Ideas for Potty Training

Updated on June 26, 2008
A.L. asks from Blue Earth, MN
7 answers

I have a 16 month 1 week old daughter. I decided to buy a potty last week to leave in our bathroom so she could play with it for a few months before we started to train her. She became interested in when she woke up i sat her on it. she went!!!! i was surprised and so was she. This last week she has gone three times when she has woke up and once before her bath. Do you think it is to soon?? Or any ideas to help if you think I should keep going?? This our first child and we have one due in december. I don't want to rush her just because we have a baby on the way. IDEAS???/

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B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Good for you A. for reading your childs signals and goign with it. Both my boys were trained early (oldest at 20 months, youngest was 15 months). We used Elimination Communication. You can read more about it at www.diaperfreebaby.org. It was simple stress free, and babies DO HAVE control over thier bladders, but years or sitting in a diaper, they lose that control. Its common misconception that kids cna't control thier bladders, but the reality is that control is lost after years of being allowed to sit in ultra absorbant diapers, then children have to re-learn how to use those muscles.

At 16 months, this is a perfect age. She is a copy cat, and very eager to please. If you are patient, you can easily have her in undies full time in a couple weeks. Check out the website I gave you above, and message me if you'd like to chat a bit about it.

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N.W.

answers from Davenport on

Sounds like you might be a lucky mom! I think there is a misconception about potty training with some people thinking children have to be between 2yr & 3yr to learn the potty, but it just not true!! All children are different, so if she feels she's ready and you are ready, go for it! I do home daycare and most of the children in my care have trained at 18 mo. to 26 mo. somewhere in there.

Just keep up what you are doing for now. If she is truely into it start taking her in every half hour/ hour or so and letting her sit. I like to offer small rewards for pottying, but some kids don't need that sort of reinforcement, especially younger ones, but you could do stickers, an M&M (1), or a penny for the piggy bank, etc. If it is going well for a couple of weeks it will go smoother and faster if you switch to the trainer undies. Pull-ups are expensive and feel just like a diaper so they are kinda a waste, IMO. Another good thing with girls is sundresses! That way they can wear them without undies and still be covered (at home of course) and it is one less thing to worry about getting off at the potty!

There is no reason to rush it, you don't want to make her feel like there is pressure, but I bet if you keep on the same track she will do just fine. The biggest thing to remember is that SHE has to learn to go, you are just the leader! If you find it is becoming stressful for either of you, just stop and wait! It will make it so much harder for the both of you if it becomes that much of a chore. If you have any more specific questions you can send me a messgae privately....I'm sort of a potty guru!!LOL

Oh, and don't be alarmed if she won't poop in the potty. It is perfectly natural for this to take longer. And don't worry about night time wetness, it is not really a valid indicator for potty training otherwise we would have 5 & 6 yr olds still in diapers!!! Most kids take a little longer for nightime dryness.

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J.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

Most kids are not ready yet - but some are. My sister trained herself at 16 months (and was TINY- my mom was forever terrified she was going to fall in and get stuck at the bottom of the toilet). I would do exactly what you're doing - if she's interested let her keep going; but don't push it. My only suggestion is if she really is interested you could start moving her to pull ups or thick training underpants and get her out of diapers.
jess

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D.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

If she is waking up dry and able to get to the potty before going, she is developmentally pretty close. Go with it! At least don't discourage it. She may not be dependable for a long while yet, but if she is interested and willing I can't think of a good reason to hold her back. Just don't get your hopes up regarding bowel movements.

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S.W.

answers from Iowa City on

My son was 20 mos when he did that. He was completely trained (night & day) at 27 mos. My biggest advice is skip the pull ups! When you change to undies do it for good no matter how many accidents you have to change. Let her have plenty of naked time to see what is going on down there & stay home for at least a week so you are near a toilet.
Brekka

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

A.,

GOOD FOR YOU! But I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet. :)

I do have a friend who's daughter was potty trained at 18 months, but most children are not ready until they are at least 2 1/2 or older.

Good luck!
J.

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A.K.

answers from Eau Claire on

I have a daughter who love to sing so what i did i made up a silly song so everytime she went potty we would sing and she thought that was awesome. So it made her wanna go potty. The sond we sang was fun and catchy "i went poopie on the potty, poopie on the potty i'm so big!" I no time at all she had it.GOOD LUCK!!

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