Am I starting too young?

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Hi there

I have read a few posts and think that I am starting the potty training saga too soon. My dd is 20 months, is that too early to start?

My in laws said that our niece was going at 9 months but I'm beginning to that's a tall story!

Any tips? She went for a wee first try but I haven't managed since

9 months? What nonsense.

If shes not getting it just stop and wait. Follow her lead! I started potty training DD1 at 26 month but she just didnt get it. So I waited until 28 months. She was fully dry in the day by 30 months for starting nursery.

Interested in your post Tweet as we are thinking of potty training our DD and she is the same age as your DD. She tells us when she has done a poo but we haven't got her to tell us when wee is imminent!

Does your DD tell you? I have read that it is better to start them at 2 years old but part of me thinks she may be ready sooner.

My dd1 started telling me she had done a wee at 17 months so we started then, she was dry in the day with the odd accident within a few months and out of nappies at night by 2.5 as she refused to wear them (but still lifted her until 3.5). If your dd is telling you she has done some wee then you can start if you wish, but make it fun, no pressure she has lots of time to learn.

FWIW my 4 DSs were all closer to 3 before we cracked it .

However only you are in a position to tell whether your DD is ready or not:

1. has awareness that her bladder is full.
2. has control over said full bladder.
3. and is able to voluntarily 'let go'.

If any of those 3 physical abilities are not develped yet, then no amount of 'training' will work. Or bribery .

There is such a thing as 'elimination communication' (google it if you want) where v young babies are being held over a potty and 'go'. This has nothing to do with bladder control, but maybe that is what was practiced with your Dniece?
Babies in Third World countries go without nappies almost from the start as there is no other way of course.

My DS4 2.10 tells me when he has a poo in his nappy, has been keen on pants and will proudly wear them but also needs a clean change of clothes about 10x/day - I do not think he is quite there yet.

IME, if you try younger it might take longer, if they are older it can happen virtually over night. 'tis a choice you make.
There is nothing to be lost to give it a try and leave it again for a few weeks if it becomes frustrating for her/you.

Good luck

Ds started around that age and was day trained by the age of 2. He was night trained by 2 1/2 years.

DD was 19 months when she decided she didn't want to wear nappies any more. She was mostly successful but probably not reliable until she was about 2. Was dry at night by 2.5.

DS was probably about 2 when he was ready but I put him off for a couple of months as DD was only 2 months and I wasn't quite up to it.

So I think around 2 probably best in my experience.

Personally I would say leave it for a bit, unless she is asking to use the potty herself. DD1 was 2.8 when we trained her and it really only took a week, with as few very rare accidents after that. I much preferred that to weeks or months of dealing with accidents.

Having said that, DD2 looks like she might be ready sooner- she's 19 months and is showing a lot of interest. But I won't be pushing it until she's really ready.

My DD is 21months and already showing some potential to be potty trained so I'm starting it already...though I observe today that she was not able to hold her bladder yet so I just have to wait a little longer but the thing is she is understanding what I mean.