Potty training

[cuellarhatcher77]

When do you consider it a good time to potty train?

My two older sons are 8 and soon to be 6. They would've worn diapers all of their lives if I did not make the initiative and begin potty training around 2 1/2. My 21 month old brings me a diaper and wipes when he needs changing! Should I consider this a blessing and start potty training now? He is very active and won't sit still so I believe he is still a bit too young. He won't even sit in my lap long enough to read a book!

[smbwallace]

It sounds like your son might be ready to potty train! Go ahead and give it a try! He recognizes that he has a dirty diaper and apparently doesn't like it, so that is a good start!

[WahmJen]

Oh Definitely, I would start the process and even maybe do a reward chart with stickers and see how he likes that. I wrote up a reward chart article on my site http://www.ilovebeingamom.com/potty-training-reward-chart.htm

Just start slowly and get him interested in the potty. You never know he may catch on real quick.

[cuellarhatcher77]

Thank you all for the advice. I will purchase a potty this weekend.

WahmJen I enjoyed the article. I remember rewarding our other sons when they potty trained. It gives them an incentive to learn.

[ErinRagan]

Wow, I can relate to this one! My 5yo son was a BEAR to get started with potty training. But, around 3yo, he finally gave in and DID it. I think b/c we waited so long, it was actually EASIER to get him fully trained.

However, my daughter (just turned 2 in December) has been bringing me diapers and wipes since she was around 19 months old!!! I was SO not ready for that step!!!

She's STILL wearing diapers, if that tells you anything. I think she's definitely been interested in training for a while b/c she sees her older brother on the potty... BUT, she was a little young to seriously train at 19 months! We tend to go back and forth a lot.... diapers one day, panties the next.

At this point (26 months old), I think she's beyond READY. So, it's on my "to do list" to just take the diapers off once and for all!!

I don't have any words of wisdom, only to say that every kid is different... it just takes a while to figure out what's "right" for each child!!!!

GOOD LUCK!

[cuellarhatcher77]

Thanks Erin!

It is a tough call when they are young and seem ready to potty train. It involves the little one holding still for short periods of time that seem an eternity to them. It makes me feel like I'm punishing them. I agree that every child is different and they will either understand it all immediately or take some time.:D

[yourdaynow]

My baby is a year and 2 months and I was thinking that's she is ready for potty train at least start little by little but my husband said that is to early and that she is still a baby...the funny thing about this is that he looks for any excuse for him not to change her diapers.:sad: :no: :lol9:

Anyway a friend of mine started with her babies when they were a year old.
Any suggestions!!:shifty:

[jfeets726]

I know this topic is a little bit older, but I am new to the site and wanted to share something. Below is a link to a free potty training kit from Charmin. It is really cool. I got it already. It comes with a little book for the kids, stickers, and other neat stuff. I hope the potty training is going well.

http://www.charmin.com/en_us/pages/offers_pttraining.shtml

[sara]

Kids are all so different. Some do it early and some... like my boy... seem like they are never going to do it :D

[yourdaynow]

Thanks for the links.:sun:

[MGB]

No tips for any of you :) I do however, have sincere sympathy for you. Glad its you and not me. :p I did my time- twice!

[kaaryn]

I started DD at 6 months - not "potty training", just potty exposure. Watching her for when she started to make "those noises" and holding her over the toilet to poo. It really didn't take her long to make that connection, and she rarely had poopy diapers after about 8 months. I think we started with an actual potty somewhere around a year. I try to bring her to the potty asap when she wakes up in the morning or from her nap. Now she's 16 months old and she's started showing her own initiative in the last few months, like going in to sit on the potty (diaper and all :p ) when she needs to pee, telling me when she's wet, and asking to go when she needs to poo. Not that anyone else would understand her words for it! LOL

Personally I think we wait WAY too long to start training kids now, really underestimating their ability to learn something like that. But it takes commitment and diapers are definitely more convenient in many cases.