Is 14 months too young to begin potty training

[ChampooPapi]

Just that really, my last is 9 now so I really cant remember when I started but I know she was out of nappies by the age of 2. I think I started around 18 months but she was also a spring baby so mid summer was easier to go nappyless in the garden ect and have a potty about.

Shall I start gently now? Just sitting her on it a few times a day? or is this madness and wait a few more months

Thanks all!

[MustardScreams]

Can she tell you when she’s done a wee or a poo or if she needs one? If not there is no point really. She won’t associate the feeling of using a potty with a full bladder etc and so won’t learn. You’ll be learning her cues to put her on there.

What’s the rush? Just wait until she’s ready.

[ChampooPapi]

@MustardScreams

She always goes to the corner behind the stairs when she needs a poo if we are downstairs the last few months so this was my thinking I guess. I don't want to rush her, she is walking but is only just 14 months this week

[Soubriquet]

Well, it is up to you really

Personally, I would wait until summer and let them go bare bum

14 months is a bit early personally, but it’s not my baby

[Connieston]

Can't hurt to try! My eldest got the hang of it early, would have been silly to make him wait. If she's got a predictable behaviour you can use that to your advantage, placing potty in that place and changing to pull ups

[NabooThatsWho]

Too young I think. Seems a bit of a waste of time.
Are you in a rush to do it?

[lanbro]

My youngest copied her sister and was trained, day and night, by 18mo, fed worth a go if she's showing an interest

[ChampooPapi]

@Soubriquet I do have a garden and patio area so waiting another month or so is sound advise as with better weather we'll be out there a lot. Its just been so tempting every time I see her scuttle off to the corner

[Quickthrowaway]

Def not too young, but I’m a militant potty trainer.

Best advice is to let her see YOU going to the loo as often as possible. Be very open about it.

[Downthecanal]

I would say so.

Can’t remember dd1

I thought I started dd2 at 18 months but was reminded by my friend who has similar age dc that it was just after 2 as it was summer time and we spent a lot of time outside together with the girls.

Dd3 is 18 months now and is touch and go and prefers having a nappy on so I’m leaving it a bit

[ChampooPapi]

@Connieston that is good advise, I could just put a potty in 'her corner'. She is a faily predictable baby as babies go, but she's only been walking properly for a few weeks and so efficient at crawling that she resorts to this a lot.

@NabooThatsWho I'm not in a rush as she wont be in nursery until over another year and I'm a stay at home mum currently. Its just that mothers intuition niggling the past few weeks where she shows an interest in the toilet and her routine is good.

She may also just be desperate to drink the toilet water though! her obsession with the bathroom has already started

[ChampooPapi]

@lanbro yes her sister is 9 so fully trained and she follows her to the bathroom everytime she goes in there, I just constantly hear 'Shoo Shoo baby!'

[lanbro]

@ChampooPapi

[ChampooPapi]

@Quickthrowaway I feel I was very militant last time and my other daughter picked things up really fast and was dry at night by 2 also (but not always of course there were accidents up until 3 ish)

She literally see's everyone, whether they want her to or not, using the toilet, she's worked out how to open the door so many friends and family have been caught by the toddling bathroom creature!

[ChampooPapi]

@Downthecanal it's very hard to be exact in these things with timings especially when the last time was so many years ago for me, but I do know it was summer 2011, which month god knows. The weather is improving and I was keen to at least buy a potty to have around the place

[MustardScreams]

Can I just say I’m in awe of you who potty trained so early! Dd is 2.5 and I’ve been putting it off as I’m not sure she’s ready yet. Might have to buy a potty. Exciting!

[Soubriquet]

If it helps mustard

Both of mine were over 3 when they were both trained. But as it stands both have only had 1 accident each since we started too which I’m pleased about

[Kokeshi123]

domanmom.com/make-potty-training-easier/
This article describes some things to do with babies that will make potty training easier later on.

Why not start in like this, and view it as "practice" rather than actual training?

If it actually leads to full training quickly, great. If not, just getting baby used to the whole idea of doing a poo/pee in a place other than a nappy, will be useful when you decide to train properly a little bit later--at least you are less likely to end up stuck with a stubborn toddler who "holds" until you put a nappy on them.

[ChampooPapi]

Thanks for the link @Kokeshi123 I found that really helpful

[Rubberduckies]

Google Elimination Communication. It's actually aimed at even younger babies but most articles/books I've read have sections for starting at 12months/18months etc. Might give you some ideas and confidence?

[Rubberduckies]

Haha just seen that the linked article actually is about elimination communication! Great minds!

[Kokeshi123]

Mmmm, I would not say that the article was elimination communication. I think elimination communication is kind of hardcore and involves a lot of work. Whereas the article was more about just getting a bit of "habit building" in early on, so you do not end up with a 3yo asking for a nappy to poo in and holding until you give them one (my friends' situation---very very common and frustrating).