Potty Training at 15 months? Any advice?

[melnewmom09]

I bought my daughter her potty and pull ups and I want to start potty training her and she is 15 months. Any advice moms? Thanks.

[Zack_Jenn]

If she isn't ready don't push her. It is much more of a headache to fight your child into using the potty (and clean up the accidents) than it is to change diapers. Move at her pace, make it exciting and fun, and if either of you seems overwhelmed place it on the back burner for awhile.

We started at 18 months with our 1st and it was a battle all the time, we finally gave up and she trained herself at 2. Our second I was avoiding potty training because we were expecting #3 soon and I just didn't have it in me. He decided at about 20 months that he didn't want to wear diapers anymore and has been using the potty ever since with a very small number of accidents (he's now 2 1/2). After our experiences I won't be doing any 'training' with #3, but that's just how it's worked for us. Good luck!

[Lidad70]

I agree with Zack_Jenn. Try to think of yourself as your child's potty training coach. Always try to encourage and be positive about their progress. Generally, the better kids feel about their progress, the more willing they’ll be to participate. All children develop slightly differently so let them lead the process.

[lizfer]

I think another important thing to consider when starting potty training is whether or not your child can pull their pants up or down, I think a lot of parents forget this part. I wanted to start potty training my son at 18 months but this ended up being an issue so I decided I would wait until he was able to pull them up and down on his own. Potty training is about being independent for children and if you're the one pulling their pants up and down every time it doesn't seem very independent. Also, you have to remember wiping, they may not be very thorough when they're still very young.

[melnewmom09]

Thanks, every bit of advice helps.

[JACKEMAMA]

If you need some ideas as how to encourage her to use the potty this site called the skinny scoop actually has some helpful tips - one idea in particular that I like a lot is a rewards system. Check out the link for deeper details...hope it helps!!! Good luck!

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/potty+training?utm_campaign=theskinnyscoop&utm_medium=textlink&utm_source=parentingforum&utm_content=pottytrain

[charliesmommy]

I agree. Don't push her. If she's not ready you will end up costing yourself more problems pushing her.

[fairymommy]

I tried to train my oldest daughter at 15 & then at 18 months. She peed only once in the toilet & refused to go near a potty again until exactly 2 months AFTER her 3rd B-Day! She had it mastered in less than a week & w/ no accidents, ever. Children know when they are ready!

[AddyMOM]

I put a potty/ step stool in the bath room around 15 months. she would come in and climb on it, sit on it when i was on the toilet, and just played with it. I wanted her to see it was ok, fun, all about her. then shortly after her 2nd b day i noticed she wasnt wetting her diapers as much. She would only wet them very lightly. this is one of the first signs they are ready, when they arent soaking their diapers anymore. I asked her, she said yes. Got her pull ups and she was fully trained with in a month i think. It really was no big issue so i dont remember how long it took her, but she was ready and she got it. The one thing i learned from my first was .... you are not making them do anything they arent ready to do....just go woth the flow and things always work out how they are meant to. Obv you need to encourage them constantly, but allow then the right to master it on their own. Good luck I know with soime this is a huge issue, typically with boys though. at least thats what ive been told.

[jgn1273]

15 months is really early, my daughter seemed ready at an early age as well, but when she had surgery at 2 and a half she stopped all together. I had tried everything because i thought she had to all done by 3years old, I was wrong her Dr. said let it go, when she is ready, she will let you know. So I decided not to even really mention it, and it worked as soon as she felt it was totllay her choice, she was done in less then 2 weeks!!!! Please do not compare or think there is a certain age for everything, when they are ready it will happen, good luck!!!!!

[NYRNMomof4]

I agree....15 months is pretty early. Honestly, kids will only potty train whey they are ready. I know some kids do have sphinter control at 15-18months, but if they are soiling themselves in the diaper and just don't care, then they aren't ready.

It's really more of a headache for you to push a child into toilet learning when they aren't interested.

[stepmom1]

This seems really early. I would wait until she is atleast 2. If she trains too early she could regress when she is 3 or 4 and then it will be harder to train her then.

[ladybug72]

My daughter started training at 15 months. She was interested so I let her. However, I don't push her about the subject. I take her when she first wakes up and she always uses it. And I'll ask her if she needs to use it and if she goes in that direction, I help her. She can't pull her pants up and down so I'm not working too hard at it. I figure I'll let her take the lead and do as much as she wants to and not turn it into a battle. It will make things easier when she is ready to get serious later on.