Need Advice - Milan,NM

Hi A..
I am soon to be in the same situation with my 18 month old. Some have told me not to potty train until they tell you that they went to the bathroom. I also heard that boys potty train much later than girls. around 24 months.
Hope this helps.

If he's interested, I really don't think he's too young. He's probably too young to push the issue, but my mom started potty-training her kids at 14 mos. Once they get the hang of walking well, and they're interested, why not? I've actually heard of people who start potty-training much younger than that.

My niece was completely potty trained by 22 months, and started around 20 months. I plan on doing the same for our now 14 month son.

I have a 17 month old that I have been slowly introducing to the potty and books and training videos over the past 6 months. She just started sit on the potty when I read to her sometimes, and play more on it. I am going to start actively training her soon. We may start with a stretch of time, like all morning til nap time, diaper free, placing her on the potty every hour or so to give her the chance, and being oka with lots of mishaps at first. we'll see.
Anyhow, I wanted to write to say that there are some books out there that detail how to start training your child for the potty from day one. Check 'infant potty training' on the net. So 20 months is not too soon, especially if your son is showing so much interest. You may as well capitalize on his curiousity, it is his way of showing he is ready for a try at more independance.

My son started showing interest at about that time, too but when I tried to start the process he didn't want to have anything to do with it. Now, he's 2 1/2 and I think we're ready to try again. Sometimes kids are physically ready but not emotionally ready. I've been told, too, that alot of boys train later than girls, so it might be early still. You can try it but if he doesn't take to it pretty quickly, it's probably better to wait.

INTERESTING THAT HE TOLD YOU THAT< MY ALMOST TWENTY_SEVEN MONTH OLD"S PED SAID DON"T EVEN TRY TO POTTY TRAIN HIM TILL HE IS OVER TWO AND A HALF I AM STARTING EARLY WITH NO SUCCESS SO FAR BUT THAT IS DUE TO HIM HAVING A LITTLE BROTHER IN SEPT AND I dont want two in diapers! So anyway it is ok to wait my friend trained her son when he was 4! sorry about all the typos my keyboard is going through some rough times! =)

Hi A.,

I agree you should not force the issue. My daughter turned two in January and had been showing the same signs as your son since she was at 18 months, but she really wasn't ready. Just in the last 2 weeks, she started to go at daycare and each day she goes more and more on the potty. But she is scared to death to go poop there. So i would just be patient, and let him lead the way. I haven't been worried about it and it just seems so easy now that she's really ready herself.

Good Luck!

Hi A.,
Yes I think it's too early for a 20mos old to start potty training. Is your son showing interest in his potty chair? If so, then may be get him to sit on it when you are using the restroom. My son is two and a half and I'm just now starting to potty train him, but doing it slowly because you can't force the issue. You have to gradually do it step by step. :-) If your son isn't showing much interest in his potty, then don't worry ok. He will in time. He'll start wanting to flush the toilet and come into the bathroom with you to see what you're doing. Go ahead and let him and that will help spike his interest. If you don't have a potty for him, get one to help encourage the interest and when the time comes, you'll know it's time to potty train. My son sits on his potty when I'm going, so when I can catch him on time, I can pull his diaper off and set him on his potty...usually he doesn't go in the potty, but in time he will. I hear from several people that boys usually take a bit longer than girls to potty train and it's not until they're well into their three's when they actually get the handle on using the potty. So you have time. :-) Best wishes, G.

My child isn't old enough for this yet but I've had discussions about it with my sister-in-law who is a licensed counselor working with children. Her 2 and a half year old is just now really starting to be interested in potty training. They tested her readiness at around her second birthday by introducing the idea to her. She wasn't ready at that time but it didn't hurt anything to check.

Every child is different and there is no set time to start. Twenty months might be a little early if he's never expressed any interest. Is your child's doctor older? I think they used to push it to an earlier age.

I don't think it's early to introduce it at all. Since he is showing some interest in it. Sometimes seeing it and experience helps prepare them. It's not as if he'll get it right away, but being exposed to, and having access to his own potty bowl gives them a little more freedom to grow. My daughter is 2 1/2 and if fully potty trained. She loves having character underwear (princesses, nemo, ect.) that makes it fun. I know that boys are harder to potty train than girls are, and I won't push him, but if he's showing interest, then why not lead him slowly in that direction. Hope that helps. :)

I would wait unless our son has shown strong signs of being ready. I pushed my son at about that age and it was pure torture for both of us. Looking back I was doing it for me and not letting him show me he was ready. Diapers do become a pain, but being frustrated on a daily bases with a toddler is even worse.

Good Luck!

It is my opinion that you can never get started too early....you can simply back off if your child withdraws. I think the best way to work on potty training is to start early and let your child fully decided when they are ready.It is only to early if you force your son or make a huge issue out of his not wanting try or any accidents. Otherwise, it is simply you making an offer to your son and letting him know that when he is ready that he can try and then it is a positive experience.

M.

well depends on the kid. My son was nowhere near ready at that age. Now my daughter was. You can start by letting him sit there every few hours just to get use to it. My pediatrician actually told me to change my son in the bath room so he associated that with using the potty. He said no pressure just show him where he is suppose to go. My son was 3 before he had pee down and 3 1/2 for poop. It was a long frustrating battle. Good Luck

Definitely depends on the kid. Foster his interest. Make sure he as access to his potty and let him sit on it whenever he wants. Read pottying books! As it warms up, esp. if he's playing outside, let him go pantless or in underwear. Don't use pullups. They are just diapers and don't let them feel uncomfortable. But if he's not interested, don't push it.

If you'd like to meet with other moms approaching these issues, there's a potty training class in Albuquerque in June:
http://bodymindandspiritabq.com/calendar.htm

Good luck!

my son's 2 1/2 and is just starting to show some signs of training. hes been able to take his diaper or pants off, and can pull his pants on, but only recently stopped screaming if i tried setting him onto his potty chair w/o a diaper on (he had no problem if he was fully clothed.) im going to wait until at least the age of 3 before i really start pushing.

My son is 18 months and I am kind of potty training him. The thing is I know not all children potty train early. Don't force your son to potty train. If he wants to sit on the potty let him but if you force him to potty it will take longer. Some babies are not potty trained until they are 3 or 4 and that is normal. Do what you think is best for your son.

Thats funny! Because my two year old is showing some interest and I talked to the pediatrition and she said it was to early to start. My oldest was 3 1/2 when he was potty trained. My second son is showing interest early because of his big brother. I have started to work with him but I'm not pushing it. Some days he will go potty all day long (he stands up to pee like his big brother, so getting him to sit on the potty is going to be a whole other issue.) And other days he seems to have no interest at all. I put him in pull ups on the days we are really not trying, or have to leave the house. People say don't use pull-ups. You kind of have to. You have to switch them from diapers, so they know this is something different and you can't always have them in underwear, exspecially on those days when they don't want to try, Or you have running around to do. Letting him run around naked does really help. I say start to introduce him but don't push it. It could easily still be another year or so. Don't get frustrated with it. Good Luck!

I didn't start potty training my daughter until she was 2 1/2. She just was not ready. Your son will let you know when he is ready....he is acting like he is ready to go potty because he is showing interest.You should definately try it.