Potty training

aimeepigott · February 2014

Hey there! DS is 15 mos old and I was wondering when some of you started potty training and how you went about it. I saw a friend of mine on Instagram who's 17 mo old was doing #2 in his big boy potty. I feel like I'm a big failure as a mom sometimes if DS isn't doing the same things as others, and I know each child is different. Just needing some advice! Thanks mommys!!!

JENandJEH · February 2014

With DS1, we started trying a little before 2.5 and it was a no-go. I didn't wait til HE was ready and he was stubborn. We tried a few times, on and off, between 2.5 and 3 but I never pushed if I could tell he was resisting. At 3y3m, he decided he was ready and potty trained in a day. No accidents and no issues at all.

With DS2, I'll wait until he's showing readiness signs and takes an interested. I don't want to turn it into a battle of wills. I think getting them used to the potty and introducing it is one thing but full on "potty training" a child who isn't ready will usually result in a headache for all involved.

I know some ladies have mentioned using the 3-day method and others have just gotten a potty and started to take LOs every hour/two/etc. Also, remember that boys tend to potty train later than girls...that's not always the case, of course, but more often than not. Good luck!

Smh619 · February 2014

My little guy is almost 20 months & I've been thinking about it but I'm going to wait til after he turns two to try.

oliversmommy32912 · February 2014

Not even on my radar until at least 2 1/2, probably closer to 3. I have known way too many people who tried early and spent a year or more potty training and so many people who waited until the were ready and potty trained in a day or two.

JulesDiane · February 2014

Wait until they are ready. Speaking from experience, you don't want to spend a year of your life potty training. I will not be pushing the issue. Truly, if you wait until they are ready it shouldn't take much time at all. I thought DD1 was ready because she loved going on the potty at 20 months. It was just too early.

kjsmith9 · February 2014

We won't start until after 2 years old. Daycare can't accommodate potty training in the 1 year old room, because they don't have an attached bathroom. And I don't want her to be confused about why she can go at home but not at daycare. So we'll wait til she moves to the next room (at least).

ah625 · February 2014

I waited until my son was 2 1/2 and really showing that he was ready and desired to use the toilet. He trained in three days and never regressed. I would wait until your child is at least two before you even consider it, right now he has no way of alerting anyone he needs to go. He doesn't really have much warning for himself either.

jnnfrrose6 · February 2014

Wait, your friend posted online a picture of their child (who cares what age) on a potty? Does no one else find this weird/wrong?

Beyond that, not on our radar yet. DS moves to the 18-24 month room later this month and they have a bathroom attached to that room. I'm sure I'll discuss with the teachers how they like to work with the kids on it, but I'm also waiting for DS to show more of an interest at home. He does like to follow us into the bathroom and flush the toilet, but that's it so far.

ashiscute · February 2014

We bought DD a little potty seat to get used to when she turned 2. She really became interested at about 26 mos and was trained at 27 mos. I can't imagine doing it much earlier really. My DS is almost 17 mos now and he has never sat on the potty but he has been exposed to it through DD.

Honestly, I would just ignore your friend's post and enjoy your 1 yo.

meglette417 · February 2014

We just started with DS, he realized when he was going pee so I tried. When I change his diaper I ask do you want to go on the toilet, he says either yes or no and we go from there. Every time he says yes he does go. I agree though when they are ready you will know, I don't want to force him b/c I don't want him to hate it. I am pretty convinced with potty training it doesn't matter what you do they will do it when ready regardless of age.

*LrCg* · February 2014

First, never feel your child is behind just because you compare them to other kids. Whether they PT at 17 months, 2 1/2 years old, 4 years, etc- it doesn't have any bearing on their intelligence. All children will be PT eventually. Just like I can guarantee there are no kids in college who have their parents coming to their dorms to rock them to sleep.

With your regard to your question about PT- I have 3 kids currently. My oldest (DS) was fully PT (daytime, naps and bedtime) at 17 months old- it was easy and took 3 days. He was telling us at 14 months old when he went but we didn't PT him because I was having a baby 2 months later so we waited until we were off on baby leave. My 2nd (DD) was fully PT at 15 months old- took 2 days. My 3rd (DD) is now 13 months 3 weeks and is PT for daytime and naps but sometimes wakes up wet at night time. It was very easy. We used plain cotton cloth diapers with a fleece liner to wick away moisture. When my kids were 1 year old we took the fleece out. Within @2 weeks time they would start telling us when they peed/poop. They also started to no longer pee in naps. So for us it was very simple and very easy. And although at that age they had a limited amount of language (probably 5-10 words) they used the word "potty" or sometimes they just walked to the potty themselves and lifted the lid and that was an obvious sign to us that they had to go. Cloth diapers was a huge advantage for us. You have to remember 35 years ago when the majority of people used plain cotton cloth diapers children were PT by 14 months old (it was considered old to be 17 months old in diapers). I've also helped friends PT their children who were not in cloth and found that it was really easy to do it prior to 20 months old because that's when the "no phase" starts and power struggles. Prior to that its fun. And although my kids were PT early-we've never experienced potty regressions not even with the start of preschool or the birth of a sibling, etc.

cedenton · February 2014

I plan to let our DC lead the way on actual potty training. I think that will begin in the next few months. That said, I'll probably get a little potty soon and start putting him on it at certain times of day so he's used to it.

ashaw512 · February 2014

My daughter is 17 no and she tries to put on panties

so funny. And she points to her diaper after she poops. I'm not sure if I should try to do it now or wait. I mean she puts on panties over her clothes!!!

aimeepigott · February 2014

Thanks everyone! We are expecting our 2nd in July so I am just trying to figure out when to tackle everything! Our kids will be 20 mos apart. I know my cousin started potty training both of her children at 2 and is having more issues with her DD (she's a diva in the making). But on the other spectrum, my SIL has not even tried to potty train her 4 yr old and I don't want to wait that long with DS secondary to wanting him in preschool at 4 yrs old.

britbratjf · February 2014

My daughter is almost 19 months & we aren't thinking about it yet. She isn't at the point where she tells Me she goes or anything so I don't think she's ready. I don't think it's something you can force - especially as young as your LO is. My goal is to have LO potty trained by 2.5 but we will see what happens.

traveltheworld · February 2014

DS is 18 months and loves sitting on his potty. But I don't think he has the physical ability to do it yet, so we are not pushing it. Honestly I never understood what the big deal is - I honestly don't find changing diapers to be that big of a deal. Of course we don't want DS to still be in diapers at 3 or 4, but I don't see anything wrong with waiting another year (if need be). Our friends's DD trained herself at 17 months and her mom attributed it to having her in pull-ups early. So our plan is to put DS in pull-ups once our current batch of diapers run out, but again, we are not going to push it.

AlfiesMOM · February 2014

I am 100% following E's lead. She asks to go to the potty so we got one and will take her. Daycare just brought up that she is showing interest as well. We don't plan on pushing it at all right now. Probably around two we will formally start potty training if she still is showing interest.

kderham · February 2014

My DS is 18 months and has been asking about the potty because others at daycare are currently potty training. We bought one that goes on the toilet and he thinks its fun because it has Sesame street characters on it but we don't push it. Sometimes he asks to use the potty but he hasn't actually used the potty - just stared at the characters. I know a LOT of moms who push it, and so many mommy bloggers/super moms do it early but I want to save the stress and do it when he is ready and it won't even be an issue. I'm planning to give him until 3years 6 months and then I will have to push if he hasn't gotten on the potty-train yet

sammfol3y · February 2014

Mine's 1 year and 6months and I already bought him a trainer..He seems pretty interested with the potty trainer but does not go potty there..I'll just keep on insisting about it but he dislikes the idea, I think...I'll just wait till he goes there on his own.

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