Potty Training Questions - Kansas City,MO

Hi, J.. This is a good sign your daughter is getting ready for potty training, but I wouldn't say it means she is ready. You could ask her if she wants to sit on the potty and if she chooses to- that's great. I would not start taking her yet, though, unless she really becomes regular about going and stays dry through the night. You could also start reading books to her about going on the potty. That may stir up some more curiousity. Good Luck!

My oldest showed interest around that age as well. I was expecting the next one at the time and listen to too many people who said that she would possibly get it at that age but then just digress once the baby was born. She is now 3 and still not potty trained. She knows how to go but just chooses not too. I REALLY think that if I had gone through the process when she was younger, we would have had better luck with it. My advice is to go ahead and try to get the potty training out of the way. If she recognizes that she can go, then don't wait. It might take a little longer since she is younger but it is worth the effort. I read something the other day that said that the average age that kids were potty trained 20 years ago was 18-24 months. In today's society, the average is 2-3 years old. They are capable at 18 months and even before that so DON'T wait.

My oldest now 6 showed the same interest at about 18 months, so I purchased a potty seat and it didn't take too long before she figured it all out and she was trained. My middle child now 41/2 started about 15 months or so to want to sit on the potty. But she really didn't do well with it that early, and she wasn't fully trained until she was almost 4. My point is that it all depends on the child. You won't know until you try, I say if she seems to know when she is going, than it doesn't hurt to attempt it. Good Luck!

J.,

My daughter started exhibiting signs at 14-months and I waiting until she was about 17 months to try. She was able to tell me her diaper was dirty by that time so I thought I'd give it a try. I was referred to the 3-day potty training course, which I really liked. The course doesn't recommend starting potty training until 22-months if you want to truly be done in 3 days. If you start younger she says it will take longer. I went in with this understanding & set a goal for 5 days. I had many people tell me that they were able to be successful prior to the 22 month mark so I decided to try it. We had vast improvement from day 1 to day 5 but found that she was only able to stop herself once she started in her panties...she wasn't yet understanding that she had the urge to go. Once I put her on the potty she knew she would get a treat when she pottied but she most often didn't sit there long enough to potty in the chair. I ended up putting her back in diapers for now instead of continuing on indefinately. Now my daughter is almost 19-months and starting to try to pull her pants down now. I know once that happens there will be no keeping the diaper on her so I plan to try again in the next month or so. Bottom line, if she is showing interest I would encourage her but don't force her...if it isn't working out quite yet just give her a little more time.

My daughter started going on the potty at 17 months and was fully trained around 20 months.It is possible.However it's alos possible she knows she pooped but still wouldn't have the control.My daughter started going on the potty every night while I was running her bath water,but wasn't completely ready.I just let her decide how ready she was.You are right,you can start pushing for it too early and mess things up!I have a fair amount of experience with this.I worked in daycare for 6 years,have 3 of my own,and have been babysitting in my home the last 5 years.Every child is different so my suggestion to you is to introduce the potty chair but don't push it.Does that make sense?Let her get familiar with it.If she wants to sit on it let her and you can ask her periodically.However if she says NO she doesn't want to drop it.It sounds like she does not like to be poopy and it might not be long before she's trained.However if you start before she's ready your just waisting your time.A child needs to be completely ready to actively potty train.They need to be willing (interested) and able to control it as well.Ex: If she is interested now but has no control of when it comes out and stays in it doesn't do any good.I hope I am making sense,lol.I do however think it's a good idea to let her get familiar with the seat and what you do and let her take everything at her own pace.Also let her watch Mommy and Daddy use the potty.