Potty Training - Rio Linda, CA

Hello K.,
I started introducing the potty chair when my son was 1 year old. Everyone thought I was crazy and that he was way too young. But let me tell you it worked! I put his potty chair "throne" in the living room and once and a while i would put him on the potty chair and he would go. Or if I was changing his diaper and knew he was going to tinkle I would put him in the potty chair so he could go and it would make music and he thought it was so funny. I also had a potty video that I would put on for him that he really loved, he got to observe other babies and how they used the potty chair. He was already out of diapers by his second birthday party. I think age one is the perfet time for him to at least be introduced to the potty chair. Good Luck!

Dear K.,

She might be thinking about it, but the question is...is her body matured enough for her to be able to control or respond to those muscles that need to work in order to "hold" and to "deliver" ?

It is a matter of being ready. My daughter trained herself at 14 months because we had a potty chair in the bathroom for my niece who is 6 months older than she is. She used to do a little dance around the potty chair go to the front and pull down her diaper and sit. So we bought some panties and she did the rest. But, really that is quite unusual. Why don't you buy a potty chair and see what happens?
Sincerely, C. N.
P.S. I think that those seats that fit on top of the toilet are frightening to some children, can you imagine being a little person and having to sit wayyyy up there? ....wondering just what to do, and how are you going to get down ?

Unless it's an actual potty, I wouldn't consider it a sign. My daughter is almost 2 1/2 and she isn't potty training yet. Every child is different. Let her come to you with it. Don't force it because then it will have an opposite effect and she won't want to do it. My daughter does everything but actually go on the toilet. She sits on it, wipes, flushes it and everything. She only pees in it every once in awhile. But, she wants to wear pull ups all the time. I'd take it slow. She'll let you know when she is ready.

I think doctors will tell you that a childs bladder is not ready to train till 2 years old, but I have seen a 18 month old trained. I would keep encouraging your little one to keep up the good work.good luck

I just asked this question at my son's 15 month check up yesterday! :) lol

His Pediatrician said that when they start showing signs of wanting to use the potty is when you try to introduce potty "training". At my son's age, I was told to let him go into the bathroom with dad to see what's going on...and get a seat if we want to. However, she said that they really can't control their bowels until, at the earliest, 18months. She also said that girls usually train faster than boys but you never know...you just have to talk to them about it and encourage and kind of follow their lead.

Good luck! :)

I recently potty trained my 3 yr old FINALLY! We started early and with many techniques but she was too stubborn to follow through. I got a book called Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo, M.A. and Robert Bucknam, M.D. It says it's possible to start training at birth! NO JOKE! I don't know how it works but if I were having another baby I'd definetley start early! Potty training is so stressful! Good luck! Check out the book, it's an eye opener! It gives you different methods and different stages (ages) at which to start or use each method.

Does she tell you she's dirty? Even if she can't speak yet you can teach her the sign for dirty. (Place the back of you hand under your chin with the five fingures pointing out and wiggling. If that doesn’t make sense you can go to http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro and look it up, as well as any other sign you may want to teach her.) If she is telling you that she is dirty, it is a sign that she’s becoming aware and is ready to have you start encouraging potty use. When she’s ready, you’ll know. (Or at least so I’m told! My son is learning to potty train right now, but he is very irregular about his willingness to try. The frustrating part is that he knows he’s going both pee and poo, but doesn’t want the potty. He’ll tell me “I’m going potty!” but won’t let me put him on the potty. Then 2 minutes later “Mommy, Change me. I got pee.” ARGH!) Okay, back to you. It’s not a bad idea to talk about it when you go and ask if she wants to try. Just be patient. My sisters 1st daughter was trained at about 14 months, her youngest was in Kindergarten when she finished training. One last suggestion, if you choose to by a floor potty, buy a very basic one. My son has a fancier one that sings and interacts. Great, Right?! NO! he just see’s it as a toy. Good luck, -J

When our daughter started walking, she'd always want to be with us, so I eagerly had her in the bathroom with me so she could see what going potty was all about. At about 1-1/2, we introduced the potty chair, but didn't do any potty training - we wanted her to know what it was so she wouldn't be scared.

We didn't do any formal training for about a year, and in a few short months, my daughter is fully trained (she even stays dry at night, though she does wear pull ups just in case).

Just watch for cues, and don't be surprised if she regresses a bit. If you don't push, it go a lot easier for you both.

Good luck!

I would recommend getting her a potty and letting her sit on it and stuff for a while so she can get used to it. You may even want to let her help pick it out. Begin with letting her sit on it with her clothes on. After a little while take her diaper and all off and let her sit on it that way. If something happens that's great, if not then just keep letting her explore. The last thing you want to do is push her into it.

C.

Although I am not experienced yet as my daughter is only one, from what I have heard.... If you start potty training at 2 1/2 they will be potty trained by 3. If you start at 3 they will be done in a week! BUT every kid is different as I'm sure you know so if it feels right, go with it!
You're the mama and your gut instinct is stronger than any book or magazine article!

Good Luck,
K.

I would talk about it to her you can even get a potty for her to explore. But they usually do not have the physical ability to control there pee and poop until at the earliest 18 months

Hi,
I have a 21/2 year old. I got a potty chair just after she turned 1. I would set her on it as I got her bath ready. She like sitting on it. It just helped get her used to it. And, since she didn't have clothes on because she was waiting for the bath, there wasn't any pressure or a battle. I would talk to her about going potty, and sometimes she did! We would celebrate like we had won the lottery. Your daughter probably won't be totally trained at this age, but it is a start. Having a bm scared mine a little bit, so be ready for that. It kind of set us back a bit, but since we started so early we could go at her pace. I actively started at around 18 months becasue she showed all the signs. We did well for a while, then she totally rebelled against it. 2 months later my part-time sitter said no more diapers at her house, it took 2 days and she was fully trained, even pooping on the potty. So long story short, any exposure to the potty at this point would help in the long run, but make sure there is no pressure and it is fun and at her pace.
Good luck!