Potty Training Advice - Costa Mesa, CA

my kids were potty auto didacts!! By 2.5 they were totally potty trained.
It sounds like he REALLY wants to be able to use the potty. How great. Keep giving all the information, and equipment he needs available. take him in the bathroom with you and dad/partner. Just keep on being gentle and non authoritarian with him and this can be a perfectly non stressful event.
Good luck!!

I started my son at 20 months old. We aren't in a rush to potty train though so we are taking it easy. He will be 2 at the end of this month and will also be a big brother then too, so we wanted to introduce the potty before the baby came at least. We just ask him throughout the day if he needs to go and he tells us yes or no. When he says yes, he goes no problem. Some days he goes on the potty, some days he doesn't. It seems right for his personality and his age. You know your child better than anyone, so only you will really be able to tell when he is ready. Trust your instincts! Good luck!

It sounds like he's in the beginning stages. When you change him, have him sit on the potty. Work on getting his motor skills improved so he can pull down his own pants. It's not uncommon for kids to show an interest, then regress a bit or not want to do it anymore, especially this young.

If he is ready it doesn't matter his age. My daughter was 18 months I was trying to train a little girl that was 3.5 my daughter wanted to do it and she did. Never had any issues my youngest one day right before he was 3 said I don't want diapers and never again wore a diaper even at night if they are ready I say go for it.

Hi C., don't hold him back, many moms will tell you he is to young, not true. I started my first born at 20 months and he was completly potty trained by 21 months, encluding nights and naps. My second born son was potty trained at 19 months, my daughter by 22 months, and the only reason she was later was because at the time we started, we got orders to move over seas. be patient, use reward and discipline, and he should do just fine. J. L.

My son is 33 months and I just successfully potty trained him 3 weeks ago. I was so nervous about the whole thing! My mom bought the same book for me that she used to potty train her kids (me)...it is from the 70's and pretty vintage! I was skeptical to say the least but thought I'd better try it. It is called Toilet Training In Less Than A Day by Nathan H Azrin, PHD and Richard M.Foxx, PHD. I read thru this short book 3 times until I was very comfortable with all the steps. I followed it to a "t" and to my sheer joy he was potty trained in 4 hours! He has had zero accidents since. He even stays dry during the night and has zero "poop issues" like I hear a lot of boys have. The book says you can start training as early as 18 months so go for it if you feel it's time. Best of luck!!

Hi C.,
You can definitely try to start but boys do generally train later. Your son may just go for it and do it. My son showed interested early but then decided it was "scary" and we had to force him when he was 3 (we told him no more diapers so he went on the potty). You son is still young so don't expect much but you may be surprised.

You can get a book or video too to help. We got "Once Upon a Potty"

Good luck.

C. O

I know you will get much good advice, however, when your son is ready he will take off his diaper and use his potty. He can always go into the bathroom with your husband and sit on the potty while he sees daddy go potty and he will learn that his pants have to come off to peepee in the potty. I taught my three children since their father although he was in the house was absent. It worked really well for me and if your son learns from seeing the right way to go potty he will do it himself. Have fun, your son seems to be very mature for his age. Good luck.