When do you start potty training?

[Headmeister]

My DD is 18 months old and has just started to notice and mention to us when she's peeing in her diaper. I don't want to push her at all and I wasn't even thinking of starting her on the potty but I realize that as a first time mom - I have no clue at what age or what cue's they give you to start potty training them?

[Headmeister]

nevermind, thanks...

[firewoman]

HMMMM...Why nevermind? Did you get it figured out? Let us know if you want any input!

[Louisep]

I'd like advice on this topic . Should I start a new thread?

[MsHiss]

My dd started telling us (at around 15 months) when she wanted a fresh diaper, so we got her a potty and would ask her occasionally if she wants to use the potty. Sometimes she does, sometimes not.

[Headmeister]

Sorry ladies, thought I found the info I was looking for but it was completely incomplete...lol.

YES PLEASE!!! All the info you can spare!!! THANKS!!!

[Thalia]

If she is already noticing and communicating with you about it, there is no harm in introducing her to a little potty. I recommend the book, "Diaper Free Before Three", which has a lot of good practical information on potty learning. I also recommend reading lots and lots of kids books about potty learning to your DD. Around our house, we like:

A Potty For Me
Diapers are Not Forever
Once Upon a Potty

DD actually has A Potty For Me memorized now and will "read" it to me while we sit on the potty. .

[sapphire_chan]

From reading about other people's experiences, it seems like the best way to handle this window of interest and cooperation is to go with it. Get a potty, get a toilet seat, offer her chances to use them. For instance, when she wakes up dry in the morning or before she has a bath or even just let her sit and play for a bit when ever you have to go yourself.

If you know when she has to poop and she's willing to sit for those, WIN.

It's better to try now rather than later since she's less likely to arbitrarily say "no" right now.

Worst case, she doesn't feel like it at all and you've only planted a small seed of an idea that she can use a potty.

Best case is pretty obvious.

Most likely result is that she won't learn to use the potty until a typical time, but you won't have to deal with her being scared of it and you'll get out of changing a few diapers here and there.

[SparklingGemini]

This is a great age to start the potty learning experience. DD was out of diapers completely by 19 months. L)

My tips:

Take your LO when you know s/he is going to have to go, in the morning, after meals, after being nursed, etc. Set it up as a regular thing.

Skip Pull-Ups. Instead, use panties and thickly padded training unders.

Offer lots of naked time and chances to use the potty at close regular intervals.

Don't use rewards or an incentive program. Instead, treat pottying like its normal and happens without option such as brushing your teeth, eating breakfast and going to bed at night.

Realize that accidents are not the equivalent of it being unsuccessful. Accidents are an important part of the learning process as they help connect the sensation of needing to go with the feeling of being wet or pooping.

If your LO doesn't want to sit on the potty at the moment, that's OK. Skip it this time and resume like normal in another 10-20 minutes.

Encourage longer sittings by offering to read stories, sing songs or make up silly rhymes.

Try not to go back and forth between unders and diapers too much. Make a commitment and stick with it, remembering that potty learning doesn't happen in a linear motion but is back and forth.

[PatchChild]

That was the age DS started asking. Around 24 months, it was warm. One day he declared, "Mommy, I pee potty." and that was it.

[prancie]

Lots of naked time and let her see you use the potty. Don't make a big deal out of it, make a potty available to her. DON'T get upset if she has accidents, be all zen, if she goes in a potty that's good, if she goes in a diaper, good, if she pees on the floor, it's all good. Every outcome gets the same reaction, more or less. I won't say I never cheered about ds going on the potty, but I tried as much as possible to make it part of every day life. Too much praise takes power from them and in the end, what will motivate them is entirely intrinsic.

[Shami]

I'll just add that if you know a friend with a toddler who would let your child watch them 'go', it may spark some interest.

DD was your child's age when she saw a toddler using the big potty. From that day on she asked to sit on the potty every time I took her diaper off. I let her sit on the potty all the time, but nothing came out. After about two months of this I took the plunge and went with training pants. Skip the pull ups, and just go for it. I let her see the diapers 'run out' and then we made the switch to big girl undies.