Potty Training - Ashuelot,NH

I have 3 kids, and none of them were trained that young. My daughter, who is now 4 1/2, was not trained until last Thanksgiving. You can try to force them all you want, but for something like potty training, they will show true signs when they are ready. (the musical potty seemed to work for my daughter) Good Luck!

I think you should put the potty away for a few months, then bring it back out again for a fresh start. being a young mother myself, I think everyone wants to "help" but people with grown children forget. My mother-in-law will swear she had breakables all over her house and her kids never touched them as toddlers and her kids never went into the cabinets either. Potty training will happen when you're daughter is ready. Good luck.

Hi L.
My daughter started getting interested in the potty when she was 2 years old. I bought one for her and just left it in the bathroom with no pressure from my husband or I. She use to go in and sit on the potty (fully clothed though) and giggle. When I had to use the bathroom, I would tell her that mommy had to pee and sometimes I would take her in with me so she could see how it was done - sometimes she would sit on hers too. Every child is different and they will learn on their own time - they say if you push the child too quickly, you'll actually only set them back even more. My opinion, 18 months may still be a little too young but give her space and time and you maybe be surprised. As for 4 children being trained at 13 months, (Oh Please!), your mother-in-law is full of c**p (no pun intended). My daughter was about 2.5 - 3 years old when she finally went on her own. They get so excited when they see how proud you are of them when they finally go on THEIR OWN. Don't take that away from your daughter. Good luck with the training.

I don't know about everyone one else but we got our daughter one of those pottys that played music when you went to the bathroom in it and she loved it. That and the promise of big girl undies. Much luck.

18 months is very early to potty train. My daughter was fully trained two months before her third birthday. We tried when she was about two and a half and had lots of accidents so we just stopped. When she was ready a couple of months later it took one day! DON'T RUSH YOUR CHILD! And don't listen to others that will make you feel bad. All children are different...follow her lead and eventually she will be trained. Works better if you leave it on her terms not yours. As for the seat...just leave it in the bathroom or take it in playroom and let her play with it....no pressure to sit or take off diaper. She'll eventually get used to it being around. Good luck and remember you are not alone!

Kim

My son just turned a year and I bought him a potty toilet for his first birthday. I understand he is too young to use it but we wanted him to get comfortable with it. We bought the Fisher Price one that sings and plays songs when you flush the "toilet" and open/close the toilet seat. So far, my son is so amazed with it. We keep it in the bathroom and when my husband or I use the toilet we bring him in and explain what we are doing and my son just opens and closes the toilet seat. My advice is to try and get her used to the toilet. Good luck!!

Hello don't you love mother in laws!!! I have 2 kids my daughter is now 3 and fullu potty trained and my son is 19 months not potty trained. When my daughter turned 1 my mother in law said that it is time to potty train her, because she said that all three of her kids we done by 1. I tried but it was nothing but stressful and when she would not go I was getting very dissapointed. But then I gave up and waited until she was about 18 months and started again and she would go and then have days that she would not go. By the time she was about 22 months she was going all the time and very few accidents and then by the time she was 23 months she was fully potty trained days and nights. I feel that the key is do not pressure them if they feel pressured and the feel you frustration they will not go. I am now trying with my son but he wants nothing to do with it. But we will keep trying. Hope this helps!

L.,

I'm sorry, but your mother-in-law is crazy. The chances of a 13 month old being developmentally appropriate for potty training is ridiculous. Even at 18 months, you are early. Especially with the issues that your daughter has faced in her young life, potty training now really isn't a big deal. She probably won't be ready until about 2 years old at the earliest. If you want to keep the potty in the bathroom and she can "practice" when you go the bathroom, that may help her get the idea. When she's ready, you may find that she starts initiating using the potty for real on her own. Best of luck.

A little about me: I'm a 30 year old first time mother to a 6 month old baby girl. She is the most wonderful part of my life. I am also a Physical Therapist and work part-time with people with neurologic and developmental delays.

L.,
I really agree with all the other moms too. I however have a different situation. My 18 month old...WANTS to potty train but doesn't quite get it yet. She goes through the motions, including wiping (like big sister) but has NEVER actually peed in the potty....although she pees quite regularly on the floor in any room she is in! She is also constantly taking her diaper off too...we have had to put a piece of duct tape across the tabs during nap times...other wise off it comes, clothes and all. I'm sure I wasn't much help. I just wanted you to know that even when they want to, they just aren't ready at this age. Good Luck!
PS...my other daughter was potty trained at 2.5yrs.

Hi L., oh Honey, God love your MIL, she's not telling the truth. I've potty trained many kids, starting at age 2.9 up to 4 yrs. of age. Your child is too young for this. But let the potty stay in the bathroom so she'll know it's there for her. My daughter is 20 mths. and has shown interest in using the toilet. I sat her on it and the minute she got scared, I pulled her off. You have plenty of time. The one thing you don't want to happen is your child will get afraid of the toilet and then you're doomed. Wait a while, don't push, and DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR MIL, I'm sure she means well, but jeeze, it's parenting hard enough without pressure from her. Good luck. Go buy some kids and parenting books on Potty Training and relax.

Each child potty trains at their own time, and in their own way. I found with my now six year old son, that everytime someone went to the bathroom he had to go. Just to sit and learn what the potty is for. He sat everytime with his cloths, and diaper on, for months. What a pain. He even sat everytime we brushed his teeth. He knew the deal-the potty is for pee and poop. Then after a while the diaper came off too. We did this wether or not he had to go. And praised him when he did. I know it seems silly and redundant to take him to his potty everytime someone went, but it worked. Keep trying, don't give in. If she is scared of the potty, and won't even sit on it, try to use it other places in the house. Like it was a chair. This will familiarize her and make it less of a scarry thing. And when she is comfortable with the potty, put it back in the bathroom where it belongs. And keep trying. Consistancy with everyone who cares for your daughter really is key. If they do the same things as you she will learn much faster. Hope this helps.

I think your mother in law is talking poop, lol. My understanding is most kids don't "potty train" until closer to 2.

My daughter was about 23 months old when she finally gave up her diapers. we started her on the potty at about 15 months, just to let her get used to it.

My son was a bit tougher as I understand most boys are. He was about 2 1/2, maybe closer to three. We had a lot of oopses with him.

I am on #3 and hope he is closer to my daughters record.

Relax a bit let her get used to it. SHe has to have the understanding of what it is for and the willingness to use it.
Get some of those pull up type training diapers that let her feel the wet, or if you are braver the old fashioned training pants that lool like real undies.

Let her see you use the toilet.

I also had gotten the book "once upon a potty" for my kids and read to them about it. Seeing that everyone else does it seemed to help them.

hi, the best thing you've done is buy the potty chair and as she gets older she knows it's hers. in about 6 months make a potty chart and put stickers on it when she goes in it. or at least sits on it! the more she sees others sit on the potty she'll be fine soon. i am the mom of a 3 year old boy and he's 1/2 trained so far, we just started a month ago. i hear it can take a year, i'm being patient! good luck.

your daughter is very young and isn't ready.. don't listen to anyone else either. my mom swears I was trained by 17 months too - no way - morelike the parents were trained to take us .. relax, leave the potty in the bathroom and don't talk about it at all. . just leave it there.. when she can verbally say, shehas pee or poop, then talk about the potty and that kids do it there, get some books, and videos (Once Upon a Potty is awesome!) my daughter trained closer to 3 and my son just trained and he is almost 4.. He basically trained himself he was so ready.. so just lay off, themore pressure you put on her, the more resistant she'll be.. and don't listen to your mother in law!!!

! all mother in laws say their kids were trained at 13 months. bull! my oldest was about 2 and my youngest tried alot earlier (to imitate) but fell in! (yah, really put a damper on it) he was then 2 1/2 before he did it! put the seat in the living room, let her sit on it and get used to it. let her see you go, explain what you feel before you go. dont push. it it will happen! be patient. get lots of sticker rewards.

It's pretty rare that any child is potty trained before 2.5; they just don't have the muscle control. Parents who say they're child is potty trained, usually would be more accurate to say they are trained to get the child to the restroom. Which is fine if it works for them, but it's not the same as the child recognizing & using the bathroom because they know they have to go. Also considering the health issues your child has had, I think it would be even more unrealistic to think she's ready to potty train now. I'd put the potty away for a month or so, since she's afraid of it at the moment. Then pull it out, put it in the bathroom & say nothing about it. Wait for her to ask about it and then keep your response casual about it too. Something like "when you're ready you'll use it to go potty." Whenever she starts to show any interest in the idea, then go with it & encourage her; but for now just put it on the back burner & forget about it.

The only advice I can offer is that potty training is no big deal & virtually pain free if you wait until they are ready. My son was 3 1/2 when he finally decided that he was ready to get out of diapers. He was completely trained in a few weeks. We had tried when he was around 3 & he just sat on the potty for long periods of time not knowing if he had gone or not. He had wanted to do it, but just wasn't ready. I know that my mother claims I was potty trained by 14mos. However, when I ask her what that means, she says I refused to keep on a diaper & sometimes I would use the potty & sometimes I wouldn't. Sounds like a lot of laundry to me. Anyway, good luck & don't stress too much about it. It will happen when she decides she's ready.

You can't let an age intimidate you. Every child is different. All three of my kids were trained by a year {2 boys and a girl} but most kids are close to 3. Does she have a favorite doll? Some times they respond well to seeing their companions use the potty. Also if she has any friends around the same age that don't have the potty chair fear, maybe if she saw them with the potty and saw they were not afraid it might help.Don't give up. I don't know may kindergarteners still in diapers!! They all do it when they feel ready! S. R

My biggest lesson in potty training came from my (now 6-year-old) daughter. I was pushing and pushing with the potty training due to hearing from my lovely in-law that all the kids in their family (with the exception of mine) were potty trained by 18 months. So, as I said, I pushed my daughter to do it and that created TONS of problems. Potty training needs to be child led, or its a really tough experience on you and them. Buying a seat for your girl is a great idea. Let her sit on it fully clothes if she wants. The more you push her to sit on it w/out a diaper, the more she will hate it. Just let her take the lead and it will be a much more pleasant experience.

With my son, he just turned 3 and he's almost trained now. I let him lead all the way and he's just about there! And, by the way, the average child isn't fully potty trained until about 2 1/2 - 3 years old.

Good Luck!!