Potty training 16 month old?

Question

I am not a proponent of early potty training, and firmly believe in waiting until children show some signs of readiness before even thinking about a potty. However, the occasional time I have let my daughter run around with no diaper (which she loves), she has peed on the floor, and then said a big "UH OH", and laughed. It was so cute and so funny! She can also say pee. Just for fun, I brought up the potty last night, just to show it to her, etc. She played around with it, sat on it, put her feet in it, etc. Very funny! This morning, I did it again, and she actually peed in it!! I'm sure it was a fluke. But she said pee! I was so shocked.

Does it sound like she may be ready? I really don't want to push her, but so far, she seems like she may be ready. What do you think?

Answer 1

I don't want to burst your bubble, but my kids have done this before also and I've been so excited, but they've eventually lost interest and then I gave up until they got older.  I really think when kids are "trained" at this age, it's just the parents who are trained to take them to the potty every half hour!  I would give it a try, though.  It can't hurt.  But if she gets to the point where she's upset about it or crying, I'd stop - you might hurt your attempts later.  Good luck!

Answer 2

Well, every kid is different. If she is already doing it, why not train her? I mean, just to see if she will do it again and keep doing it, if she doesn't then just drop the whole thing for a while. But, really, what's the harm in trying?

Answer 3

Sounds like it. Good on you. I had a h**l of a time training mine!!

Answer 4

Girls usually are physically ready before boys, who are often three+ years old before mastering the feat.

She is aware of when she pees, and she knows what the potty is for, so she very well could be ready, and willing, but she may not always recognize the body's cues, and could have an accident...

Still, I have seen two-year-old girls who always wear panties, not diapers.  I think you are handling things perfectly, letting her use the potty, and NOT pressuring her.  Some STUPID parents actually spank or punish little ones who have an accident, and that is just wrong.  I am glad you "get it"!

Keep in mind that even if she is successful with peeing in the potty at this age, she may not want to p**p in there.  It is very common for kids to do one, but not the other...some kids actually fear having B-M's in the potty, and that flushing the p**p away is flushing a part of them away.  You can find much reading material on this, especially by famed pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton.

Good luck with it!

Answer 5

Let her do what she is willing to do.  There may be some days when she doesn't.  Don't make it a big deal except when she does use it.  Always have it available to her once you start.

Answer 6

If shes ok with sitting on it and peeing, id say shes more than ready. it seems like you gave her enough praise for peeing the first time in it, so just keep that up. i was potty trained at 13 months....of course i had a weird development, i could read before i could walk, never learned to crawl, and was confusing every doctor and specialist in the state. They didnt think it was possible.

Answer 7

keep doing what you are doing. She sounds ready!!! Have some kind of reward system. If she pees in the potty, she needs to have a piece of candy or time to play with a certain toy. She will understand and will make it a lot easier.

Do remember that number 2 is a little more difficult, but it should work the same. It takes time... dont get too frustrated. She will get it!!!

Good luck

Answer 8

Some kids just developp those skills earlier than others. A friend of mine had his daughter fully potty trained when she was only 18 months! It's sounds like she is showing signs that she is aware that she pees and that it's wrong to pee on the floor. So I would have to say she's ready for it, but force her or put too much pressure on her.

Answer 9

Sounds to me like she is ready :)

Answer 10

im mean she might be ready no reason not to try. some kids are ready earlier than others. like my oldest is 3 and is still not going potty i mean she does sometimes but whatever but yeah try it and if she is playin more than going then she is not ready

Answer 11

i personally do not think she is mentally ready to really understand the concept of the potty... but if you want to just do that every day (letting her run with no diaper on and getting used to it) then i guess it will not hurt.

Answer 12

What I' ve heard is that they are physically ready (able to control their needs) after the age of 2 - 2,5. You have nothing to lose by training her although I think she will soon get bored of the process. You have to keep in mind that the most "dangerous" part is the night. Never let her without a diaper before she is fully trained during the day (fully meaning expressing her need 100% of the times). In any case... Good luck!!!

Answer 13

I don't know first hand, because I only have one child and he is only 10 months, but my mom (who has had 6 children) has always said that girls are easier to potty train and usually are trained early. She had me potty trained when I was 14 months, I just decided that is what I wanted to do, as well as my sister she was 16 months when she went on the potty. My brothers on the other hand where about three years old each.

Good luck.

Answer 14

Well like you said you don't want to push a child into potty training, but if you keep it around her and she shows interest then I don't see anything wrong with it. Some people have been sucessfull with potty training at a young age. Both my kids were trained at 2 yrs old and some people tell me that was still to early, but in my situation, I didn't have the money to keep buying diapers. Although I'm still working on night potty training. If she likes it now and shows interest then she won't be so scared about it later.