I know it sounds crazy but I'm serious. I keep a potty seat in my main bath for the occasional friend that comes over with a little one that might need to use the potty. I keep this seat in the magazine rack on the floor. My 15 month old son always wants to take it out of the rack and play with it. I do wash it any time a little one uses it, but still it's not a toy. I decided about 3 weeks ago to show him what it is really used for. So, a couple times a day I've been sitting him on the potty. Normally he'll just sit there and jibber jabber away and I sit on the floor in front of him and talk to him and such. Well, tonight he actually peed!! I'm pretty certain this means absolutely nothing, but curious what you all thought. I don't think I'm pushing it cuz I'm not forcing him to do anything, but is this just silly?? Am I making going potty into a game and then I'm gonna struggle later?? Anyone potty train a boy early?? All opinions and thoughts are welcome!! Thanks!
Thank you for all your positive opinions and experiences!! We're still putting him on the potty a few times a day. He doesn't go every time, but seems to like sitting up there and just jibber jabbering away!!
I think it's possible. My dd started the same antics when she was 15 months old. I'm convinced that if I were consistent about rewards and putting her on the potty, she'd be trained by now. (She's almost 2) We had a baby in October, so I'm not on top of the potty training, but she still uses the toilet and sometimes tells me when she has to go.
Some children potty train really early. I think that the fact that your little guy is not only happy to sit on the potty but actually PEED while sitting on the potty (which I'm sure earned him lots and lots of praise) is nothing but a good thing!
I would guess that his peeing in the potty tonight is a happy coincidence, but I think it's a step in the right direction. I'd say to keep doing exactly what you're doing! (And the rest of us will be terribly jealous when you have an 18 or 20 month old who is potty trained!)
GOOD LUCK!
It's absolutely possible! I started at birth using a method called elimination communication (google it to learn more, it sounds nuts, but it works!) and you can use some of the same techniques with young toddlers. The most important thing about starting early, IMO, is to NOT force it and not to praise or shame at all.
Instead of praising my girls when they pee in the potty I tell them what they just did in a matter of fact way. I don't want them to think that it's a big deal because it's not... it's just what is done. We all pee in the potty. If you make a big deal about it then it can end up being a power struggle later on sometimes.
My older daughter was out of diapers without having accidents at 13 months old, so some children are definitely capable of learning to potty at your son's age :) I have friends who have used this method with their sons as well, so it doesn't just work with girls.
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or need help finding resources. There's a group called Diaper Free Baby and I'm a mentor through that group. They have many articles and resources and even groups that you can attend if there's one in your area so you can meet others who potty trained their children early.
Best wishes!
~B.
P.S. Most children need to pee immediately upon waking up from a nap or in the morning so that's a great time to set him on the potty and read to him or play with a special toy while he's on the potty :)
Nothing wrong there and I'm all for it - check out a book called "Diaper Free Before 3" can't remember the author right now, but it was written by a Pediatrician and Mom. She talks about getting the child in the habit of sitting on the potty several times a day regardless of sucess. Make it part of your normal routine. Until the last few decades, most cultures would have children potty trained by around 2 anyway... imagine what your life would be like with out disposable diapers... you'd be motivated to train as soon as possible. Further evidence that our little ones' brains get so much more than we think they do....Go girl!
We started exploring the idea of potty training our first son when he was about 15 months old or so because he was showing interest as well. We too did the same thing, having him sit on the potty chair a couple times a day, reading a book to him, etc. He peed once while sitting on the potty chair but never really reacted like he knew what had happened. Nevertheless, we just let him explore the potty chair at his own will and eventually, right at age 2, he was fully potty trained--it literally happened overnight! By fully potty trained, I mean through the night, no pull-ups, etc.! It definitely never hurts to try if the child is showing interest and I think it is great that he is comfortable with the potty seat!
Hi S.,
It's never too young to potty train... and if he's showing interest, by all means, let him sit on the big boy potty! :) Just think how much you'll save on diapers.
Good for you. Potty time should be fun not a chore. I have 3 year old twins, one boy and one girl, who started "potty training" at 18 months. They loved to sit on thier pottys and play. I would let them sit on them in the living room, kitchen where ever they wanted. They both got the idea quickly and started using them. We switched to the big potty because my son wanted to go like daddy. I never pushed them to try. My kids spent alot of time naked so I was able to see thier body cues before they went and get them to the potty before they had accidents. When there were accidents we did not get upset. We just did it at thier pace. Thier interest went back and forth and for awhile they both refused to go poop on the toilet, which they had already done many times. They would make me put a pull up on them just to poop (they were in underware during the day at that time). By that point they were just over 2 years old and I just told them when the pull ups were gone we could't buy more and they were ok with that. By the time they were 2 1/2 years old they were out of pull ups and diapers completley. My son still has the occasional overnight accident so we just cut off all drinks after 6 pm (a small sip after we brush teeth is ok) and then wake him up when we go to bed to try again. My youngest is 13 months and she sits on the potty all the time AT HER REQUEST!She walks in there and bangs on the lid till I sit her on it. She has even pooped once!!! They know when they are ready and you are just following his lead with this!!!!
