How Soon to Start Potty-training?

I say go for it, my son did the same thing at the same age. We started potty training and he would tell us when he needed to go potty and did great. As a SHM, if you can get her to a potty regularly it may work. My son reverted, I think because at daycare on several occasions his teachers made him go in his diaper because he was so young, his class wasn't set up to go to the bathroom. Now his over 2 and refuses to go to the potty, so if that happens, I would say just go with it. The key is not to force, if she likes it and it sounds like she will, go for it and be very positive, if it stops accept it and go from there. Best of luck to you!!

I worked at a preschool and day care in a two year-old class room for years. If your little one is showing interest go for it. I've been told that the age should never be in issue, some children show interest very early and others would rather wait. Just keep in mind, if you start the potting training and you have more bad days than good in a two week time spam, she might not be as ready as you thought. Don't be discouraged though. Leave the seat out and try again in a couple of months- she'll be ready by then! Hope this helps!!

go for it! my first daughter was completely potty trained by 17 months... girls mature faster than boys, and most potty train earlier and easier than boys do... Good Luck!!
:)

I don't think it is too soon to introduce it. Definitely go with what your child is interested in. But it is definitely too soon to push it; if she loses interest, give her a break, and then bring the potty out again when she is ready. Maybe you'll be lucky and she will keep up her interest and have early success!

My sister claims to have been potty trained by the time she was 18 months old, but that was back in the Dark Ages of 1955. If your daughter is showing all of these signs, I say go ahead and try it. Just be gentle and be prepared for set backs.

I'd avoid a musical potty, unless you really like the music it plays. Buy a couple and put them in handy locations like her bedroom and her playroom, then she'll be more inclined to use it. Get a couple of potty seats for toilets so you don't have to worry about her "falling in." Some mothers just use the toilet so they don't have to switch over later on. Do what you think will work for your daughter.

There will be no harm in trying, so if you think she's ready go for it. *Typically* children show signs around 18 months, and then regress when they are closer to 2. So, if you do decide, keep in mind that she will most likely regress a bit down the potty training road.

Good luck!

P.

you know my son started showing all the signs and everything when he was about 17months but when i bought him a potty all he wanted to do is play with the potty so in my opions its just too soon but on the other hand my niece is 13months and she does great with the potty so my opinon go for it its worth a shot

Go for it, mama! These are the exact things my just-turned-2-year-old son are doing, and I'm so excited. The thing to remember, though, is not to freak if she regresses or suddenly becomes disinterested in the potty after a week or month (or when she turns 2--yikes!). The more the potty becomes a battleground for power struggles (if she suddenly quits wanting to use it later), the longer it can take for real potty-training, as you probably know. In other words, don't get too attached to the idea that you're done with diapers! Maybe this is it, but maybe not. Just let her take it at her own speed. It does seem like girls generally finish up with diapers earlier than boys. Good luck!

Hi J.,

I will say that I have two children. May daughter (now 10) and my son (will be 3 in October) and I used to work in the two year old classroom in a daycare center, so I have potty trained several children. You know what?....they were all completely different. My daughter started potty training at about 16 months after (it sounds to be pretty similar to your daughter)being very interested in "pottying" and showing some cues that she was ready. We went through and made sure she knew what to do. By the time she was 18 months old, she told us that she wasn't a diaper baby anymore (her words...I swear:). I put her in "big girl panties" - she had one accident and was completely disgusted (she was a very prissy child) and never did again.

I will follow this up with the info that my son, who is nearly three, is not remotely concerned with toileting (much to my chagrin). We figure that he'll be there before he leaves for college.

Good Luck, and as with most "mom" issues....just roll with the punches.

N.

I started with my son at 18 months and he was done by 20 months. He was showing the same signs as your daughter, she is ready. Let her pick out her big girl panties at the store too! That should get her even more excited to go potty like a big girl.

This is a wonderful time to potty train, by the time she is 2 years old...My daughter was potty trained before 2 yrs old.

Hi. I have a son, Dylan - 17 months. I started potty training him at 15 months. He was showing signs so we started and he's done pretty well. If you think that she is ready, I would go for it. They all do it at their own rate, just be patient if she doesn't take to it right away. Good Luck!!

Go get the book Mommy I have to potty. It has great advice on potty training, when, where, and how. Quick read and definitely worth it.

Hi J.! My son was 16 months when he started to show signs of potty training. So I worked with him for a month and he did so well, then he lost interest and I didn't push him. We then moved accross country and when we got settled in our new place, I bought my son the Elmo's Potty DVD and he would sit on his potty in front of the tv and he just started going on his own. Needless to say on his 2nd b-day he was potty trained.! I then started putting him in big boy underware and pull-ups at night and he did have some accidents, what kid doesn't? But he did really well. After he woke up 7 mornings striaght with a dry pull-up, than I put him to bed in big boy underware and he started to get up at night on his own to use the potty. Good luck!

I started my daughter when she was 15 months but she regressed when my I got a divorce when ahe was 18 months. Don't be surprised if it doesn't stick for a long time. Even getting the flu could throw your child off. But it never hurts to try. Good Luck

I my daughter was completely potty trained at 19 months and son at 20 months. It is realistic! If she is showing signs I would definitly start now. I use a chart and give stickers for
1. Sat on Potty (usually first step)
2. Pee Pee on Potty
3. Poop on Potty (usually the last thing to complete)
4. Flushed Toilet
5. Washed hands
Both children love earning the stickers and even now and then I would give them an M&M to get then into the next step.
I am just about finish potty training a friends son too. It has taken about 1.5 weeks, that is it!
I always start with a timer and every 15 mintutes the child go and sits on the potty for about 3 minutes. The more often they are on the potty the more chances they have to put something in the potty therfore learn the feelings and everything. It is really time consuming for the first week but is well worth it.
On the third day they usually start understanding putting pee pee in the potty so I usually move up to underwear with plastic pants on top. They do have accidents and you have to clean up but they don't like the feeling- whereas the pull up pull the wetness away and they don't get that YUCK feeling.
I would plan to be home all day for the first week to let everything work without the frustation of being out and them having to go or the uncertainity of switching back and forth from underwear and diaper- leaves the child confused.
I hope that all helps