When to Start Potty Training? - Houston,TX

I agree with the every kid is different, but I learned a great way to get the job done. My girl was 3 & we got a sheet from the daycare with a possible fool proof way of potty training. No clothes, from the waist down, period! Until then, we were semi-potty trained. From that day it took 3 days. Apparently, kids would rather "sit" in their mess than have it run down their leg.

when he can stay dry for a couple of hours at a time, when he shows interest, when he knows the feelings of needing to urinate or deficate (not just after he's done it), he can pull pants up and down by himself (that was a hard one for us!), when there is not a change about to take place (such as a new sibling). Those are just a few indicators that I remember. A big one is knowing the feeling BEFORE they go, not just identifying it after the fact. THey have to be both physically ready and emotionally ready. The latter often comes after the former. Boys tend to be less physically and emotionally ready than girls.

20 months is still very young for potty learning. Many many many children do not potty learn until the age of 3. Experts seem to agree that this is completely normal.

If he's showing you some of the signs, start putting him on the potty. IF he's not, though, don't push it. Pushing causes frustration for you and for him and can cause lots of setbacks. Everyone I know that tried early usually had lots of setbacks. Everyone I know that waited until the child showed that they were ready (not just interested in the potty, but had several of the "signs") seemed to potty learn quickly and without setbacks.

Good luck!

Go ahead and get a potty just to have it. I don't know how open you and your husband are, but if he sees you using your "big potties" (especially how his daddy uses it), it might inspire him to try. I have girls and they both wanted to be like mommy and were using their potties by 2. Still had accidents but they were on their ways.
Best wishes.

My daughter is 20 months. I have a potty in the kitchen and she sits on it when I'm changing her diaper and before naps and meals ect.

She initiates it, and asks to potty while we are out. She's been potty training for several months.

That said, she has never actually done anything in the potty! She wants to, just isn't ready yet. Make it available to him, but don't expect him to potty train yet- every child is different. My oldest was fully trained after her fourth birthday, the second is nearly 5 and not accident free yet but as of recently very close. My third is almost 4 and not even close to being trained.

When he indicates he is ready. If he is showing some initial curiosity, get him a potty, but I wouldn't expect much until after 2 or so. Every child is different. Some train early, others late. A lot of people will tell you that boys train later or that their perfect child was trained at 18 months. Ignore all that and just pay attention to your child's signals. There are several good books out there. Good luck!

I totally agree with Heather H, but I've got to say I'm really tempted to start my 17 month old now, before terrible two's and threes start in. My oldest 4 all were fully using the toilet (and dry through the night)by 3 years 2 months, no matter what I did or didn't do. My now almost 4 year old dug in his heals and wouldn't even consider doing any part of the process until 3 yrs 6 months and flat out told me he wasn't going to have any part of it. Thanks to someone's potty training question on mama source I got serious and consistent about the whole process and it took a couple weeks to get him from diapers to underwear 100% I think the process is slower with the littler ones, because you are helping the little one be aware of all the things Heather H outlined. Good luck!

If your child goes with you to the potty, which most do, They already get the idea, just talk about you using the potty when you go. Get a potty chair and have a potty together thing going on. Then you can encourage your child to do this on their own. We used M&M's, 1 for trying, 2 for successful pee pee, 4 for successful poopy. Mommy has to be potty trained as well!!! have them Potty before you leave, potty when you get home, potty 30 min. after fluids, going to bed, getting up. If you are not consistent you are not ready. I mean to be nice, I am just blunt.

When he wakes up from a nap or in the morning DRY. Then, take him immediately to the toilet and let him go. This will get him used to the idea. Then, gradually work in other times when you see that he knows he's going or needs to go. Most kids aren't fully ready until around age 3. So, don't push it yet. Just make him aware and make it a habit like brushing teeth. We just woke up, it's time to go. We must try right before going to bed. We always try before going in the car, etc. Add a new time for the habit as one is mastered.

Hi J.,

I also have a 20 month old. We have already started to potty train him. He has started to acknowlege when he is going to poo poo and pee by telling us. My husband first thing in the morning takes him to go potty with him so he will get a better idea of what to do. People say not to rush or force them that it will make them resist even more. Mabe you can introduce him to the potty and start by letting him sit on it before taking a bath. That's how we started. We still are not forcing the issue, but hoping that he takes to it soon. Good Luck.

The other ladies are right.....all kids are different. I am a two-year old teacher and let me tell you...potty time is crazy and different for each child! If your child shows interest, go for it! Let him sit on that potty as long as he wants, we use a sticker system....when they potty, they get a really cool sticker on there little "potty chart" Now of course all of them love to unroll toilet paper and flush, and we try to teach that potty time is not play time so they only can flush if they potty, and we assist them with the tp, so that they learn what it's for. It takes patience. LOTS OF IT! Of course the first time that your child goes....even if its all over the place....cheer like crazy, I have had kids pee on the floor, my shoes, the wall (usually a boy :) ) and it may scare them a little, but like I said encourage it and then once they get the idea...then work on making it in the potty :)