When did you start potty training?

[charlottexox]

DD is 17 months old and I am feeling completely pressured to start her on the potty by my in laws.
They have both told me that she should be using a potty now because their sons were potty trained by the age of 2.
My father in law pointed out yesterday that she has some nappy rash which I am seeing to at the moment with metanium. He said "it'll be like that until she gets on the potty." I felt upset because DD has been getting nappy rash often lately due to teething.
I spoke to my HV on the phone last week and she told me I should only start potty training until DD can actually tell me that she needs a "wee wee" or poo on the potty. She doesn't say a lot for 17 month old, just the usual - mama, dad, hi, yes, no and baby. So since DD doesn't talk I'm almost certain she will not understand when I tell her to use the potty. She does understand things, but I doubt she will understand about using a potty.
I have told my in laws this and they said "you'll have to go around with a potty and try and catch it when you can. I'm just feeling very upset at the moment as I feel pressured and feel like I am doing something wrong.
How old was your LO when you started this?

[HottySnanky]

Suggest you make a big thing of potty training next time you're all at their house on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Let DD run around with no pants on - they'll soon shut up when it's their carpet she's peeing on!
Honestly, 17 months is so young, she's just a baby!

My eldest was nearly 3 when she was trained. I got a few comments too, but I just kept saying "She's not ready". I trained her once the dust had settled from DD2's arrival - she was almost over-ready by then - and she was dry in about 3 days. No big deal. Why are your ILs making such a fuss about it?? It's like people pressuring to bottle feed or wean early. What's so special about shoving a spoon or a teat into someone else's mouth?

[KatharinaRosalie]

Neither of mine could talk enough discuss their toileting needs before they were trained. So it's not mandatory to wait if you want to do it.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I'd echo the Oh Crap recommendation again. 17mo seems very young but she recommends 20-30 months so might be worth reading over the next few months.

I trained DD at 22mo when she refused to wear nappies any more. She had no clue what to do so being able to tell you isn't a sign of readiness, more a sign of training IYSWIM. It also isn't the case that early training takes a long time with loads of accidents - not at all the case with us.