Is She Ready?

Try putting her on the potty and see what happens. The worst thing is that she isn't ready. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Hi K.,
I watch a 19 month old during the week who does the same thing. He is usually right, and has started to ask to go to the potty. If my husband is around he does a good job! So I think that they tell you when. My neice started talking about the potty young too and my sister had her trained in a day! She would literally take her to the potty every 15 minutes for the day. I think she actually let her go naked, lol, so Morgan knew she had to go to the potty! By the end of the day, she was able to put on "Panties" and things seemed to work out good. Hope that helps.
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Not that I'm an expert since I've never potty trained a child before but I say go for it ... she seems to be showing all the signs. My daughter is 14 months old and has been peeing and pooping on the potty when we ask her is she's got to go ... she doesn't tell us yet until it's too late but if we catch her squating, etc. we'll ask her if she's going peepee or poop and she'll shake her head yes so we'll put her on the pottie and she'll usually go. I also have been trying to teach her the signs for it since she's not saying the words yet. Your daughter sounds extremely ready and with another one on the way very soon ( we are having another one too!), it wouldn't hurt to only have to change one set of diapers!!! We started by putting Maya on the pottie first thing in the morning and she would go. then, in between diaper changes, after naps, meals and before her bath, etc. It's completely hit or miss but she gets the point of what it's for. i also make sure she can see me when I go so I can tell her what I'm doing. Good luck!

I'm not sure about those who trained their children so early, as I think they started much earlier doing things that most of us don't do with the child, so I personally would not compare myself to them. I know it is possible, and I've seen it done, so I'm not saying they aren't legitimate answers, just that you have to be prepared to do the work it entails.
My dd was trained by age 2 but let me tell you it was actually extra work for a long time, whereas my sister's son was already 3 and he was fully trained in a day or two. I mean not having accidents all the time. My 2 yo was mostly trained but there was a daily accident for at least a month until I started giving her a treat (tic tac) every time she made it to the potty. Funny how she suddenly figured it out LOL Then, in public it became a case of running across Target to the restroom ha ha (it was always when we were furthest away from the restroom), even if I tried to encourage her to go before we left the house, etc.
So, to me, it won't hurt to try if you want to, but at 16 months I think they are not really ready to "fully" train (in my definition, which is not too many accidents--occasional ones are certainly gonna happen no matter what). At 18 months I saw SUCH a difference in my child's cognitive level, I'd at least wait until then.
But it's not a "right or W." issue! Do what you feel is best, I just wanted to share my experience!
Blessings,
Lynn

Hello,
You are so right to recognize her cues. Don't miss this! She does not have to be able to dress or undress herself. It would be easier for you, but when is she ever unsupervised that someone would not be able to take her. Go ahead and get your potty chair out. Each time she tells you respond with what ever words you will use...potty, tinkle, ect.. goes in the potty. Let's try to do it in the potty. Both of my daughters were conmpletely trained at 18 months. Part of the process is also to train yourself to take them to the bathroom at this early age. Many kids can release it at this age, they may have trouble holding it if they wait until they have the urge. Don't expect too much and be patient. Your daughter is giving you the encouragement, follow it. (Remember that little panties really only cost a little more than a pull up, so if she has a "Poop" accident...throw them away!) It also helps to keep her in a dress. If she is telling you, she will catch on really quick in panties.

BTW, my girls are 17 and 19...they are un the top 5% of their class, have many friends, don't do drugs and really are normal...early potty training did not scar them!

Most things are your decision, you decide if you want to do it and expect your child to do it...it's amazing if you don't over analyze the out come...just do what feels right and all will be fine! No one knows you or child better than your self!

My oldest was training at that age, and my friends little guy jsut turned one and is almost trained. so it really jsut depends on teh child, when she tells you she has to go take her in and sit her down and just see what happens, if she already went in her diaper, oh well if she didn't and hates the potty, oh well, if she goes great. you have plenty of time, and as long as you don't push her you can't go wrong getting her used to the idea now rather than later.

Hi K.!
Well, kids are all different when it comes to potty training. My son took his dear old time but is perfectly fine now. He got the knack of it when he was ready. He wasn't a late trainer, but he also wasn't on the cutting edge of early. Now he is a happy 6 yr old and enjoying everything! My daughter, who happens to be 1.5yrs younger than him (currently 4 1/2) potty trained HERSELF at 16 months. Even to this day it is hard for me to believe it when I say that. I lived through it, the story is true. I see little 16 month olds and can't believe she was that little when she decided to do it herself. Let me tell you, I never once pushed either of them. Kids just seem to have an internal clock that lets them know when it is right for their own bodies to do certain things. I think the problem lies with people who force their kids to do something when they truly aren't ready.

One hint you might want to use is to put your daughter in cloth diapers. They might be harder for 'mom and dad' but they do let the kids know right when they start to wet. My two didn't like to be wet, so that might be what helped us along a little faster. The 'pre-fold' cotton diapers are the best. I self laundered them and used the old fashioned way with pins and plastic pants. It is really wonderful!

Hope all goes well for you,
S.

Hi K.!

Every child is different. Some can potty train at 18 months, some not until after 3. There is one fact though, children follow developmental stages. There are some things that a 12 month will not understand until they're 18 months. It's not just gonna happen. A lot goes into potty training. There's a lot more to look at then just the physical signs. Check out all the signs at:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_toilet-training-readiness-che...

That site also has advice, tips, tricks, and tools to help.

Good luck!

I think it is a little too early for full-on potty training, but she's stepping in the right direction. My daughter also starting telling us around 15-18 months and even going on the potty occasionally. This went on for quite some time--just casual potty use and lots of encouragement. We put her in underpants a few months before her third birthday, and things went really well from there. Personally, I think it is best to encourage the potty as much as possible but let them take the lead and do it when they're ready. I think between two and three, they really have the language, understanding, and bladder control to make it work consistently, which builds confidence. Good luck!

Hi K.,

I think that your girl is very ready. The fact that she is able to tell you that she went (even though it's afterwards) is great. My son is 16 mos too and he is nowhere close to be able to communicate like that.
Where I came from (I was bourn and raised abroad) they start potty training at around 6-8 mos. By the age of two most children are 100% trained. I started with my son when he was 8mos old. As of today we got mornings covered, when he knows that it's time to go (and he usually does both #1 and #2 for me). The rest of the day is tough since he is in daycare three days a week, where they don't start on potty-training until later. I try to work with him when I'm home, but since there is no consistency he fights me.
I really believe it’s never too early to start. And even more so since you girls is communicating with you so well.
I hope this helps and good luck!

P.S. I would lke to comment on Patty's response. I guess it all depends on the enviroment the one grew up in. That's why I respect other Moms' opinions. But my thinking is that my son doesn't need to know how to pull his pants off, sit down on the potty, do his business, wipe (pardon:)) himself, put his pants back on and dump it all into the toilet(kidding about the last part:)) before I start potty trainning him. I help him a lot now, and stay with him while he is on the potty (we usually play and read). And I clap and kiss him when he goes to let him know how proud I'm of him. I wipe and put his pants back on. I think in the end he will still be potty trained sooner than if I started at the point when he understands everything and has all the skills Patty has mentioned. But again, it's just one mom's opinion. K., you should do whatever feels right for your baby in the end.

If I were you I would try letting her go with out a diaper for a couple of hours a day even put panties on her. I know some people think that is weird but that I how I got my son potty trained. I let him run around naked because he had a hard time understanding that is underwear wasn't a diaper. it took me a week to potty train. But if you do that then you will know if she is telling you before or after she goes. A little mess on the floor never hurts.then you can put her on the potty when she says that she went or needs to go

It's never too early to just start exploring potty training. She is showing signs of interest in potty training or it may be that she is simply showing signs of feeling "gross" when she goes... either way she is showing signs that it might be a good time to start potty training, casually.
I would recommend VERY starting slow. First show her how mom uses the potty and then ask if she wants to try. If so great if not then ask again later. Typically when kids first start they are either scared of the potty or they love it. Regardless, after time she will start asking you if she can use the potty. Allow her to sit on the potty any/every time she asks. After sitting there a few times she will eventually learn how to go... it takes some physical learning. Also if you know what times she typically wets her diaper then try asking if she wants to use the potty around that time. Often times when you first catch a good time and she actually goes, it's luck but it's huge luck... this will help her to learn how she did that sort-a-speak and it will allow you to be proud of her and for her to see it. Although I'm sure you will be proud of her just sitting on the potty as well!!!
I always tell parents that there is a window (typically around 18-20 months but it varies with each child) of interest... I truly believe if you run with it then potty training will go that much smoother. Kids of course do not potty train overnight but just having an interest is huge!
Hope this helps!

It is good that she is realizing once she has gone, but I do not beleive that she yet has the ability to understand when she has the need to go prior to actually going. She will need to recognize the need to go, have the control to wait until she is on the potty to go and the physical skills to actually dress and undress herself to go. But there is no harm in letting her try out the potty. Experimentation is great - just don't expect her to be out of diapers before you have the baby.