Potty Training

I feel the same as the first person who responded. The american academy of pediatrics recomends that you wait until at least 2 years of age and look for "signs of rediness."

I started trying at around 2 1/2 but my son didn't get potty trained until he was 3. Hardest thing that I've had to do as a mom. lol Would have been easier if I would have just not been so tense about getting it done. Once I stopped trying, he did it on his own.

I started my first daughter at 10 months and she was fully trained by 12 months, But found it caused a lot of problems. with my other children I kind of allowed them to tell me when they were ready which would be around 2 1/2 -3 and I have had no problems since then. Stacy

I have two children. My firstborn, a girl, I started trying at 18 months because my older sister, who was also her caregiver at times while I was working, told me that she "was ready" to start potty training. Since my sister was older and had 3 children and was caring for my daughter for several hours a day, I took her word for it. It was a very difficult and drawn out process. When my second was born (a boy) I decided not to start so early with him. I waited until the summer before he started preschool. I didn't want to go through the same struggles as I did with my daughter. I'm not sure if it was because I waited longer, or because of the method that I used (which I'll tell you about in the next paragraph) but it went much easier with him than it did with her. With my boy, I put him in boxers instead of briefs. My thinking was that the briefs would feel more like diapers. Boxers was more of a feeling of not having anything on and with that feeling he would be more likely to run to the toilet rather than just pee in his underwear. As I said, I'm not sure what the reason was, but he was easier to potty train than my daughter was.

My daughter will be turning two in a couple of weeks and I already started “potty trainer her”…and I have to admit that she is doing better than I expected. When she wakes up in the mornings I take off the diapers and have her wear panties, she would pee on herself at first but then after I shower her and explain to her again, lol that we are trying to potty train her and I will not have her use diapers until she is going to sleep, she uses her potty all day long. Hurray! She would be the one to tell me that she needs the restroom, but then I constantly ask her if she needs it every twenty minutes. Therefore I believe that two is an age when they can start. I hope this helps you in your decision to potty train and good luck!

I know this probably sound crazy but before my son was 1-1/2. He was very into watching us go and wanting to flush and hand toilet paper. One day I told him no more unless he wanted to go and he went. I was in shock. My daughter is getting to that age so I brought down the little potty. She sits but has no idea what should be going on. I think it really has to do with the individual child. If they aren't ready then don't stress. Makes it so much easier on you and them.

Potty training should begin when your child is ready. Neither early nor too late. Based on my reference from books to books and internet, the ideal age to begin potty training is 18 months - 3 years. My son has crossed one year and I would make a check if my son is ready once every month. I would try making him to use the potty and if he refuses, it indicates that he is not ready. Well, some would say that the right time to start training is when your child starts unstrapping the diapers which is not true. http://www.helium.com/tm/383481/potty-training-should-begin