Is it too early to start potty training?

Question

My daughter is 17 months old today. We'd like to have her at least day potty trained by December when our son is due. Is it too early to start potty training?

If not, we only allow her to go into the bathroom during bath time. At all other times we keep the bathroom door closed, as she likes to lift the toilet seat and stick her hands in the water, then into her mouth, and also likes to get under the sink.

Where can we place the potty and how can we go about making potty training fun for her?

As a note: We will not give her sweet treats, such as candy or other sugars. She's too young for that, so please do not suggest candy or sweets as a reward.

Answer 1

My son just had his 18 month old check up. They said its to soon but i know people who have done it. It may be more hard if she does not understand any concept of it yet.  

Answer 2

Yes this is fine. People are waiting far too late to potty train. Ages 3 and 4 are just unacceptable. Just take it easy and don't force it.  

Answer 3

Yes, 17 months is MUCH too early -- unless she is clearly ready and WANTING to train.

The odds of being successful at such a young age are very low -- and you'd be spending a lot of time and effort at it.  Why not wait until she's really ready?  Surely changing diapers on two babies is easier than changing one baby AND taking the other one to the potty every 20 minutes and cleaning up frequent puddles.

Most kids train about  2 1/2-3 1/2 -- and I wouldn't even think about it until at LEAST 2, unless she is clearly and actively ready and interested sooner.  You'll just frustrate both of you.  

Answer 4

  I think it's just fine to start potty training as long as you keep the mentality that all kids are different.  Just because you and your hubby trained well early doesn't mean your child will.  Def try, just keep it light and fun.  My son is two and he runs around either nude or with undies (reg undies as the training ones feel too much like a diaper).  He has had some accidents but they have lessened alot.  The undies help alot because he doesn't like the feeling of being wet(if he starts he will stop and run to the potty to finish).  I remind him alot to go potty and now he tell's me if he has to go even when he is wearing a diaper :^)  I too am hoping to have him trained before the birth of his brother/or sister in Feb.  I think it can happen, but I will be fine if we are still working on it :^)  Good luck!

Answer 5

not before 2.

Answer 6

well my dear...you can start at any age as long as your child understands what's going on and realize when they get the urge to "go". every child is different...my boys weren't completely trained until around age 3 and my girls were done by 2. just be patient...it's a heck of a process!! [so worth it tho] :-)

also..in case you're interested...i found that buying a small toilet seat that fits onto the regular toilet is so much easier than buying one of those child sized potty's that you have to clean [yuck!!!!]. i think my daughter liked feeling that she was using the big potty just like everyone else, too. plus, you don't have to clean and sanitize it everytime and they have a ring to hang it so it's out of the way!!

i hope i helped, good luck potty training and with the new baby!!!

Answer 7

My first suggestion is not to fully potty train her before your next comes unless it is at least a month before. The reason being if she is an only child now when you have the baby most children regress and all your hard work might have to be done again. The reason I know this is that I was a daycare teacher for 18 months to 2 years old children and I have potty trained a lot of kids. I agree with you that the bathroom door stays closed and I think that you should leave her potty in there and take her in every time you take her in to go, and keep an eye on her. I don't believe the bathroom is a good place for a child to be. If you are wanting to reward her without giving her "treats" stickers are great! Whether you give her a sticker after she goes or you can put a calendar up for her and every time she goes give her a sticker to put on the day. They love that, displaying their good work is great for them. Good luck!

Answer 8

17 months is to young i would wait until after she turn 2.

Answer 9

well, what my aunt did for all three of her kids was interesting. She took them to the store and allowed them to pick out there very first pair of "big girl panties". And then the first week she pretty much bribed them with a toy, say something like "if you make it through the entire week without having any accidents you get _________". After that week she made a little chart with their names on it. She hung it in the bathroom; every time they went potty in their mini-toilet they got a sticker to add to their chart.

best of luck to you, my aunt's kids were a little older than 17 months; however my brother was potty trained at 18 months and my mom used the same technique on him. He's 243 months olds now, and he still goes on about how proud he is of his little mermaid panties. lmao jk

but  

Answer 10

No it's not too early. As long as both you and your child are ready for the adventure. When I trained my daughters I had them get on the potty every 15 minutes, because when they are small you never know when they are going to go. IF all they did was just sit there they got the hang of where they were suppose to go. And you learn how often your child does go. When we started out we sat the potty in the living room or in a room where the tv is to keep the attention off of the potty so they sit there and get use to it.

As for treats we gave change to them for their piggy banks and they've all loved it. My youngest who is 2 almost 3 has been potty trained for about 6 months and she loves hearing the money drop into her piggy bank. We gave like pennies, dimes and nickels for peeing and quarters for popping. And then they do it enough save up their change and can cash that in for something super fun!

Best wishes on potty training!

Answer 11

no in fact potty training should start as soon as kids walk/talk because at that stage they are much more open to new ideas ..and you dont have to give sweets as long as you make potty time fun

example: "ohh look mommy got you a potty thats cause your a big girl now isnt that wonderful...lets sing the potty song or lets do the potty dance....yay!! what a good girl you are for sitting on the potty!!"

just make sure she gets lots of praise and keep a potty schedule even if she sits on the potty for 30 seconds or a min to start...for example after meal times and so on.