Official Potty Training

Updated on October 07, 2010
R.L. asks from Lewisville, TX
15 answers

Hi, Awesome Moms!!! My baby girl, Ashlee, is 18 months and I have started to "introduce: her to the potty - in fact, she actually tinkled in it a few weeks ago! But she really has no interest in the thing other than that day! Should I just keep at it or give it a little more time? I guess I am wondering weh to officially start the PT process and if 18 months is still a bit too young....Thanks for the insight, ladies! I just LOVE Mamapedia:)

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

I would say that she isn't ready. I would keep it there and accessible to her and she will let you know when she is ready.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Every kid is different but 18 months seems quite young to me. Her going the one time in the potty might have been a fluke and does not mean she is ready for potty training. There are signs of readiness that the child should be showing, including waking up dry from naps/bedtime, staying dry for several hours, indicating that the diaper is wet/messy and needs to be changed (in other words, it bothers them), and consistently showing an interest in using the potty. My understanding is that until they start showing those signs, it will be an exercise in frustration. My daughter turned 3 a couple of months ago and still has no interest in using the potty, so she just is not there yet.

4 moms found this helpful
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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

I love Dr. Sears and he was spot on with my two girls. Once they showed the signs he lists, they potty trained quickly and painlessly.

www.askdrsears.com
Go to the A-Z index and find potty training.......

my daughter did the same thing but was not FULLY potty trained til she was almost 37 months. Once she decided, we had no accidents and it has been a breeze but she did seem to wait it out some. His advice relieved me from pressure to push her and cause it to be more painful than it has to be.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

need more time. she's not interested.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

She's too young. Wait another 8-10 months.

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R.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I think when they are interested it shouldn't matter what age they are. My daughter was 17 months when she first started wanting to use the potty. I took her to the store, she helped me pick out the one she wanted, then we went home to "practice." She is 19 months now, she's used the potty for both #1 and #2 but she still isn't full on potty trained and I'm ok with it. I'm not pushing it either, she will be ready on her own time and she is still pretty young. I do ask her everyday if she wants to use the potty though. Most the time, it is a yes and she will run to the bathroom. :) Just be patient and make it fun for her! I cheered the first time she went pee in the potty (surprised me because she would sit on the potty for a long time and nothing) and she gave me a high five!! She was a pretty proud girl that day! :)

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

18 months is a bit young..2 - 2.5 years is usually a good time for potty training and it is better if she is showing interest in using the potty. Here are some potty training tips/experiences that should really help you out when it is time..good luck!

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/potty+training?utm_c...

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T.D.

answers from Albuquerque on

My pretty princess was potty trained by 2 all on her own. Crazy I know! See she has a older brother that we were giving a lot of attention to on potty training. So she wanted to be like big brother.
We had the potty chairs in the bathroom, and every time we went we sat her on the chair. Where she went or not she just liked being a big girl like her brother (20 months older)

Don't push her to do it, just keep making it fun! :-)

BTW I used stickers as rewards. Small ones for number 1, and big pretty ones for number 2.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I would let it go for now. That doesn't necessarily mean that you need to wait 6 months or a year to get "into" it, though. Just watch her for cues and interest. My daughter trained by her 2nd birthday, but it wasn't b/c I stuck her on the potty all the time or forced her into it. She was just interested and ready on her own. She didn't "self train" either. I had to help her learn... but she was ready to do so. She followed me into the bathroom at home all the time and wanted to flush for ME. She had all kinds of questions about it. She knew when she was wet. She was able to tell me BEFORE she went that it was about to happen. There are all sorts of things that clued me in that she was ready to try. There isn't just ONE BIG SIGN. There are lots of little ones that vary a little bit from child to child. So, while I would let it go for right now... (she was curious and satisfied her curiosity, such as it was, on that particular day), she might show more curiosity over the few weeks or in a month or two. She might start telling you she has to go before it happens (or she might start "hiding" when she is going to poop). So just keep an eye on her and when you see the cues/clues, then it's okay to act on them. Just remember to keep it fun and exciting and ALWAYS a positive experience for her. No matter how yucky it is cleaning up accidents, lol. There's always next time. That will become your mantra... "you'll make it to the potty in time next time (smile)".

Relax and enjoy these moments. You'll one day savor the photo of your toddler sitting on the potty with a book....

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

18 months is a little young. Most children don't physically understand the feelings associated with pottying until after 22 months. Even with that, they may not be ready. If you want training tips, I can send you a note, just answer me back. :)

Good luck!

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V.D.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Take a break and try again later. It takes time. 8-)

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

i wouldnt push anything but i think its good that you are starting her now. I started putting my daughter on it around 16-18 months. And even though she didnt do anything and did really have interest, i think it was a good start. And now, @ 21 months, my daughter is going potty every time she sits on it!
Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from New York on

both my kids started at 16 mo. old. i put them on for 2 minutes every 2 hours.. and they got hugs and kisses and cheers if they went.. they got the hang of it.. don't do it one day and not the next.. consistant.. you must doit the same each day..

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

There are many stories of moms who got themselves scheduled to take their child to the potty every X minutes starting around a year and an half, and feel successful if they seldom have accidents and save on diapers. Some kids that young will even learn to ask for help when they have to go, but very few can manage the whole process themselves, from getting clothing down to wiping and pulling clothing back up. But if it works for both mom and child, hooray!

Many more stories of early training go on to include regression, usually when there's some major new stress in the child's life, or when the enormity of the ongoing expectations hit her. Those kids are just not mature enough yet to make the process their own.

The most success and quickest results tend to be found in the families that wait for the child to show interest, ask to try, want big-girl panties, and similar signs of readiness. Those potty-training adventures might take only a day or a week before the child is 100% successful, by her own choice. That age is seldom younger than 2 1/2 years for girls, and usually (but not always) by around 3 1/2.

It's good to start teaching about using the potty before then, through demonstration, conversation, books and videos, role-playing with dolls, etc. Keeping it light and cheerful, and avoiding any tension or pressure around the subject, will generally allow the child to approach the subject in the most positive and confident way.

Be aware that poop training and night dryness are separate stages for many children, and can take considerably longer. Many parents continue to make diapers an option for kids who lag in those areas, and that does not appear to confuse or discourage most children from using the potty to the degree they are able. Night dryness, in particular, requires more maturation of the nervous system and bladder than many toddlers have achieved, and that maturity may not occur until well into elementary school for some kids. They'll get there as fast as they can.

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K.I.

answers from Seattle on

I would just keep at it but don't push. All 3 of my kids were completely potty trained (night and day) right at or after their 2nd birthday. I have 2 boys and a girl...the girl trained herself, we were on a trip to CA to visit family and she decided one day that she was done with diapers...told me she had to go potty, went potty then refused to put the diaper back on...I had to let her go "camando" while I ran to the store to buy her some panties!

Kids really do learn this in their own time...but I think you are on the right track by introducing it so early and keeping the communication about it open and flowing!

1 mom found this helpful
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