the ability to stay dry for long periods of time. If your child is showing all of these signs than go ahead and give it a shot. My experience with all of my daycare children and daughter minus one child is they did really well to start and then relapsed for a couple of months so don't get frustrated. My daughter started showing interest at the same age but just finally got the whole process when she was 4. I hope that doesn't scare you....I hope it will just give you a little more perspective.

What worked well for me was getting the children into pullups and then taking them to the bathroom every hour to hour and a half. Once the children start telling you on their own then you can go longer in between or if they are staying dry in between. Good luck!!

Go for it. My daughter was trained at 18 months as well. She to was intersted, she always took off her diaper so if she is willing go for it. Good luck.