Starting to Potty Train

The period between 18 to 24 months is a particularly good age to start casually teaching your child about the toilet and potty, about the words used to describe their bodily functions, and to let them see others in the family using the toilet. This is the age when they start to be able to grasp the concept, and congrats they all fall in the time frame. If you can get your daughter potty trained then maybe the boys will follow suit. Every child is different and it is always trial and error. My daughter took til she was 2 1/2 and my son was about 2.

A Little about me: I am a mother of two my daughter is 15 and my son is 8. I recently returned to school and received my LPN, I am continuing on to get my RN.

My son is 20 months and I just bought him a potty chair and placed it in the bathroom we use the most. We started about 2 months ago with using words to describe the activities and even when he follows me into the bathroom I tell him that mommy is making cucky etc. so he can start to ID with the function and the use of a potty. He is doing the same thing, telling us when he has pooped or made cucky. I think you just need to get one set up and start letting them come around to it, but don't wait to long. Don't force it, but don't let the opportunity slip by.

Right now, my son has no interest in actually sitting on the potty and doing anything. He acts afraid of it. Of course it has only been there for a few days!

If they are already telling you when they went, it's time to start! Jump on this right now before they lose interest... it could be another year or two before they are interested again and might be alot harder then. My 19 month old is practically training herself. She started telling us when her diaper was full around 15 months. About a month ago, I dug out my son's old potty chair and put it in the bathroom. Everytime I use the bathroom, she'll walk in and sit down on the step stool next to the sink... she's been doing that for 3 months... so now I take off her diaper and she sits on the potty. Whenever I notice her diaper has been dry for awhile, I ask if she has to go and she runs to the bathroom tugging at her pants. I sit her down and she pees immediately. Right now we're working on words.. she hasn't said 'pee' or 'poo' yet so we're trying to teach her the sign for potty. No luck yet but yesterday while playing she ran over to the bathroom door and banged on it (it was shut). My son asked her if she had to go potty and she tugged at her pants. So I put her on the potty and she immediately went! Yay!

So completely opposite of the year long struggle with my son. He was interested at 20 months but we put it off due to a move. He lost interested and was not a bit interested a month before he turned 3.. when he HAD to be potty trained to continue in his preschool. So we had a horrible year long power struggle. So now I know what NOT to do... like NOT putting it off and jumping on it as soon as they show interest!

i started both my children at the age of two. my daughter caught on pretty quickly but my son took his time. when i started my son i had him sit down and pee it was a lot easier until he caught on and knew what he was supposed to do. that helped me so much

I just put a potty chair in the bathroom that I use the most....and my little girl got used to seeing it and we told her what it was....She started potty training herself at 14 months....Just get the chair and leave it out so they aren't scared of it....I think that has a big role. Plus, I'm sure you've heard this, but they all go at their own rate. My daughter is doing everything way faster than I excpected....but we are just going with the flow. We will be in pullups soon! Just remember, that they know when its time for them to start.

my daughter was potty trained at 18 months i hear it takes longer for boys