Potty Training - Alexandria,VA

Has he shown you any signs that he wants to? Does HE talk about the potty, does he let you know when he is wet? Can he pull up his pants, or mopre importantly, take them down?It's a great idea to show him about the potty, and start to teach him, but highly unlikely that he will be potty trained until after his 2nd birthday at the earliest. While I had been trying with both of my boys starting from about 18 months, they didn't get the hang of it until they were about 3, and weren't full time in big boy undies until 4. I am not saying that it can't be done, but he needs to be ready before it will work. He needs to see Daddy, or other men in his life, use the toilet. You can also get some videos and books to introduce him to the idea.

potty training is not rocket science... thankfully
and 14.5 months is not too early, count on potty training from start to finish, taking about six months.
you have already bought the potty chair, thats the first step, next, introduce him to the potty chair( and, yes you
want to make a big deal about it), tell him that big boys
use the potty when they have to go potty.. that way you dont have to wait to be changed, babies have to wait to be changed, but not a big boy like him .then ask him would he like to try to use it, just to try it out. if he does wonderful, if not, thats ok too. then take the tyke out to look at books on potty training and maybe buy a box of
training pants. if you can get the sitter to get on board
with potty training great, if not, then try with them later. in the mean time, he is trying out the chair and
should be adjusting to using it instead of being in diapers all the time. more later
K. h.

Hi M.! I didn't read any of your responses so I'm sorry if I'm redundant. For my girls I just provided a potty (around age 2) and waited. Basically waited until they showed interest. I always let them watch me go to the bathroom, too. Once they showed interest, they were potty trained in a matter of DAYS. I've heard if you try too early it can takes MONTHS or a year! Why bother with all that stress? I suppose you could try it, and if your son isn't getting it after a few days just wait until he shows he is ready! If it turns out to be a frustrating thing, then that's a sign he's not ready. When a kid is ready, potty training is EASY.

It is actually not too early to start potty training your son. If you do some research you will find that until the development of disposable diapers in 1964 the average age for a potty trained child was 18 months, since than the average age is 36 months.
My daughter just turned 20 months and she started using the potty at 16 months. We had taught her sign language and started incoporating the sign for potty into her regime. When we changed her diaper we would always sign potty. Once she was able to sign potty to us we started putting her on the potty around the time that she usually went in her pants. After about a month of that she would occasionally start signing as she was going to the bathroom and we'd run her to the potty to finish. She's now 20 months and I made the swith to regular panties the beginning of this month. I would say she's about 95% trained. I obviously put a diaper on her at night, because she doesn't stay dry overnight and only occasionally wakes up and cries when she does have to go. At this age the idea is just to get them used to the idea of using the bathroom. Some days you'll have tons of accidents and some days it just click, but it gets better. By no means put a time limit on it, it may take a month it may take more. The less pressure your son feels the easier it will be. The fortunate part of doing it so early is that you avoid the strong willed nature of a 2 year old, and it hasn't become a habit for him to go in his pants yet. I'm a stay at home mom so I didn't have to deal with day care, so I would talk with them as well to see how much time they are able and willing to put into it. The more consistency he has the easier it will be. If you have any questions just send me a message.

As a daycare provider, and a mother whose oldest son was also in daycare, I would like to advise you to talk to his daycare providers. They may have a policy about potty training and they also will be able to help you assess whether he's ready to train or not. I really think that is very young to even start. Have the potty there, but don't make it a big deal. My son didn't start training until he was 3 (and a couple months). Now might be the time to let him wander in while you're going to the bathroom. He'll at least see how it all works that way.

We didn't do the pull ups except for bed time. We carried a few changes of clothes when we went out, just in case. You can get the book "Potty Training in a Day" at the library, but the title is a misnomer! It doesn't happen in one day (from diapers to no accidents).

if you start dont stop no matter what.

dont go backwards you will only creat more problems
just take off his nappy, and only use pull ups for nap time and night time.

they wont pee all over theplace if he is ready

just took the nappy off one sunday morning explained to him about he toilet and he did the rest.

i finnished off the nappies and at nap time and night time

and we havent looked back.

be prepared for accidents and every time you go out take him toilet before you leave the house(should be the last thing you do before going out the front door) and as soon as you get to where ever you are going you take him to the toilet show him where it is. then remind him ever 20 - 30 mins to go or until you get used to his cycle.

This is WAY too early. Most boys are close to 3 before they are fully potty trained. My first son was potty trained 2 months before he turned 3. My second son showed interest early - around 20 months. But I will not start potty training until 2 1/2 or so.

We used Pull-ups at night and during outings. While he was home, I put my oldest in regular underwear. He did not like the underwear to be wet and was trained in about 2 weeks. He also responded well to "Potty Prizes." (Small cars or treats when he was sucessful.)

Your son is still a baby. Enjoy this stage while it lasts!

This is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY too early to train. Developmentally, they are not ready. Their bodies don't have control. Their cause and effect mechanism has not kicked in. There is no reason to expect success- only a child that feels bad that it can't please you and a Mom desperately seeing bulk paper towels and rug cleaner.

Ask any pediatrician and they will agree.

Hi M.,
You have received some very good advice. Especially from those who agree that it is not too early to start potting. I totally agree with Kara, especially about the strong willed nature of a 2 year old.

Lots of parents feel that it's too early if they are under 2 or 3 because it requires more work on the parent, such as taking the child to potty as soon as they wake up, about 15-20 minutes after each meal, and other times as well.

I started potty training my daughter very early and by 2 she was completely trained. Peeing and pooping. It takes patience but it can be done.

Start off by allowing him to go into the bathroom with you and your husband. While one of you are in there, show him his potty and let him follow what you are doing. He will soon start to understand what the potty is for. The next step is to help him to know when he should be going. As I mentioned before taking him to the potty as soon as he wakes up, about 15-20 minutes after each meal and any other times that you feel he may need to go.

I would ask the day care what their policy is. Some day cares will allow you to bring a potty for him to use or they may have some there already. Just let them know that you do want him to be consistent with potty, even while at the day care.

I hope it works out for you!

I don't agree that he's too young, but he does have to be ready. My son is 18 months and started showing signs a couple weeks ago that he was interested so we bought him a potty. We don't have any belief that he is close to being potty trained, but for now, we're encouraging him to try.

For a while we've been "talking" about it. If he's in the bathroom with us or when changing his diaper, we will say something about how pee pee and poopy go in the potty.

We got him a potty that has sensors in the bottom of it and when he pees it plays happy music, which he loves. We also got the "Elmo's Potty Time" dvd (although he really doesn't watch t.v. except maybe 5-10 mins a day).

He started showing us his understanding of it by going to the bathroom door. 3 times in one week he went to the bathroom door (which we keep closed) and toyed with the handle, then pooped.

When we first got the potty chair, we put it in the living room, kitchen, his room...where ever we were, but he thought it was a toy and just played with it. Now, we keep it in the bathroom. He will go to the bathroom door and we will take him in to sit on the potty. 9 times out of 10 when he does this, he pees. He hasn't yet pooped in the potty, but I'm sure it will happen eventually. The other night I think he was going to poop in the potty but I just couldn't get him there fast enough and he went in the diaper. I dump the poop in the toilet cleaned him up and then we flushed the toilet and said "bye bye poopy".

When my son is successful with going in the potty, we give him a couple m&m's (or similar) as a reward. He knows that when he goes he gets them because he runs to the counter and points to the container.

As for pull-ups, I'm not a fan. I don't believe they aid in potty training since they act as diapers and wisk the moisture away. In the spring/summer we will let him play outside without a diaper on (wearing shorts with either nothing or underwear under them). Kids don't like the feeling of the pee running down their legs or being in wet clothes.

As for daycare, most daycares should have the equipment for potty training and if you let them know, they should participate in it. Also, don't forget to have a potty seat for grandma's house (or anywhere else that you are often visiting). They make fold up seat inserts ones that are easy for travel and are around $15.

I have a 5yr old and 23 month old - both boys. This is kind of how we approached it. We always had the bathroom door open for them to see what was going on and we began discussing and recognizing signs that they needed to go around 18-20 months. Look out for grunting and teach words or sign language that can be used to signal that they need to go. We bought the potty before we really started so they would each feel comfortable sitting on it reading books and playing with toys on it. Also if you are aware of when a BM usually occurs then try to put him on the potty and let him hang out and if something happens then the connection starts to be made. When there were successes we did stickers on the calendar and made it a really big deal with singing and dancing and everything. We took a very casual approach about it and the process continually improved but it took about a year. Once they are able to pull their pants down and are able to do more on their own that is when we started with pull ups. If the weather is nice I have heard that it's good to let them run around without a diaper so they feel when they are wet. We did try the cool feel pull ups to help my oldest recognize when he was wet but who really knows if that works or not. I know some people train their kids in a couple weekends but I didn't want to go that route. We have let our son's communicate and go at their own pace and tried to get them excited about it and not stressed out. Have him pick out his big boy underpants so he is excited to wear them. Good luck! There are also all kinds of books out there and many different techniques.

T. H.

i waited til mine were 2 and they got it by age 3. i have noticed that the main goal in the beginning is for them to understand what it feels lke to be "going" pee. i would sit them on the poty in the livng room in front of the tv for maybe an hour at a time and sit next to them hoping to hear the sound of peeing maybe even a bm. as son as i did i would say as excitd as i could YOU'R PEEING YOUR PEEING SEE! after that they knew what i meant. thn the goal was to remember to run to the potty evertime they thought they had to go. for the 4 kids i've trained once they understood what i meant they were good. the boy was just as good at it. i think thats just a steriotype that boys are harder. each child is different. once he understands what hes supposed to fo though you can start rewarding successful potty trips with a peice of candy or something. if he doesnt get it in a week tak the poty away and try agan in a month or two and so forth. pull ups are just dipers to little ones. i'd only use them if your child was poty trained during the day but struggled at bed time.

good luck

This is VERY early for a boy (even most girls.) I actually went to a potty training workshop last night at Parenting Playgroups (check it out!) It was two hours long so too much to go into here. But the recommended way is child led. There are early signs and true readiness signs. Can your child undress himself, sit for at least 10-15 minutes doing one activity, can tell you he is ready to poop or pee before going, uses potty talk, does potty play, has a real understanding of how it works, is dry for several hours, is becoming more independent, can follow 3-4 step directions, and plays in longer sequence of same activity? These are real readiness signs. Basically, let the child take the lead. If you do it too early and the child resists then it will take a lot longer. If you don't put pressure on the child and wait until there is an understanding and interest, it will be easier. But, what you can do is start talking about it, let him observe you, label body parts with proper names, read books, watch videos, change diapers only in the bathroom, put the diaper over the potty or put the poop into the potty to make the connection in the mean time.

Things have changed alot since my kids were little. You starting him now is a good time. Remind dad that he has to play a major roll in this because he has to teach him what to do. Sitting him on the pot is fine, but he isn't going to be doing that every time he goes to the bathroom. What I use to do with my children is, as soon as they wake up in the morning, I put them on the pot. Let them stay there for a few minutes or until you see something in the pot. If you are a stay at home mom, it works to your advantage to stay on top of it. But since your son goes to daycare, it would be good if they could stay on top of it as well. Having help on both ends, will let the child know that he is in for a new adventure. If he doesn't go before you pick him up, from daycare, make sure that you put him on the pot as soon as you get home. It's a consistant thing until the child can tell you he has to go or he goes by himself. You will have to ask him do he have to go. Whatever the phrase is that you will use with him. If he says no and his diaper is dry or semi-dry, then it would be good to just go ahead and put him on the pot. When other kids are around and he is playing with them, the act of going to the bathroom, is not on their mind especially if they are having alot of fun. Just remember to reward him when he goes. Also, accidents will happen, when you try the underware thing. It's all about learning. Good Luck!!!!! I hope this helps.

I agree with the other posters. Its way to early for potty training your son now. As someone suggested, you should review some books or do some internet searches on signs that demonstrate he is ready for it.

Daycare won't start training until he turns 2 probably. There are different methods on how to train when he is ready for it. Some people just do it "cold turkey" where you explain what you are going to do and then just spend 2-4 days at home with just underwear on or nothing on (if the weather allows). Others do it gradually with pull-ups, etc. So doing some of the research will be good so that you can try to decide on an approach and then work with the daycare to do it and follow your preferred method.

Good luck!

I didn't read all your responses, nor do I have the time to write a response to ALL of your questions, but I started on the EC approach and my little boy was pooping/peeing in the potty ON CUE at 5 1/2 months old. No, you are not starting too early. Babies DO have SOME control. Here are some websites to look at:
http://www.thediaperfreebaby.com/
http://www.parentinglogic.com/2009/09/elimination-communi...

I agree with others that it is too early to try training your son. Boys especially get trained later. That said, I am AMAZED that you have a 14.5 mo old that has never seen you go to the potty. If you really want to build interest early start letting him see you and your husband go potty and tell him what you are doing. I have two boys (almost 3, we trained him at 2.5 and a 16 mo old). My 16 mo old is in no way ready to potty train and he sees his brother, my husband and me using the potty. Good luck.

My son was potty trained at 3 1/2. Daycare did most of the work, and he was easy at home. We waited till he had interest and bladder / bowel control, and we did pull-ups at night for a long time after that. I simply didn't stress over it, and since I didn't push him before he was ready, it was fairly easy. I honestly think a lot of Mom's set themselves up for failure and frustration by wanting to start too early.

Your son is far too young for potty training. He may show some interest around 18 months or so, but he won't be ready to be fully trained until much later. If he's in daycare, they are likely to start "practice time" with the potty when he turns 2, and I would do the same at home. If he shows interest, let him use the potty, but don't expect him to train any time soon.

Buy a book about going in the potty when he's around 18 months or so, and that might spark some interest. However, even 18 months is too young to train.

Google "signs that your child is ready to potty train". That will help you get a sense of signs to look for.

I have heard that children aren't physically ready to potty train until between 2.5 and 3 years. I started my daughter a month before her 3rd birthday, which was 3 months ago, and she has never had an accident. And if I compare that to the many accidents my friends' kids had who started earlier, I would say it was just because her body was older and more able to hold it. She understood the concept at 2, but wasn't physically ready until almost 3. I still have her in a diaper overnight -- probably for another year. I would say wait wait wait until the child WANTS to be trained -- you will have fewer messes to clean up and he will be much less frustrated.

OK, I agree with Kara on the whole diaper invention. The early start is better.
Google Early Communication, sometimes referred as EC.

I don't think boys are harder, so whoever told you that was wrong. The only difference is you have to have dad a lot more involved, especially when it comes to the actual practice and examples.

I won't repeat myself since you already have some good advice. But the bottom line is if you want to keep spending money on diapers, training pants, and other marketing stuff, go ahead. But nothing beats buying $10 pack underwear that lasts them months

It is great to teach your child about the potty, but it is unlikely he will be ready to train for many months. You will be creating a lot of stress for yourself by trying to train a child who is not very verbal, can't remmember several steps in a routine, and can't deal with clothing. Diapers are soooo easy compared to training. Odds are he is not physically ready, but even if he was, he isn't mature enough to actually pull it off.

Instead, I suggest you focus on teaching him some self-care and hygiene. Let him see the potty routine - how mom and dad "go," pull up pants, wash hands, etc. Talk to him, "See Mommy making bubblkes with the soap." Start teaching him how to put his clothes on and off himself, and wash his hands at the sink after meals, etc. If he "uses" his diaper, describe what he did - "Did you make pee-pee?" Teach him the names of body parts and things in the bathroom. By the time some of this is mastered, you will be ready for real training.

When the time comes (two and a half maybe?) get him the books and videos and do the whole sticker chart thing... but remember that even two and half is very young. Most kids train at three. For us, we let my daughter go naked bottom for the day with lots of juice and trips to the potty at 15 minute intervals. We also used an insert so we never had an transition problems. She was one month shy of her 3rd birthday and she was day and night trained in 2 weeks with only about 3 accidents since and she is five!

It is really true - they don't go to college in diapers. Other than the cost of diapers, the older they are, then the easier it is to train them. I found the few months after training the hardest - "Pull your pants down... no don't touch that... did you go...wipe...no not like that... stop dancing and go..." 20 minutes every time she had to "try." And she is a girl!! Save yourself some stress and wait as long as you can!! Good luck!