Potty Training for a 16-Month Old???

I have always been a believer in following a child's lead with potty training. If she is showing that much interest then go with it. It is not unheard of for a child that young to potty train. If you were pushing it then I would say no. But she sounds determined. I don't think there is any harm in going for it.

I always let my kids guide me with the potty training... just let her show you the next step - go for it... she'll only go as far as she is ready. It may very well be a long road, but it is her road. I used the training pants with mine.

I just gave this answer to another mom with a similar inquiry. Seems to fit yours, too:

There are many stories of moms who got themselves scheduled to take their child to the potty every X minutes starting around a year and an half, and feel successful if they seldom have accidents and save on diapers. Some kids that young will even learn to ask for help when they have to go, but very few can manage the whole process themselves, from getting clothing down to wiping and pulling clothing back up. But if it works for both mom and child, hooray!

Many more stories of early training go on to include regression, usually when there's some major new stress in the child's life, or when the enormity of the ongoing expectations hit her. Those kids are just not mature enough yet to make the process their own.

The most success and quickest results tend to be found in the families that wait for the child to show interest, ask to try, want big-girl panties, and similar signs of readiness. Those potty-training adventures might take only a day or a week before the child is 100% successful, by her own choice. That age is seldom younger than 2 1/2 years for girls, and usually (but not always) by around 3 1/2.

It's good to start teaching about using the potty before then, through demonstration, conversation, books and videos, role-playing with dolls, etc. Keeping it light and cheerful, and avoiding any tension or pressure around the subject, will generally allow the child to approach the subject in the most positive and confident way.

Be aware that poop training and night dryness are separate stages for many children, and can take considerably longer. Many parents continue to make diapers an option for kids who lag in those areas, and that does not appear to confuse or discourage most children from using the potty to the degree they are able. Night dryness, in particular, requires more maturation of the nervous system and bladder than many toddlers have achieved, and that maturity may not occur until well into elementary school for some kids. They'll get there as fast as they can.

I started training my daughter around 16 months. She was fully trained (including nighttime) around 21/22 months. It will be a lot of work, but I say go for it now! I clothed diapered, so yes cloth diaper! The more she can feel it, the better!

When she is getting about 80% of it in the toilet, put her in trainers --with no covers. The Gerbers work great. Save the big girl undies for something special. We used them to get my daughter to go poop in the toilet. When she would do that, she got her Elmos. She then wanted them at night time, so we told her she had to wake dry 5 nights in a row to wear her elmos to bed. Do make sure you put her in cloth at night-time! No pull-ups!

It's important to put her on a schedule and teach her what I call "potty etiquette," you go when you get up, after breakfast, before leaving the house, etc. She will get distracted for a long time coming. My daughter is 30 months and we still have accidents (mind you, her accidents are barely wetting her pants and getting herself to the toilet to go, but she still gets distracted and thinks she can keep holding it!)

Let me add a few things: when you start early, you finish earlier. So, even if there are regressions (my daughter had a few, when her brother was born, when I went away for a few days), these regressions are happening when their peers haven't even started! So, ignore the Na-sayers, and get busy! Prior to 1960, 80% of all kids were trained before 18 months. The rest of the world trains before 2, it's only us Pamper loving Americans who like their toddlers and little kids to run around with poop in their pants!

Also, look at helping her to potty as you looked at helping her to walk. They need help, yes, but this doesn't mean they aren't capable. If they are able to distinguish between wet and dry, are aware of the sensations and pressure, they are ready. Just keep talking it all up (do you feel pressure in your bottom? do you feel pressure, like you need to pee). In short, just because you have to help them with their pants and wiping, etc. it doesn't mean they can't do it. Most have the control and ability, we are just lazy. Could you imagine a mom saying "no, i won't hold your hand while you learn to walk?" Unthinkable, yet, taking a kid's pants off to help them go pee is?!

ALL kids show a window of interest before 2. TAKE IT AND RUN. They get so oppositional after they turn 2! (as I am sure you know).

you're asking for trouble by catering to her wanting big girl panties just because they are new and fun. our rule was if you want the big kid panties you have to start going on the potty first. she is interested because everyone else does it and that's great, but don't rush out and get all the supplies just yet. very very unlikely she will be potty training anytime soon. encourage, but don't indulge. most kids go through an initial "oh this is cool i want to do it like mommy and daddy!" and then they aren't really ready, so nothing much happens. right now she's just playing at being like everyone else. she's probably not actually ready.

ps - ditto everything peg said. she's right on.

Put panties on the outside of her diaper, tell her that's they way they go. Otherwise you'll just be going around cleaning up pee and pooh all day. she's smart, obviously, but not physically old enough to be in control of her bladder and muscles.

I always worry about potty training too early but your daughter certainly sounds like she is ready. I would run to the book store right away and get a book called "Potty Training in a Day". Everyone told me I was nuts for even trying it with my first son but low and behold it worked - IN ONE DAY! He never had an accident, and I never had to ask him if he had to go potty. He just went and did it on his own. Thinking it was a fluke, I did it again for my second son and again for my daughter and perfect results every time. It is worth the quick read and you will be happy you did it.

Happy Potty Training!

I have had similar experiences with my son and we are planning on potty training him soon too. I did some searching and found this article http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/category?cat=1593 which I found very helpful. I don't think it's too early, but I wouldn't do it half way. She sounds ready and you don't want to drag it out. If you are going to do it, do it completely and be done with the diapers.

I posted a similar question when my daughter was that age. My boys were each 3 when we finished training them.

We got out the potty, use it when she wants too, and got the seat on the toilet fore before bath and bedtime. Letting my daughter go diaperless works great, she usually gets to the potty. She will even go (sometimes) on public toilets.

My girl is now 22 months, and we are still doing the same stuff. Diapers when we are out, and usually at home (unless she's naked), she takes the lead on when she wants to use the potty. It can be kind of an obsession with her, so there are days when we spend a lot of time practicing with the potty.

I look at it as really good practice, and sometime in the next few months (when she really seems more ready) we'll get serious and make the big switch to underwear.

My BFF trained her daughter completely at 18 months, so it can be done! :)

For me, it is requiring lots of patience and time. That's fine. I think she's close now (at nearly 2) so like I said, pretty soon we are going to try to finish the deal :)

Good luck!
J.

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