When is the Right Time for Potty Training
One of the biggest fears about potty training parents can have is timing. When should they start?! If they start to soon they might scare their child but if they wait to late it becomes a power struggle. Like most parents I worried about finding the right time and circumstances to start potty training my son.
Note: “Pull-Ups training pants provided me with a Pull-Ups Potty Training Kit to conduct a reader giveaway. However, my opinions on the products are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards Pull-Ups or their products. Views expressed are always 100% my own.
Even though I heard stories of children who were potty trained at 18th months (my mom told me I was potty trained at 18months so it's possible) I couldn't see starting the potty process so young. So I waited. And waited. And waited.
Between you and me I think I waited past the time my son was ready to start potty training. By the time I finally bought a potty my son was already long familiar with the process. Months before my son showed interest in the toilet and loved to flush by pressing the handle. Those were clear signs my son was interested to start the basic process but I clearly missed them. Don't be like me!
Thankfully my son patiently waited till I was ready and comfortable enough to buy him a potty and then 1 2 3 after a few trial runs he promptly sat down and used it. That day I was lucky enough to catch it on video. As you can see my son clearly knew what to do. Seems I was the one who's timing was off.
Which bring me to the question of when is a good time to start potty training. The simple answer is when your child show interests. That can be as young as 18months or as old as 2 or even 3 years old. If your child is trying to help you flush, raise the toilet lid or peeking in the bowl (eww) then their interested. But keep in mind that each child is different and you will have to find what will work best.
I will say that many children are already use to seeing parents go potty. Kids love to follow their parents into the bathroom to see what they're doing and many already understand the "potty" process. Now it's just a matter of helping them learn how this process applies to them.
I suggest taking practice potty runs to get them use to and excited about going to the potty. Keep the practice runs short and light with no pressure. You want your child to learn that this process is something normal and nothing to be scared of. I also suggest treats aka bribes for potty test runs without tears from them or you. Just a suggestion.
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31 Comments
My grandson has not shown any interest yet. I hope soon!
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My son is 3 1/2 and it is still a power sruggle for him to use the potty. He has showed signs of interest since he was 2 1/2, but he goes thru days where he doesn't want to use it. One day!
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My 12 month old has been banned from the bathroom. Recently, he crawls to the toilet at top speed, pulls up and sticks his hand in. It happens so fast that he is already wrist deep before you can catch him. I know studies say that it is too early to train him, but he definitely shows interest in using the potty.
ReplyDeleteMy son would sit on the potty at the same time as I was using the bathroom but won't use his potty, he will only use the big potty! We have started the process and he will use it but won't tell us every time he needs it!
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My son has started going to the potty and we are so proud of him! We have not suceeded in the overnight training yet.
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