Potty Training - Hixson,TN

My kids (3) all showed signs of readiness by 2 years old or so, and quickly 'got' some of it. They would pee on the potty when sat there, and clearly understood the process. That being said, none of them were fully trained until right around 3 years old. I know every child is different, but 3 years seemed to be the magic age for us when everything clicked, they didn't need constant reminders, and accidents were done (for the most part--they are probably never TRULY done!). Hope this helps.

We started with our daughter around 18 months but only with getting her used to the idea of going on the potty. She started to seem interested in sitting on the potty so we started with that. It is a slow process--she is now 3 and still has accidents sometimes!!!
They really do let you know when they are ready. Don't stress about starting too early because you will only get frustrated!

We had this conversation with our pediatrician 2 weeks ago at her 2 year well-baby visit. His advice: wait until she's giving you signs she's ready. Pushing her before then will only cause frustration, disappointment, accidents and regression down the road.

Our daughter just turned 2. She doesn't go extended periods without wet diapers, she doesn't stay dry overnight, she's not interested in sitting on the potty or in wearing underwear, so we're going to wait a few more months.

Her brother was past 3 when he was ready, and it was a really easy process with few accidents since and no regression.

I'd strongly encourage you to introduce it, but a huge key to me currently with our daughter is that she can't take her pants down by herself or get them back-up without assistance.

Good luck!

Around 2 or so, you might want to (occasionally) read her some of the cute potty books that are now available just to introduce the idea. A few months later, you might want to get a little potty chair and (occasionally) have her dolls take turns "peeing." Let her be with you in the bathroom when you pee, and comment (occasionally) that you're glad you can use the potty and don't have to wear diapers any more. Keep it light and playful, and she'll probably let you know when she wants to try it herself. Don't rush it – that generally backfires and makes the process slower and more frustrating for all.

Try to be nearby when she first wakes up in the morning, and take her to the potty right then -- ESPECIALLY if she's dry! One of my 4 started sleeping dry through the night before s/he was a year old! (Can't remember which one it was, tho. LOL) I had all 4 -- 2 girls and 2 boys -- FULLY trained (day/night, taking themselves) by the time they were 2. All this talk of 'they'll do it when they're ready' is OK if you have unlimited funds for diapers or work outside the home, but I believe that training them enables them to feel better about themselves. If you have time to work with her, start NOW! Take her when you 'go potty' and sit her on hers. Take books, shape/color sorters, pictures of family, name body parts or whatever entertaining/learning activity you think of and stay there UNTIL she pees at least a few drops ONE TIME. Then make a big deal of 'you did it'! Once they get the 'feel' that they let it go in the potty, they never forget it and you've passed the first large hurdle.

Have fun! (I LOVE potty training! Write me privately if you want more 'advice' or tips about it).

I tried potty training my daughter early... didn't click with her till she was 3.

hi there,
I have one daughter and I was not looking forward to potty training. I felt terrible for waiting until she was 2 and a half. Best thing I did! She was ready. It has been two months and she is potty trained during the day. We have not transfered to the big potty yet or dealt with any night time stuff. I think the night time potty training will take a while!! What I did also was just took her pants off and kept her nude and she just started going on the potty.

I think that you have to see signs in your child that she is ready to potty train. That being said, you can buy a potty and have it available and even ask her about it periodically but I wouldn't push it until you start to see signs that she is ready. . .and you will know when that is.

I totally agree with Susan: when your kid is ready. My son was fully potty trained when he was 27 months. I tried for two days when he was 2 years and I decided then to stop immediatly. A few months later; I tried again, I didn't have to do anything, he was just ready. He never had accidents.

An early start is no guarantee for success, for some kids the attention for the potty will become a game.

We started when our son was 22 months old- watching Elmo's Potty Time, reading potty books, making a doll go pee on the potty. I think the sooner you start, the better. In my opinion, too many people miss a great window of opportunity by waiting for their child to lead. My son was trained in 2 weeks after his 2nd birthday. If I had waited, I'd still be dealing with diapers and would have missed the perfect time. I think it's best to get them trained BEFORE the resistance of the "terrible twos" sets in and makes it that much harder. I find they are much more easily motivated with rewards at an earlier age too.

Good luck,
T.
www.readandGrow.com

the best time is when the child is ready.
Not when the parent is ready.
Big difference.
The other posters here gave good advice... and I ditto them.

It will either be a battle (because the child is not ready, but the parent expects them to be) and then it will be a LONG drawn out thing. I'm talking even 1 year long. Or, it will be a happy good learning thing for them, because they ARE ready.

think of it this way... a child may know in their head's what something is and "how" to do it. It does not mean they CAN do it. Same for adults.... we may understand how a rocket is built and how it flies... but that does NOT mean that WE can then build a rocket from scratch, even with the instructions. Some adults don't even know how to bake a cake even with a recipe. Even if we mentally understand it.
For a child, they may know in their heads "how" to dribble a basketball... but that does NOT mean they can actually DO it, nor proficiently, nor without fumbling around and making mistakes. Right?
Well, same for potty training. It takes practice and patience to get it right. Even if they do get it right, they will STILL have accidents. Even a Pro Basketball player, makes mistakes. So, for a mere child and pottying... they WILL have accidents, regressions, and mistakes. This has to be accepted and allowed. Otherwise.... it will be a real stressful thing for the child... because the parent will not have their expectations met about it.

Sure, get a potty chair, books, whatever. But this is only to introduce it. Not having her to learn it and do it now. She is still SO young.

Sorry for rambling... but pottying is such a stressful thing or a battle often times... because the parental "expectations" of it is not in line with the child's capacity for actually doing it.

So, the best time to start pottying is... is when the child is ready.

All the best,
Susan