Potty Training Advice - Provo, UT

best book I read was (in the 80's)"How to Potty Train in a Day" although the whole process was longer - the concept was taught... I have potty trained 8 children & only 3 were mine(I was the friend people left their kids with for a weekend when they couldn't get thier kid to use the potty). Good book. (o:~

I am a working mom - now grandma

Sorry...not a lot of time tonight to respond, but check out both sections in my profile and I have answered and asked lots of questions re: this topic since I started my son at 13 months with success! Good luck! It's well worth it before 2!

S., 26, mom of 19-month-old and due with another boy in approx 6 weeks!

Hi A.,
My son is 20 months-old and has shown some interest in potty training, but he's quite young still so I mostly just follow his lead at this point. Does you daughter tell you when she is about to go to the bathroom, or does she ask to be changed right after she goes? If she seems physically ready, then offer to help her sit on the potty when she says she's about to go, but don't push it and remember that she may or may not be ready at this age.

See if you can get her to tell you when she's made a diaper. If she's aware of when she goes, then she's ready.

If not, you can ask her if she wants to go pee pee in the potty whenever you go to change her diaper. If she says yes, cheer and make a big deal about it (esp if she goes in the potty)...and be sure to tell her you're going to tell daddy and he'll be soooo proud of her.

If she says no, just say "ok" like it's no big deal.

One day it'll just click, and then she's really ready. Sometimes the peeing clicks before the pooping. just be patient. she's pretty young. But your oldest always trains earlier, imo.

Hi A.,

I think she's too young, personally. The best pediatrician I ever had for my girls told me that between 2 1/2 and 3 is the best age for girls and 3 to 3 1/2 for boys if you truly want her trained, unstressed and not miss any other development while concentrating on this. He said otherwise you are actually the one who is trained. I started training my first when she was 2 and I was pregnant with my second. She regressed ... she wouldn't poo herself, but she'd pee if she was "busy" and didn't want to run to the potty. I waited until my second was a little over 2 1/2 and she was trained within 4 days with very few accidents. My third I just discovered on the potty one day when she was about 2 1/2 or so. She only ever had a few accidents after that. I'm talking about day training. Within six months of that, they actually told me when they didn't need night pull-ups anymore.

My advice is to wait and not to stress yourself or your daughter. I am not saying you won't have any success, but just ask yourself why you would want to undertake this at such a young age.

Best wishes,
L.

PS I trained in the summer ... we lived in a nice climate ... it was so much easier for them not struggling with all those clothes. I put a potty on the porch for them when they were outside so they didn't have to run too far.

Potty-training is not something that you can really affect. Children do this on their own schedule, they start and stop and start again, they pee but don't poop and vice versa -- they're all different. I had one child who waited until age 3.5 years (frustrating!), then did it all in one day and never had an accident or peed in her bed. Another daughter did it in one week, under age two; and my nephew just stopped wearing pull-ups at night last week, at age almost-six! Give her a potty, be casual, and mostly don't ever talk about. The talking about it is what pressures the child and can delay the accomplishment. good luck!

I have 3 kids and the baby of the family just turned 2 years old and is fully potty trained (even at night). All of my kids were potty trained by at least 2.5 years, but I think it was because they wanted to be. With my first (a boy) I used the pull ups and I think that it prolonged the potty training. I'm just speaking from my experence, though. I don't really feel like I personally potty trained them, just guided them a little, cleaned up the messes (LOL) and they just taught themselves. What I did is took them out of their diapers by 18 months, but only when we are home, and place potty chairs around the house. Then, I didn't make a big deal about the potty. When they have an accident, I would clean it up and tell them to go sit on the potty. Then by 2 years I would have them wear underwear when we are out of the house, and bring extra clothes just in case. For me, not making a big deal about the potty, (no rewards, charts,or negative comments), I just allowed them go to the bathroom themselves, and even wash their own hands. I do give them a book to read sometimes if they are going poop and then close the door to give them privacy.
Kids this age love to do things themselves!

I don't have to potty train just yet but when I do I will definitely use Janette's advice. of course talk about it and use plenty of positive reinforcement, I know that much from experience with other accomplishments of my 11 month old girl. good luck!

The best place to start is to talk about functions like when you change her, "oh you went pee, your diaper is wet" talk about the potty and how you will be happy when she uses it. Get some cloth training pants for her to wear at home, and just go for it. Take her often and buy a potty chair for the car when you go out.

these are good trainers for early training because they are waterproof
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5732499

DON'T TALK ABOUT IT????!! duh it is something you teach. how do you teach without talking about it? Of course be casual an un-pressureing, but if she pees in her panties say look you peed on the floor. You SHOULD pee in the potty. We teach our kids to dress themselves, write their names ride their bikes etc. etc. etc. Potty training is just one more thing to teach. I have started training all of my kids before their 2nd b-days and I think this is a great time to start. I agree they do all get it in their own time, but that doesn't mean you should let them totally do it by themselves, it's like leaving shoes lying all over your house and thinking the kid will eventually learn to tie them. I successfully pt'ed my first son by 22 months after 2 weeks, my daughter by 21 months after 3 months and I am currently potty training my 15 month old and after just 2 weeks he is wearing his trainers only at night. No pressure was put upon them, intelligent kids get it because you are doing them a favor by not subjecting them to sitting in their own filth any longer.

Hi, I trained my son this spring @ 22 months using www.3daypottytraining.com, it is a web book and also has mentoring for when problems arise. It is an intense 3 days but works and it is all about being positive. We have been out of diapers for 4 months, including naps and overnight. Best part is they tell you when they need to go! The only skill needed is communication. Check out the website it is great.

I personally have never potty trained my children that young. I have successfully potty trained 2 (my oldest daughter just before 3 years & my oldest son just after 3 years). I am now in the process of training my youngest son who will be 3 at the end of August. I work from home, so I do not have to worry about child care class restrictions due to not being potty trained.

I am not telling you not to potty train your daughter at her age, I am just saying that it was easier for me when my children were closer to 3. My oldest daughter potty trained, night & day, in 1 week! Good luck to you!

Make it a GREAT day!

S.