What age to start potty training

[mrsmorgy]

DS is nearly 16mo. Just recently (past week or so) we've noticed that he'll take himself off somewhere quiet if he's doing a poo in his nappy. Somebody suggested to me that this means he is ready to start potty training.
I was under the impression that 18mo is the earliest age to start. However, I have heard cases of babies being fully potty trained by 18months!
Any suggestions greatfully received xx

Might be worth a go. I think all kids are different with this. Archie wasn't potty trained till he was 2 years and 3 months and he pretty much got the hang of it straight away but that age seems to vary.

about that age -maybe bit older - we introduced the potty with DS - and he did use it quite a bit but DS wasn't in pants until 2.4 - so I would get a potty and see what he thinks

I don't think taking himself off quietly when he's pooing is in itself enough of a sign of readiness just yet although it's a step in the right direction. He also needs to be able to have some bladder control and be able to communicate to you that he is pooing/weeing.

That said, there's nothing to stop you from introducing a potty to get him familiar and letting him accompany you to the toilet so he can start to learn about it. Just don't start 'training' just yet. The best advice I ever received when I first started potty training with my children was 'go slow to go fast' and it's good advice. When children are fully ready they'll be clean and dry in no time.

My eldest daughter potty trained at 27 months and was clean and dry within a week. My eldest son was around 33 months and again it was no real effort because he was ready.

I've just started potty training one of my (26 month old) twins. Three days in and my daughter is doing great - only a few little accidents. My son however is nowhere near ready to start.

Good luck with it!

we did something called Elimination Communication en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication with DD. We syarted when she was about 2 months, and she was potty trained at home during the day by 12 months, and 100% by 24 months.

and it was extremely stress free for all

Babies don't have the muscles to hold it. When they need to go they need to go! Hence why DD was only trained at home to start as she could get to her potty quickly and easily.

Also see www.nappyfreebaby.co.uk/

I would also recommend this book for some info on early potty training
"Potty Training your Baby" by Katie Warren. It really breaks down the process of how babies / toddlers learn to use the toilet into 4 key components:

1. awareness they need to go / are going
2. willingness to try sitting on the potty
3. communication - being able to tell you they need to go either with words or other types of communication e.g. when pre-verbal my DD would stare at me to ensure she had my attention and start making "grrrr" noise for when she needed a bowl movement.
4. being able to control and have some muscle control is the last thing but the earlier they are aware of those muscles the quicker they learn to use them

I see my friends who have waited until 2.5 / 3 yrs to even start potty training struggling to try and incorporate all 4 of these elements at the same time.

IMO I would use this opportunity to start the awareness of what he is doing. Based on our experience it is never too early to start, but just don't expect them to be fully trained as the muscles take time to be strong enough.

Good luck!

Hmmm, unless you want a year, or at least 6 months of effortful potty training I would wait until he is much nearer 2 or 2 and a half. There are quite a few awareness type things they go through re poos etc before they are ready to train.

or 3 (both mine were nearer 3 and it was a piece of cake, we're talking a couple of days/2 weeks max).

If you're ready, why not give it a try? He may love the potty. A lot of advice says its much easier to train while they're still compliant and willing to please. Harder once the terrible twos hit.
My advice would be to factor potty time into your routine rather than wait for him to tell you. For example, always sit him on the potty after waking from sleeps, before the bath, before you leave to go out anywhere and before bed. If he does do anything on the potty then go absolutely bananas with praise :)