Is 20 months too early to potty train? also talking question?

Question

my son just turned 20 months, he has no interest in his baby potty seat... i sit him on it everytime i go to the bathroom, and he laughs and thinks its cute and a game.. i say things like "big girls and boys pee pee and poopie in the toliet, not in diapers, diapers are for babies.. you arent a baby, you are going to be 2 years old.. a big boy!" and while he looks at me while i talk, he is up and down from the potty chair and laughing.. I guess when they are truly ready to use the potty, they will do it correct? I just am afraid of him being like 5 and still wearing diapers or going in his underpants (I know that sounds silly, but its true.)

Also, he doesn't talk a whole lot.. I'd say just this past month he really started talking a lot more than ever before... He understands everything you tell him or ask of him, but he doesn't talk!.. he is getting better as the days go by, but a lot of toddlers his age are talking sentences and he is no where near that.. i this normal? help!

Answer 1

I think the earlier you can train the better, but there are two really important things to consider that vary from child to child.  1) does he understand verbal instructions?  I know he doesn't talk for you, but does he seem to understand?  You are giving him the right instructions (use the toilet, not a diaper), do you think he understands them?  Does he understand all of the words you are using?  If you have any question, then wait, keep reassessing this every month.

2) Has he shown that he can go several hours dry?  Do you feel he has enough control to be able to get himself to the toilet on his own when he feels the need to go?

If you answered those two questions yes, then it isn't too early to potty train.  If you are doubtful, then expose him to the toileting routine as much as possible, but don't ditch the diapers just yet.

If he is ready to train, be firm with him.  Get rid of diapers completely.  If he is still silly about it, you could try leaving him bare from the waist down to train (maybe in the kitchen for a few days or something).  Peeing on yourself isn't very fun.  After his first accident, take him to the potty and nicely explain again, "pee pee and poopie goes in the toilet".  He might be a little more attentive.  If not, just stick with it for awhile, most kids will learn to go sit on their potty fairly quickly if they have no diaper, pull-up, or underwear to fall back on.  When he realizes that this is how it is going to be, put him in big boy underwear and don't ever go back to diaper or pull-ups.  After every accident, take him to the toilet and have him sit.  Have him help clean up messes.  Diapers are so easy for toddlers that sometimes they don't really BELIEVE their parents when they are told that now they have to do a complicated thing like go to the toilet.  Be understanding about his reluctance, but don't give in.  It is popular now days to "wait until they are ready", but delaying potty training is poor hygiene and is allowing a toddler to be the boss, I would avoid it if you can.

About the speech:

Language development usually varies widely during the first three years, the late bloomers usually catch up by age three so don't worry just yet unless he has had frequent earaches or was born very premature, then ask your doctor because he has a higher risk for speech problems.

Answer 2

i do not have kids but i am a nanny! i just potty trained a 15 month old and a 3 year old in one week! buy cool cute underwear let them pick them out! get one of those little cute potty seats and if you put a diaper on them at night ONLY!!!!! put the underwear one first the diaper so they still get the underwear feeling! and i took both boys every 30 minutes! it was kinda a game! make it fun!! you will feel real silly but it will be fun!! i sit down in the bathroom and pretend to push with him !! (p**p p**p) that is! and if none of that works make them sit there till they go they will go !! then make a huge deal out of it!!

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry too much about the potty thing yet. If he knows what it's for it's the first step. Maybe try every hour, if it helps you can sit too, and let him know if he pees/poops on the potty he might get a sticker, etc.

Don't worry about the talking thing either. It's completely normal. My hubby's cousin's little boy didn't talk much, or make sense til he hit his second birthday. Then you couldn't get him to stop! Also the little boy next door who is the same age as my son (27 months) doesn't say much at all, just a few simple words, like goggie for doggie, etc. All kids develop at different stages, and the most important thing is that he understands you. Some kids at 20 months aren't even that far yet!

Answer 4

Depends on the baby,a guy I used to date was potty trained @ 15months according to his mother because he couldn't stand dirty diapers.

Answer 5

I agree with motroo - I would say it is more early than late, and that pushing it will not help one bit (although I hear you can train virtually as early as you like if you're desperate, but this is more if you are so sick of nappies that you are prepared to put them and yourself through a full on regimen until they are trained. It is not a natural process this way). There is definitely more of a move away from this old-fashioned style of training a 1yr old to now waiting until children are ready themselves - and it's much easier if you do. Ignore those who brag about their children being trained early - I guarantee they are often not telling the whole truth about how difficult it was to get there (if they even are fully there). Boys are notoriously later than girls in potty training, and many little girls I know weren't ready until 2 1/2 to 3 yrs old. My little boy is 27 months and though I often give him a go on the potty and in his undies before his bath, I can tell he is nowhere near ready. And thanks to seeing many people I know go through 6+ months of frustrating training I will be waiting until he shows me signs he is ready. Many people say that if you wait until the perfect time it is done in a week. Sounds good to me!

Also, I don't believe there is any such thing as too late! Can you really imaging him in diapers as a teenager? The penny will drop eventually  - but maybe not even for another year or so - and you'll wonder why you were concerned. Sounds like you’re doing everything right so far except for the worrying part! Familiarising him with the potty and telling him about what you are doing is a great start.

As far as the talking is concerned, you should not worry at all yet - he's still 4 months off turning 2 and many boys only start speaking sentences at 3. Sound like his speech will really take off soon though which is great. You'll probably be amazed at how much more he is saying by the end of this month.

Answer 6

Keep sitting him on it and talking to him about it, he will get it eventually I promise. It is a game to him and if you get stressed about it so will he. He won't be five and in diapers if you just be supportive, consistent, yet all the while noncholant about it. As for the talking, all kids progress at radically different rates. Talk to him about everything, and don't baby talk to him either. Yes, that is a neat train.  What a nice drawing you colored for me, what is it? Etc... Your pediatrician is an excellent place to go for early intervention tips if need be.

Answer 7

I totally understand how you feel!! My son is 19 months, and he says only a select few words...like "jaidah (his sister), mama, dada, and hi". And thats only when he wants to!! Its never consistent.

He screams alot to get what he wants, and throws tantrums if he doesnt get it!! When disciplined, he laughs...he thinks EVERYTHING is a game, and funny.

I guess they will just do it at their own pace....but Im glad Im not the only one with a boy that does the same thing! LOL  

PS: and my doctor said he should have a vocabulary of 50 words at 2 years old.......WTF?? he'll never have that at the age of 2!!

My daughter was complete opposite too!! She talked in complete sentences, knew all the colors, shapes, numbers, and ABC's at 2 years old.

Answer 8

for a boy, it's very early. I wouldn't even bother trying until HE shows interest in it. otherwise you are going to be 2 very frustrated people.  If you feel like you have to get him started, wait until he's 3 then he'll be better able to communicate,

Answer 9

Don't let him wear diapers or pull ups with the exception of night time. Put him in big boy undies and if he has an accident don't change him immediately let him feel the wetness and sit him on his potty while you clean up the accident or even have him clean it up. Put his big boy potty somewhere that is out of the way but yet he can always see it . I did the sticker chart and reward thing, the first few days every time he went on the potty I would praise him, high five, make a huge deal about it, then we would go and put a sticker on his chart and I would give him a gummy snack. He completely has forgotten about the gummy snacks and now he just goes potty on his potty all the time .. At the end of the night we count up the stickers and he gets a cookie after dinner. We're still working on the pulling down his undies.

My son wasn't talking that much at 20 months old .. a few months later he was talking up a storm. Have conversations with him in the car .. just keep saying words, talking about people or things he knows about you'll have his attention

Best of luck to you

Answer 10

ALMOST  TOO  LATE. 12 M  is about norm. if he insists on diapers let him sit in them awhile, he WILL change his spoiled mind.