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.

Ah this is fantastic! My girl mastered it in a week too with only one accident, albeit she was 2 and a half so maybe a bit on the later side? Nonetheless she was so quick to grasp it, it was a huge relief. I anticipated lots of accidents and took spare pants etc everywhere, but she just did it!

Come back in 6mos. It is good to celebrate early success but the path to fully potty trained is littered with regression and accidents. I have never heard of a first day of success being the start and finish of it.

You should definitely be proud! Second children can sometimes be faster because they want to be doing what their sibling is.

Also, I can't call her a 'genius' as that would make the children who only get it later 'stupid', which is harsh, and untrue.

*Intermisso - am sat on a train with two older people opposite; 70s/80s I'd say. They had a little packed dinner all set out beautifully on their table and the guy has just ordered the lady, several times in a really harsh tone, to 'eat her banana!'. She just did so and now he's telling her to 'fold this up and put it away'. Now he's saying 'Have your drink. Will you have your drink!! What are you doing?! Have your drink.' It's totally weird. She either has dementia that he's very tired of, or he's completely controlling and abusive. He hasn't said anything to her besides this - just read the National Geographic while she's stared about her and said nothing. I should butt out but it's unnerved me a bit.

Shall do! Be interesting to see how she gets on. But right now I'm backing her, she understands what's required.

Definitely doesn't make children who get it later stupid - I was thinking it was normal to potty train from 2yo and up, and 16 months was exceptional. Not that the others are dim.

Sorry about your train journey, that sounds really unpleasant.

My two DD's were trained by that age, we didn't use potties either, straight to the toilet. I think girls are easier, but I had never even heard of "waiting for them to be ready". I wanted to get rid of nappies, so cracked on.

Is it? Not in my experience.

So your child cracked it in 24hrs too?

That's definitely a very smart little girl.
Amazing! 😍

I think we mums all think our kids are geniuses and so we should. Mine was counting blocks and recognising letters by 18months and reading out number plates by 2. He didn’t potty train until 3 and a half though and still wets the bed sometimes now at nearly 7 😂

Definitely a genius! That's amazing. Just different priorities

It was for me. My DS took 3 days to be trained when he was just short of 18 months old. That was 2 years ago and he hasn’t had a single accident over that time.

He never used a potty as he was obsessed with using a child seat on a full size toilet from day one. I think that was part of the reason for success as using it became the highlight of his day!

I realise I was probably ridiculously lucky but it shows it can happen.

Dd1 was potty trained 1 yo. Ds1 was at 3. Dd2 at 3.5.

Dd2 has the highest IQ.

I was told my 20 month old would have a regression because he trained early and was a boy. Guess what, he didn't.

I’m just amazed at the number of parents whose kids cracked it so quickly.
I guess if it’s that common, then thats the end of the genius argument though.

If she's a genius, she gets it from you!

Well done for spotting the signs and going for it.

Don't turn back no matter what happens.

Think you're my new best friend 😂

Nope, full steam ahead now! I'd have stopped if she had spent the weekend completely oblivious to wee going everywhere, but we're committed now!

After using the potty for DC1, I decided to go alright to the toilet with the rest of the DCs. We had a little clip on soft toilet seat and step stool. It saved the bother of re-training to use the toilet and meant we could use the loos when out and about.

Yeah. Both of them. But, they are both girls, and both very determined.

That’s brilliant, very young. My DD was over 3, but she is very bright academically, so guess potty training age alone doesn’t make you a genius, but i’d be very impressed at that age

None of mine cracked it quickly. It took from a week to many many months.

Lots of people like to blame late toilet training on disposable nappies but mine wore cloth and still didn't train earlier, dammit!

Either way, now they're adults it doesn't matter at all how old they were or how long it took.

But saying that, I was out with a friend when our kids were younger. Our older ones were the same age, and toilet trained at around the same age (2 years 9 months) Her second was 18 months. We were sat in a cafe when he told her didn't want nappies anymore, and that was it! We were both amazed! If I hadn't have been with her, and spent a lot of time with her, I wouldn't have believed it.

Contact Mensa!

My daughter potty trained herself at a similar age! She just … started using her older siblings potty one day. And that was that! So I agree with you 😁

OP - your 16mo is a genius. Revel in it! Life is too short not to celebrate the tiny miracles 😀

Yeah, my second son cracked it straight away. Pants on and that was it, refused to wear a nappy that night too. No accidents at all.

How I wish my eldest had been like that!