Potty Training - Sunray,TX

W.,

It's different for each child...once you little boy shows interest in potting, then run with it. My little girl was about 18 months when we started (I was due in a few months and really wanted her to be potty trained before baby was born). She would sit there and do nothing, but then something just clicked and she got it. Be ready for set backs! Nobody told me this and she got it and was doing GREAT and all of the sudden, she didn't want to have anything to do with the potty anymore. She was having all kinds of accidents...so we started giving her m&m's when she would go to the potty. After a few days, it worked. Just stay positive, get ready to do all kinds of cheers and dancing and be very patient. Nothing wrong with starting early, but just sit with it and best of luck. My little girl is 2.5 and completely potty trained. So...it took about a 8 months to really get it done.

Use Potty Training in 3 Days by Lois Kleint. I've used it as have 4 of my friends and IT WORKS! I will be using it next time when my son is 20 months or so...good luck!

I am sure you will hear this from a ton of people - it is too early to start this. Especially boys. Don't worry about it for another 6 months. Introduce the concept and talk about it but definitely don't push. Most kids are ready between 24 and 36 months. It is unusual but possible for it to happen earlier. My advice - don't stress about it. You and he will be happier that way. Just enjoy him.

Wait until he shows interest and is older. I waited until my son was older and it took about a week and 3 accidents before he was trained. I tried when he was younger and not ready and it was a nightmare for everyone. I won't make the same mistake with son #2. Good luck!

I believe 15 mos is too young. I don't think he is old enough to have full control over it all. In my experience boys are much harder than girls and can take them to age three or even older to fully potty train! I think you would be setting yourself and your son up for failure if you started trying before age 2 or 2.5 Good luck on the potty training!!!!

Hey W. - Two words for you -
POTTY PARTY!!!!!!!!
I know every child is different and I hear "boys are harder than girls" but this worked like a charm for my then 2yr old.
OK - here is the brief "rules" for th Potty Party
Buy the potty & big girl panties make a big deal about them. The morning of the party I had two older girls come over to help out. I covered the table with salty snack and sugary drinks. I know this is NOT what you would feed your child on a daily basis but it is just for one day. The salty snacks make them thirsty and the sugary drink do not quench their thirst = LOTS of trys on the potty.
I had Mallory go naked so she was very aware if she had an accident. I also made her "clean it up" Of course I went and really cleaned it but for her even kinda having to help sen her staright to the potty.
She still sleeps overnight in diapers (not called sleep panites) at age 3 in July.
This worked for me - Hope this helps you!
T.

the 3 day method is only a cornerstone, not a solitary solution. and yes he's way too young! wait till atleast 2 before you even think of it or he will effectively be training you to run him to the toliet. and then you'll get to really train him when he's 3 like all the other boys of the world. both of my boys were over 4 before they were done. it's called wait till they are good and ready and the kids will do all the work for ya!

15 months is waay too early, esp. for a boy, unless it is self directed. I have all boys and one of mine was potty trained at 16 mos (during waking hours) but that was only because he did it himself. He was totally captivated by the toilet. Other then that fluke, the other three boys I've toilet trained were 2&1/2 before they were ready.

VickiS

I guess I have a different experience than some moms here. I don't think that 15 months is too early to start. If he's expressed any interest or can tell you when he's gone or anything like that, I'd jump on the opportunity. My sister went with the idea that her second boy was too young at a year old when he started recognizing that he was going or had gone and she missed the window so to speak. He's no longer interested and doesn't care that he's wet or dirty. At 3 she's really wishing she had listened to her instincts when he was a year old. So, that's my suggestion, if he's showing awareness of going or having gone, I would take that as your cue. I wouldn't push the issue of course, but if there's even the slightest bit of awareness and you can make it fun, the interest may follow. If not, then you can take a break and follow up again later, but if so, you're very lucky!!

There's a 3 day "training" theory that you might be interested in. If you are, send me a note and I'll find the name of it and how to order it.

Good luck!

I agree he is a too young to try to completely train him, however he is at the perfect age to start letting him just sit on the potty chair and get comfortable just sitting there, before he gets to age where he can say "NO" really well. If you wait until then to introduce it to him then you could have a harder time.......good luck~

We had to have our daughter potty trained by the time she started pre-school two years ago. She turned three in late July and the pre-school started in late August. Even though she had a couple of accidents the first year at school (2-3 max), she seemed to take to it quickly.

We didn't put any pressure on her. We put a very plain potty on the floor (one that can convert to a regular toilet (the base becomes a step stool and the seat fits on your toilet so the child doesn't feel like he/she will fall in). I was tempted to get one of the potty seats with all the bells and whistles, but was glad I didn't. Anyway, I left the potty seat in our master bathroom and when I'd use the bathroom, my daughter would too - even if she really didn't - just to get into the habit. We put a plain sheet of paper on the sliding closet mirror and each time she really went, she'd get a sticker (she'd pick the sticker and place it on the sheet). Once she got a full line of stickers, she got a small prize (a bath toy, for example). While we continued the stickers for a while, we stopped the rewards after a few weeks and she didn't seem to notice. For my child, I felt like it worked best if she felt like she was in control of the process, so I found ways to guide her, but make her feel like it was her decision.

Good luck!!

I can finally say that my 3 yr 1 mo old little boy is completely potty trained. I didn't even think about potty training until he was 2. He fought me on this with everything he had until his 3rd bday. I had pretty much given up. Too much frustration for both of us. Then one day he woke up and said he had to go. He pretty much potty trained himself within a week. Me wanting him potty trained didn't matter to him. He wanted to do it on his time and he did. I would try to be very relaxed about it and don't push it. I think the avg age that boys potty train is about 3. You know your kid better than anybody so you'll get the idea if he's ready.

Holly hit the nail on the head. Your son will let you know when he's ready. I put my daughter on the potty at 18 months and it scared her when she went that she didn't want to get on it again. She's now 2 1/2 and is showing interest again and sits on the potty. She's not going yet but at least she wants to try. Good luck.

I agree -- 15 months is too young to start "training". Think of the whole potty thing as a "learning" process instead. He's not a dog -- LOL. It's not too soon for him to learn about it, but don't expect him to use the toilet quite yet.

Be open about it all. Let him see you and your dh use the toilet. Talk about it, but don't push it. The more you push, the more likely he will push back. It needs to be something he's interested in and not something that's being forced on him. Keep in mind -- all kids learn to use the potty and using the potty is not a sign of intelligence or superior parenting. Try and keep it a positive thing. He will let you know when he's ready which maybe after he turns 2 or after he turns 3. Also, keep in mind that staying dry at night has nothing to do with training. This has to do with a physical milestone. The body begins producing a hormone that allows them to hold it all night. A child may use the toilet religously during the day, but still need pull ups at night. That's completely normal and Drs don't consider it an issue until they're much older -- about 6 or so.

Here's some good info on it http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t106600.asp

I know most everyone will say 15 months is too early, but I disagree. Talk to most grandparents and people from a foreign country and almost all children, girls and boys are potty trained (or learned) by two years, and many even younger. My mom had all 7 of her children, boy and girls completely out of diapers by 2 years. I have a friend here with young boys, both potty trained by 18 months- so it is possible. It's not harsh or strict to introduce it now, and practice sitting on the potty regularly. I've just started with my 20 month old and I almost think I've waited too long. She's becoming more resistant and strong willed like a two year old. I think she would have found it more fun to try a few months ago. But no, I don't push it and we keep trying and keep it fun and she's had many successes. Yes, you can wait until they are two and half to try, but why wait if he's willing to try. The key is to be calm and know it can take time. I recommend the book Early-Start Potty Training. It will talk about how it's only been since the 50's in the western world that kids have started to wait so long to be trained. We teach our kids to eat with spoons despite messes, and other skills early, instead of waiting an extra year or two for ease. The longer they are in diapers, the more "untraining" has to happen for them to learn to go in the potty instead of a diaper. It seems there are numerous issues with waiting until a child has 2+ years of practice going in a diaper only and them not knowing how to push sitting down. So I say follow your Mom instincts and your child's interest and start teaching now. The book is a good starting guide. Good luck!

whether you start now or later be prepared that you may be potty training until he is 3 and 1/2. hopefully it won't take that long but just be prepared for it. We are still in the process of training our almost 3 year old and have been working on it since thanksgiving. i read all the books about training in 3 days and we tried it all but it just didn't work for us. but she is finally starting to get it and we have made major progress these last two weeks. with my 15 month old we sit on the potty right before we take a bath. She has never gone in the potty but it is just fun and we are just introducing it. i probablly will wait until she is 3 to train her unless she shows some major signs of wanting to.

one thing that has helped me when you do start training is the goal is not to go in the potty. the goal is to stay "clean and Dry". When she stays clean and dry all day she gets a prize at bedtime.
Oh and being naked really helps too. Good luck