To think that my 16mo old cracking potty training in a day means she's a genius?

[Redplenty]

Just that really. My just turned 16 month old has been interested in the toilet for a few weeks and very keen to get changed when dirty so on Saturday, despite reservations about her age, we went for it. She's been phenomenal. She takes herself to the potty if she needs it even if you're not in the room (discovered that when I was getting the pram ready in the hall), will let you know accurately if she needs a wee or poo and will also have a wee if you ask her to if you explain we're going out now. Today we've been all over town with zero accidents (actually she's only had two tiny wees on the floor full stop and that was Saturday). Is she a genius?! I think so.

Well, I certainly like to think so, since apparently I was the same at a similar age! There should be a club for us.

Seriously though, that's great! Potty training isn't usually much fun.

She's probably peaked or that turns out to be her special skill. We all have some sort of peak in our lives, what if this is hers?

My DD's special toddler skill was getting her shoes on the right feet. Sadly some other children have more interesting special skills.

About to try potty training my 3 year old DS - please send your good vibes my way 🤣♥️

In good company! I assume you've made your millions and set your doting parents up for life 😂?

No, I was expecting a literal shit show of a weekend and back in nappies by today 😂

My friends daughter potty trained at 16 months. My boys were two and a half and took a week.

I did say this to my friend today 😂

It was normal years ago (before automatic washing machines), mum tells me I was 15 months, middle brother 20 months and youngest brother 2.5 years, he had some other delays too, though interestingly we had an automatic washing machine by then!

Our culture toilet trains really late - there are a lot of countries where they use elimination communication from birth, here before 18months is unusual and most people don't even try till 2+

My mother was determined not to have 2 in nappies - my sister is 17 months younger than me and I was dry day and night by 16m. Mum thought she was the potty training queen, unfortunately sister had other ideas. Had to be lifted at 11pm until after she started school.

My sons were 20 m and 18 m. Younger one cracked day and night in a week. Older one we lifted at our bedtime till he was about 41/2 because he refused pull ups etc after his brother was dry at night.
It's no sign of anything in particular. Just different children learn different things at their different paces.

My DS got fully toilet trained over a bank holiday weekend when he was 18 months old. I was clueless about how to go about it so followed something I found online that was written by an American woman who claimed near 100% success. To my amazement it worked.

He never used a potty once instead preferring to use a child seat on an adult toilet. He’s nearly 4 now and hasn’t had a single accident since being trained.

I was so pleased it was such a straightforward thing to resolve but still have no idea if it was pure luck rather than any great training technique.

I feel really sorry for those who have struggled with it as life is so busy with a toddler and you can do without extra chores to deal with.

My DD was the same. It didn't occur to me that it might mean she was a genius tbh, but I was 100% convinced I was an amazing mother.

Then I tried potty training my DS. That was a completely different story !!!

They are both in their 30s now and both take themselves to the loo without any problems. I don't think anyone has ever asked either of them how old they were when they mastered this skill.

My older child trained at 20 months which was a lot younger than the rest of his friends. So I wasn't expecting my second to be earlier - although I was all set to give it a go at 20 months. Nappies are sooo expensive!

My pet theory is that children have windows for this sort of thing that come up every so often. When they aren't ill or working on another skill or settling to a new routine.

So lots of people might miss a window because they think they're too young, or because suddenly they got HFM etc.

And of course, kids regress.

My neice decided at 15 months that she didn't want or need nappies any more and would use the toilet (she didn't want to use a potty). 10 months on and she has only had 1 accident

Yes you should be very proud of her she's a little star

Well done to your little one and to you too for taking the plunge!
Especially as there's a huge rise in kids still in nappies at school age, it's perfectly possible to train children before they're two ☺️

What did you do to train her?! I need to potty train mine - she's 20 months and obsessed with the potty/toilets - but keep putting it off as I'm dreading it

I think that’s absolutely fantastic. I’m a big fan of people starting at the right time (as opposed to leaving it til they are 3 or 4 which seems to be fashionable at the moment).

I started potty training my son at 22 months and he was done by 24 months with a few minor accidents.

Well done! That’s amazing.

As a pp mentioned kids are going to school still in nappies which boggles my mind.

Definitely, I would download the application form for Mensa right now as she will probably want to fill it out by next week.

My first was very quick to train, not overnight but within a few days. My second took over a year to be consistent 😭 but fortunately doesn’t seem to be too intellectually stunted as a 10-year-old haha

My son was 18months. I had my friend round for the day, her little boy was just over two, she'd forgotten to bring a potty so asked to use mine, I hadn't had it out since my eldest was potty trained two year previously.
Never thought anything about it but when they'd gone home my little one used the potty whilst I was in the kitchen. He'd
Obviously been watching and thought he'd have a go.
Never looked back dry from that day.

So I figured we'd throw everything at it for a weekend. If we made no progress I'd assume she wasn't as aware as I thought and we'd go back to nappies. But I wanted to give her a go because she seemed keen and I really really didn't want her to get comfortable being dirty (although I change her as soon as she is wet or dirty - I think this has helped a lot to be honest).

I took her nappy off as soon as she woke up and put her in a t shirt and jumper. Went into the lounge, and made sure I could reach her and the potty at all times which meant a lot of following her around. We just played whatever she wanted to play. My partner took our three year old out for the day so I could focus on her. I have never stared so intensely at someone else's vaginal area ever 😂 as soon as she started to wee I said "wees go in the potty" and picked her up and put her on it. She stopped and looked shocked and didn't restart. Fine. No worries. Gave her some juice - fluid is important as you need them to wee so you can practice! Second wee was a few drips on the floor and then finished on the potty. Loads of praise, took her with me to flush it away which she loved. Nappy on for nap time but was dry, and next wee she stopped and looked puzzled so I said "wees on the potty" and she toddled over and did a wee. For poos she just took herself and did it so can't claim any credit for that!
The absolute main thing for me is making sure you can reach your child and the potty at the same time as wees are fast, and watching allllll the time. It's intense for the parent but should be easy for the child. Good luck!!

Oh and then out and about I take a carry potty and she's in joggers but no pants for easy access and so that it doesn't feel like a nappy.

Ohh long shot, but do you remember who it was by? Trying to get mine potty trained and it's not going too well! 😞

Hahaha.
Don't have any more children is all I can say. Some get it early, some don't. Well done to your little girl, that is fantastic! BUT don't judge parents and children who have struggled, please, because I have had three children and three totally different experiences of success/abject failure using the exact same strategies with each child. It was humbling and the judgemental parents didn't help.

Well done! Still struggling to potty train my son who just turned three 😱 my family keep quoting that statistic to me about kids starting school not being potty trained. And I'm basically a social pariah among my NCT group.