When is the right time to potty train?

United States
May 15, 2007 12:34pm CST
I have a seventeeth month old daughter who is always taking her diaper off. I am thinking about potty training her but I don't know if I am jumping in to early. I potty trained my oldest daughter when she was almost two and my middle daughter when she was a little over two years old. My daughter is showing all of the signs of wanting to be potty trained but I am still not sure if I will be starting to soon. I would love to have your suggestions on this.
3 people like this
14 responses
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
15 May 07
My daughter used to take her diaper off all of the time, mostly because she hated wearing one and preferred to go au naturale around the house! She was potty trained a little after two, but that is not to say your little one is not ready to start. I had a potty chair in the bathroom when my daughter was about your age and she would come with me to the bathroom and sit on the chair and I would tell her that is where she would go potty. Soon, she always wanted to go sit on the chair, she thought it was a game. But it helped her get used to the idea.
2 people like this
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
15 May 07
I have 3 girls, 15, 12, and 17 months also. My first one was potty trained around 12-14 months, 2nd took quite a bit longer, and now my third, we're doing it slowly. I bought a potty chair, and she sits on it and plays with it lol. I'd say go ahead and buy the potty chair, and let her get used to it, and start telling her "what goes in there" so to say lol. I don't think it'll hurt to start it now. If she's willing and ready, she'll do it, if she isn't she'll let you know.
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
15 May 07
Forgot to add...put some books next to the potty chair to, and encourage her to sit and read her books. My oldest loved books, and that was a good way to incorporate both lol :) Good luck!
1 person likes this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
15 May 07
All children are different as we know, but it looks like all the signs are there that she is ready to be potty trained rosa. Ease her into it gently as I'm sure you did with your other two girls. Take her to the bathroom with you and she can sit on her potty at the same time if she wants. Go with the flow, don't push her, and she will get the message! Good luck.
• United States
16 May 07
when i used to take care of my niece i started potty training her the minute she learned how to walk, i figured if you can walk, you can walk right over to the toilet and it took her a while with a little accidents here and there but she got it, and i'm gonna do the same for my daughters, its just all in how you teach them. http://latestrevolution.blogspot.com
1 person likes this
• United States
16 May 07
To be honest my daughter is 17 months old too. I've been trying to potty train her every since she start taking her diaper off, which was 2 months ago. She's been doing pretty well. So I say go for it. Especially if she is showing signs that she's ready why make her wait!! Good luck
1 person likes this
• India
16 May 07
be patient... try to fit the diaper snugly and make sure that it is clean .. as it may be unclean the child removes it... so keep it clean... when u feel it is the time for potty take her to the pot ... hint is child always stands and closes mouth to exert the force to do potty... so while playing with it stops speaking for a while to exert that force and try that it will work ou well
• United States
22 May 07
I think every child is different. I would say at 17 months she may be somewhat ready, and perhaps even completely ready if she's showing an interest. The thing to remember most is, never make her feel like she's disappointed you and make it a nice time. Keep some books near the potty and some wipes so the "icky" feeling when accidents happen don't deter her from continuing to try. Good luck! And most of all... good patience! LOL
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
16 May 07
There is no ideal age, each kid is different and matures differently, give her the option t ouse the potty chair, if she uses it fine, if not, nothing lost. You never know.
• Canada
15 May 07
the right time is any time after age two and when your child is ready and shows sings of being ready. doctors say a child under the age of two does not have the proper muscles developed in their stomach yet to hold in their pee. anyway then if your child after they turn two wants to start trying and is starting to hold the pee in longer and so on then it's time to start.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 07
It sounds like she's ready. You should definitely start. I know of kids who are fully potty trained by the time they are 2. Most of them are girls. Boys tend to be harder. Mine is a little over 2 and refuses to be potty trained!
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
16 May 07
It's a good age to start potty train.My parents started when we were around that age too or when we were 2 years old. But it also depends on the child one is later another is earlier.I think your seventeenth month old daughter could be ready for it because she already takes her diaper off.
• Philippines
15 May 07
I have a 22 month old son and I thought he was ready to potty train. I used cute toilet seats to encourage him to do so but it was traumatic for him. Now everytime I prepare him for potty training, he would run away and hide. It's actually funny but I am concerned. I don't know what approach to use to get him to do it.
@cwboyd (79)
• United States
16 May 07
I think it all depends on the child when they are ready. I am a mother of five children and they all was potty trained at different times. I wouldnt push it but if you think she is ready try it. Never hurts to try unless you force her. I made a game of it and every time they went to the potty I made a big deal and rewarded them with some thing. Good luck with your daughter. I hope I helped in some unknown way.
• United States
15 May 07
Every child is different. My oldest potty trained at 2. My youngest didn't potty train until 3. She just wasn't ready before then. Your child will give you clues when they are ready. Sounds like she is and you are reading her very well. Try potty training now if you feel she is giving you the signs. Just don't force it. If she doesn't seem ready when you get down to business, back off and wait a bit.