Potty training 18 month old - Advice?

JennyDub · October 2012

Hi ladies,

DD is just over 18 months and goes to a home daycare full time. On Tuesday she told them "poo poo" and they put her on the potty and she went. So, i'm considering starting potty training. I thought we'd be another 6 months or so until we started but she often tells us when she has to go (poo, pee is a different story). Tonight she was crying for a potty and fighting me trying to put her diaper on - I don't have a potty and she wouldn't go near the toilet. I feel like she might actually be ready...

Any advice on potty training at 18 months? Does it have to be all or nothing or can we do diapers and potty? I have no idea how to do this or where to start! Also, potty recommendations are welcome TIA!

akating · October 2012

Ds asks to use the potty too (says poop) but hasn't been successful yet. Basically I feel as long as he is asking I will put him on it but I won't push it. Would she show more interest in the toilet if she saw you using it or if she got to flush the toilet after you or her use it? I say go out and get her a potty for her to use and just keep encouraging her.

mrsseguin · October 2012

DD asks to go potty too. We sit her on there when she asks, but she's never gone. At this age, I wouldn't move forward with training her. If she wants to sit on it, let her and she'll get used to it. I won't even think about it until DD is at least 2-2.5 years old. We waited until DS was 3, it was SUPER easy. At this point I think it would be SO much work to PT an 18 month old.

erbear · October 2012

LOL. DD1 started doing that around 18 months too. At 3+ years, she was actually ready to PT (in fairness, once she was ready it was a one day thing).

Mrs.Greg · October 2012

I would avoid using a potty chair at all cost. We bought one when DD1 was like 18 months old. Well, when she was almost 2, she started asking to use it. We let her twice and then I mentioned it to her daycare lady at the time and she begged me to get rid of it, training a child to use the toilet after using a potty chair is so much harder than training them to go on the toilet right from the start. She's been a DCP for 15 years so I took her advice. DD wouldn't use the toilet for like 6 months, asked where her potty chair was constantly. Then one day, she just decided she was willing to give the toilet a try. We will not use a potty chair with the babies, I'll wait til they are ready to use the toilet. Besides, potty chairs are gross. DD only peed in hers, I think having to clean poop out of one would be so disgusting.

Mrs.EMS · October 2012

Mrs.Greg:
I would avoid using a potty chair at all cost. We bought one when DD1 was like 18 months old. Well, when she was almost 2, she started asking to use it. We let her twice and then I mentioned it to her daycare lady at the time and she begged me to get rid of it, training a child to use the toilet after using a potty chair is so much harder than training them to go on the toilet right from the start. She's been a DCP for 15 years so I took her advice. DD wouldn't use the toilet for like 6 months, asked where her potty chair was constantly. Then one day, she just decided she was willing to give the toilet a try. We will not use a potty chair with the babies, I'll wait til they are ready to use the toilet. Besides, potty chairs are gross. DD only peed in hers, I think having to clean poop out of one would be so disgusting.

I was curious where people stood on this. Thank you for saying so. I feel like if I am training her to use the potty... use the potty. PLUS we do alot of traveling and visiting and shopping, No potty chairs there....

Mrs.Greg · October 2012

Mrs.EMS:
Mrs.Greg:
I would avoid using a potty chair at all cost. We bought one when DD1 was like 18 months old. Well, when she was almost 2, she started asking to use it. We let her twice and then I mentioned it to her daycare lady at the time and she begged me to get rid of it, training a child to use the toilet after using a potty chair is so much harder than training them to go on the toilet right from the start. She's been a DCP for 15 years so I took her advice. DD wouldn't use the toilet for like 6 months, asked where her potty chair was constantly. Then one day, she just decided she was willing to give the toilet a try. We will not use a potty chair with the babies, I'll wait til they are ready to use the toilet. Besides, potty chairs are gross. DD only peed in hers, I think having to clean poop out of one would be so disgusting.

 

I was curious where people stood on this. Thank you for saying so. I feel like if I am training her to use the potty... use the potty. PLUS we do alot of traveling and visiting and shopping, No potty chairs there....

Oh yeah, DD1 has never had an issue using the toilet at a store since she started potty training. Potty chairs just aren't a good idea, IMO.

akating · October 2012

Mrs.Greg:
Mrs.EMS:
Mrs.Greg:
I would avoid using a potty chair at all cost. We bought one when DD1 was like 18 months old. Well, when she was almost 2, she started asking to use it. We let her twice and then I mentioned it to her daycare lady at the time and she begged me to get rid of it, training a child to use the toilet after using a potty chair is so much harder than training them to go on the toilet right from the start. She's been a DCP for 15 years so I took her advice. DD wouldn't use the toilet for like 6 months, asked where her potty chair was constantly. Then one day, she just decided she was willing to give the toilet a try. We will not use a potty chair with the babies, I'll wait til they are ready to use the toilet. Besides, potty chairs are gross. DD only peed in hers, I think having to clean poop out of one would be so disgusting.

I was curious where people stood on this. Thank you for saying so. I feel like if I am training her to use the potty... use the potty. PLUS we do alot of traveling and visiting and shopping, No potty chairs there....
Oh yeah, DD1 has never had an issue using the toilet at a store since she started potty training. Potty chairs just aren't a good idea, IMO.

I never thought of this before but you are totally right. I have a friend who has a daycare and she actually bought a toilet seat from home depot that has a potty seat attached to the lid (magnetic and folds down). I was planning on getting one of them for my house and my parents house. I figure anywhere else I can help him get on and off the potty as need be.
https://www.homedepot.com/Bath-Toilets-Toilet-Seats-Bidets-Toilets-Toilet-Seats-Children-s-Toilet-Seats/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbza2/R-202721306/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202751305#.UIFV68XA-Yw

JennyDub · October 2012

Thanks Ladies,

It's so helpful to hear your opinions. I thought it was a little early but what do I know - I have never done this before! This morning I could barely get a diaper on her - she was crying potty and running away. I tried to put her on the toilet last night when the same thing happened but she freaked out... probably all signs she's not ready.

kxp004 · October 2012

Here is an interesting article I was reading the other day...

https://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-in-three-days-or-less_10310078.bc

I know some had mentioned they didn't like using the potty chair, but it may be less intimidating than the big potty... it's up to you and your LO...

We were probably going to start by December since our 2nd LO is due in Feb... it'd be nice to have only one in diapers full time )) nice wish but we'll see...

mesmom2011 · October 2012

I think you can do diapers and potty training at the same time. You just need to not expect things to go very quickly. My DD has been using the potty since about 12 months old. It started by her waking up dry and I would take her to her potty right away and she would go. We started taking her after naps and putting her on the potty before her bath about 2 months ago. She gets mini M&M's if she pees (although we haven't been giving those to her unless she asks and she continues to go to the potty and rarely asks now. . .) My attitude all along has been that I'll put her on if she's happy to do so. I look at it as a chance to save some money on diapers. Now that she's telling us when she needs to go, she's probably making it about 4-6 times a day and still having accidents. We still have her in diapers, but will probably try pull-ups or underwear when she's a little more reliable. We use a potty chair that has an insert that can also go on the toilet. She's scared to sit on the toilet. I'm hoping the insert will make her more comfortable when she's ready for that step.

Here's the potty we have (it's also a step stool):

Safety 1st Comfy Cushy 3 in 1 Potty

sillybilly11 · October 2012

Great post! Let us know how it goes with the potty training. Looks like we will be on board with potty training too since DS is showing the signs of readiness according to his pediatrician.

Lotsofloveandkids · October 2012

We have a Boon Potty Bench and we're PTing DS on it.

thediarywithin · October 2012

My mom potty trained me when I was 18 months old. I have a niece who was potty trained at 12 months. It can happen.

My mom said that she saw the signs when I would wake up dry every single night. So she decided that I knew how to hold it.

My daughter sits on it occasion and will go in it. But that is only with my mom for some reason.

Andie_83 · October 2012

akating:
Mrs.Greg:
Mrs.EMS:

Mrs.Greg:
I would avoid using a potty chair at all cost. We bought one when DD1 was like 18 months old. Well, when she was almost 2, she started asking to use it. We let her twice and then I mentioned it to her daycare lady at the time and she begged me to get rid of it, training a child to use the toilet after using a potty chair is so much harder than training them to go on the toilet right from the start. She's been a DCP for 15 years so I took her advice. DD wouldn't use the toilet for like 6 months, asked where her potty chair was constantly. Then one day, she just decided she was willing to give the toilet a try. We will not use a potty chair with the babies, I'll wait til they are ready to use the toilet. Besides, potty chairs are gross. DD only peed in hers, I think having to clean poop out of one would be so disgusting.

I was curious where people stood on this. Thank you for saying so. I feel like if I am training her to use the potty... use the potty. PLUS we do alot of traveling and visiting and shopping, No potty chairs there....

Oh yeah, DD1 has never had an issue using the toilet at a store since she started potty training. Potty chairs just aren't a good idea, IMO.

I never thought of this before but you are totally right. I have a friend who has a daycare and she actually bought a toilet seat from home depot that has a potty seat attached to the lid (magnetic and folds down). I was planning on getting one of them for my house and my parents house. I figure anywhere else I can help him get on and off the potty as need be.
https://www.homedepot.com/Bath-Toilets-Toilet-Seats-Bidets-Toilets-Toilet-Seats-Children-s-Toilet-Seats/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbza2/R-202721306/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202751305#.UIFV68XA-Yw

Just an FYI, I found the same seat on Amazon.com for under $30!! The one at Home Depot is almost $50!

MPLSdesigner · October 2012

Our son is 18 months and we've started potty training as he was the same way. He went pee pee in the potty around 16 months and was always indicating when he was going #1 or #2.

I've followed the lead of his Montessori School Teachers for the most part. They put him in underpants for 2 hours in the morning and really get him used to the ritual of going to the bathroom. In the mornings before Montessori (from 6-8am) we put him in underpants and same in the afternoons (4-7pm). Somedays I just can't if we have errands or stuff going on. I would love to be 100% be he's not really able to hold it yet and the underpants are really just for him to get used to the sensation of being wet when you go.

We have a little potty and reading these posts was very helpful. Wondering about getting a cover for our toilet. The only thing that would be contrary for us is that Montessori is all about giving the children independence. The potty allows him to go and sit etc but the seat on the toilet would require us to be there and help him. Trade offs I guess.

Good luck!

Babalonia · October 2012

Great post. I have a friend who is currently training her 18 month old. DS Is 17 months old and he is far from ready. My plan from the beginning was to train him on the real toilet instead of a potty chair. Like everything else I've heard pros and cons. Someone told me over the weekend is that when they are really ready (their child was 2.5-3) it took DAYS it was so easy.

Right now he knows were the "potty" is (toilet) and he knows how to flush it and knows that toilet paper goes in there..but that's about it!

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