When Should I Try to Start Potty Training

Updated on June 28, 2007
E.B. asks from Grovetown, GA
9 answers

I have 1 1/2 yr old twins that are showing signs of being ready to potty train. For instance, one is trying to pull off her diaper when she is wet or since we bought a potty chair, they both like to sit on it as if they know what is it for. Am I jumping the gun with this or should I wait awhile?

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W.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi E.,

In my opinion they are still to young, they are only 18 months but it depends on the indivdual child and not their age. I can not understand the reason why people are such in a rush to get potty training started and over and done with. In my opinion the child and the parent are better off to wait until the child is 2 1/2 to 3. Children learn to take off their clothes, this doesn't mean they are reay to dress themselves by themselves. Just because an 18 month old child learns to take off her diaper doesn't mean she is ready to potty train either and just because the diaper is wet, thats the whole point of the diaper.

My advice wait till 2 1/2 and look for their individual signs. These 2 children are individuals and should be treated as such. I hav never rushed any of 3 children to potty train and have never had a problem, I have a 7 month old little girl and I will be waiting until she is between 2 1/2 tp 3 to start potty training, I will also be looking for her indivdual signs like all the other 3 children, I have potty trained 5 children in my daycare and have started at this age and had them potty trained in a week including the boys. W.

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J.E.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Let them sit on the potty chairs and get a potty video. Let them lead. Once they go on their own a few times, positively reinforce the behavior, then start in on the every 30 minutes deal (try to make if fun for them to do, of course; if they resist.. back off). When my daughter first started out, she peed in the potty every once in a while and slowly but surely, by the time she was 2 1/2 she was using the potty 98% of the time.

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J.T.

answers from Topeka on

If they are showing interest then slowly start working with them but with them being so young yet you might get the to start and then after awhile they might not want anything to do with it. Dont get upset becuase all kids have set backs. I hope this helps

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A.M.

answers from Topeka on

hello erica im A. i have 4 myself if the girls are showing those signs then yes take them potty ever 30 minutes and dont put dipaers on them unless u need to. but yes they are ready to be potty trained.

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C.P.

answers from Tulsa on

Our 1st daughter was trained at 18 months our second was 22 months and our son was 24months. So, you can start as soon as you think they are ready. If you miss their signs, it could be a while. Just make it fun and it will happen. Good Luck!!!

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D.B.

answers from Wichita on

my 7 yr old daughter was potty trained by 20 months during the day and night too by 2 and a half. I say let them get used to the idea of using the potty and ease them into it. It won't hurt anything. When you go to pee I would take them with you and see if they will sit on the potty and try. If they do, clap and cheer and make them feel great about it. They will love the praise and will probably keep on doing it. Maybe buy one more potty chair so they can sit at the same time???

Good Luck, D.

http://www.myspace.com/deniece72

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S.S.

answers from Springfield on

The best way to tell if your child is ready to pott-train is if they stay dry all night long. That shows that their bladder has the capability of "holding it" for a long period of time. You can always try at any time, but you'll get the best results if you wait til you see dry diapers first thing in the morning. I'm raising three children, and have babysat probably 30 or more. Right now I am babysitting twin boys who are 2 1/2 years old. One is ready, the other isn't. Each child is different, even with twins. :)

Good luck!
S.

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S.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I potty trained my son at 18 months and my daughter at 2. Both of them hit that time that they were interested in their potty, when that happened, I would take them everytime I went and sat them on the potty. If by the time I had gone and finished they had not gone, then I would turn on the faucet in the bathroom. Both of my kids would pee instantly. LOL. Then I would cheer and clap and I gave them and jelly bean for doing awesome. Both of them knew after about two weeks, that was what they were suppose to do and they knew the feeling. So, I eventually moved the potty closer, and let them run around diaper free (butt naked). I put the potty chair on the kitchen tile (easy mop up if there was an acident) because they knew they need to go, but wasn't very quick at getting there. I think both of them had a total of maybe three accidents a piece before they knew what they were doing. I took the money I saved in diapers and had my carpets cleaned. LOL. It worked with both of mine. I did cheat a little and tell my son I would buy him a little plastic pool if he put all of his pee and poop in the potty. He did! By the time my daughter came, we already had a large pool, so I told her she would get to pick any baby out that she wanted. She did. I didn't have to deal with accidents at night. I just put plastic down under the sheets, and neither one ever had a night time accident. I just made sure they went before bed and I cut off drinks about two hours before bedtime. Goodluck!!

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M.S.

answers from Wichita on

I think you are fine to start, especially since they are sowing signs of knowing what to do. My best friend's 2 year old potty trained when she was that age, but she still has to wear pull-ups to bed because she doesn't always wake up for potty, but during the day she is fine. I would say go for it!

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