Early Potty Advice

How exciting for you and him! I wouldn't waste my money on pull ups. They are just a more expensive version of the diaper. The easiest way is to stay at home and keep the diaper off. This worked well with both of my children. That being said, both my kids started early as well. However, they reverted back to diapers after a short lived stint of using the potty. They each have did that twice before they were really ready. So don't be disheartened if he reverts back. You don't sound like the type to pressure your child, but just a warning that pressuring a child to go potty almost always back fires. They tend to hold their BM and get constipated. I would take him to the potty every 15 to 30 mins. For my son, I put the tv on all day, every time a showed ended I took him to the potty. My daughter wanted her potty in the living room! LOL...she is 2 1/2. She will still go for a stint and then stop. We still have six months left before we need to worry about preschool. Good luck!!!

Hi there! It will just take patience, I'm sure you are doing a good job already! Each child responds differently...at their own time.

Please remember that of all advise you will receive, the single most important thing to remember about this developmental task is not when it is complete, yet it is actually how the parents are responding to this unmet goal.

It has been proven many times that adolescent/adult depression, feelings of worthlessness, and low self-esteem (as well as other mental disparities) have been linked to potty training and how parents showed dissappointment, disapproval, frustration, etc.

So, when he is unsuccessful during potty time, make sure (at that time) he knows you are not let down and show much love ('that's okay sweety, we'll try again later because I know you can do it!'). Both parents need to be onboard (and consistent) with positive communication and unconditional love.

(You can also promise to do the funny, crazy, tinkle dance if he goes potty :) I have heard this to work!

Best of luck to you!

I would try underwear at home and use pull ups for bed and going out. Start sitting him on the potty more if he is interested it shouldn't take him long at all to train.

Both of my children were interested at this age too. I got a little potty chair and encouraged them to sit on it every 2-3 hours. We would spend several minutes sitting there "trying". We would read or sing to pass the time. I set my timer to help me remember to take them, and we made it as fun and non-pressured as possible. If they went, I gave them a treat. Since they weren't old enough to understand pulling their pants down, we stayed in daipers rather than pull-ups, and I helped them get their pants down. Good luck!

kathrine, i say go for it! if your child is showing signs of understanding the concept, i say its worth a try. when they show signs of being ready is always the best time to try. (T.,mom of 22 month old son.)

K.,
I am so glad I saw your post this morning. I have 14 month old twins I am about to pt! I could not find anyone in our age range to be a potty buddy with. Now I don't feel so alone.

My friend trained her twins at 12 months and this is what she did. It worked for her so I am going to try it this week. You can have them in pullups so it is easier on you. She had her twins in nothing or underwear. She gave them lots of water (in sippy cups) and sat them on the potty every 15 minutes. When they went she made the biggest deal out of it. She said after 2 days they got it and 1 week later they were pooping. She still uses pull ups at night but that is improving.

I have heard of using dolls that go "potty" to help them and all the bells and whistles on potty chairs. Some people also give a favorite food as a treat after they go.

My friend didn't do any of this and her girls are trained but every child is different. You may have to try several things before you find what works.

I know there is a lot of people who are against early potty training because they say it makes it a bad experience, they don't understand, they will never learn it. The list goes on and on. Honestly most of Europe does this by the first birthday and so it isn't that impossible.

Like I said, I am going to try it. Good thing about starting so young (IMO anyway) is that if they aren't ready you can stop and try again in a few weeks.

GL and send me a message if you are interested in having a potty buddy (someone we can bounce ideas off of since we are in the same age group)

D.'
SAHM to 14 month old b/g twins who had no problems turning into walking talking toddlers.