Early Potty Training

[gigi556]

Waiting for toilet training readiness is a relatively modern trend. MIL says she potty trained her kids around age 1. So what's the deal with "early" potty training say between the ages of 12-24 months before showing signs. Anyone tried it?

DS1 14months and only goes to nursery 2 mornings a week and is with me the rest of the time so I'm curious.

[Monkeymonstermum]

Please don’t. Why make your life difficult? When people say they used to I think that was just number 2s as with many children it’s possible to predict they’ll poo after food....so sit them on a potty after meals. Also, nappies used to be awful quality and cause much more nappy rash. Now they are brilliant.
I really would worry about something else and have some lovely times out with your child this summer and worry about the potty training next year. It’s not a race - you will not stand getting a level results saying “I knew she/he’d do well...they potty trained at 18 months”
I believe the health visitors encourage leaving it a little later these days too as it’s tends to be quicker when they’re that bit older (often nearer 3 than 2 makes it easier). Oh, and there’s often a physiological element to their readiness - some bladders just aren’t holding on to the wee long enough to make it possible or practical at that age.

[mrsoutnumbered]

I think it all depends on the child - but if they're not ready then it's a much longer process with many accidents along the way. My youngest is 27 months and after a couple of weeks trying, I've put her back in nappies as she's not ready. My eldest however was dry day and night at her age.

[OhHolyJesus]

DS did it in 4 days aged 20 months. Did a wee on the potty at 18 months but waited until I was prepared. I recommend the Oh Crap book/method.

I think it's all relative and depends on the child. Whatever and whenever you decide, good luck x

[LaPufalina]

Following as our 20 month old will wee on the potty before or after her bath

[upsideup]

All 4 of my kids were potty trained by 16-20months.
From about 1 year we just stopped using nappies unless we were going out, we have no carpet downstairs so just let them play naked or in pants and started to recognise what they did before they needed to go and what times of the day they usually went and picked them up and onto a potty then. Mine would let go off any toys and have fists or open hands and a blank face about 20seconds before they went, would also go a few minutes after mealtimes. Also put them on the potty with me every time I went to the toilet and encouraged them to try and copy and we used cloth nappies from the start that feel more wet to the baby. I can't imagine trying to potty train a 3+ year old when they are at their most difficult age and already used to and comfortable with going in a nappy.

[gigi556]

Interesting differing view points!

[OhHolyJesus]

The Oh Crap book highlights being capable rather than ready. I liked the authors particular take on this but realise it bucks the trend of being 'baby led'. She also had a chapter on doing it with a younger child. Might be worth a read.

I saw a potty training expert on ITV this morning and she mentioned how the child should be able to communicate but think signing could work if child wasn't verbal.

It just depends on whether you want to go for it or not. Everyone will do it their own way and will always give differing experiences and opinions.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I always recommend reading Oh Crap as it's quite different to a lot of the responses that suggest leaving it until the child basically trains themselves. The author recommends training between 20 and 30 months so not super early.

My DD refused nappies from 21/22 months but had no idea what to do and the book worked really well for us. It's not baby led but equally it doesn't force them into anything (it absolutely is not putting them on a potty until they wee or anything like that!!)

DS is currently 19mo and I'm considering when to start. Unfortunately with work it's likely to be when he's nearer 2 - just around Christmas which isn't great timing either

[SoyDora]

DD2 was trained at 20 months. It was really easy, took 2 days. She’s 3 now and hasn’t had an accident since. We used the Oh Crap method.
Bizarrely lots of people have told me I must have ‘forced her’ before she was ready blah blah blah. There was no forcing involved.

[SoyDora]

That’s not to say that I think all children can be trained at 20 months, but the idea that she was forced is ludicrous!

[dementedpixie]

My ds was about 20 months when we started and was day trained by age 2. He was showing signs of readiness so we went ahead

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I agree soy. There's a lot of opinion that if you don't wait until your child says 'I want to do a wee in the potty now' without prompting that they weren't ready. There is no way anybody would be able to force my DD to do something she didn't want to so it definitely didn't happen like that with us either!