when would be a good time to start potty training?

Question

my son will be two in march and of course he still wears diapers. i have no idea about how to start potty training him. i know that when he has to go pee he grabs his diaper. we have tried putting him on a potty chair but he sits there and plays with himself and we tried dumping warm water down his chest but it did nothing. we have tried singing and dancing for him and praising him but nothing works. is he just not old enough to understand what we are doing? if so then when would be a good time to try working with him?

Answer 1

If he is wearing cloth diapers he should already know when he has to go, and should be asking during the day. If he is not wearing Cloth Diapers it might take longer because Plastic Diapers don't let him realize when he has gone or any discomfort that he would want to prevent. My daughter started at 16 months and was fully trained by 24 months. Boys take a few months longer usually.

Answer 2

I don't know where you live but the best time is summer time (or it if is warm where you are) to train. That way they can run around outside (in a fenced, private yard) with just a long shirt and some undies on. This way they can associate the feeling of 'having to go' with the feeling of wetness. Pull-ups and such do not usually work. They need to recognize cause and effect. I worked on training my first son when he was 2 1/2 and it took about 2 months to be fully trained. We did the after he drank something - put him to the toilet 1 1/2 to 2 hrs after depending on his body language (this is alot of work).Remember do not withhold drinks. The more he drinks, the more he can try to use the toilet. My second son, I just thought, I will let him do it on his own. (using the going free method mentioned above). He literally was trained in one afternoon (shortly before he turned 3) and I was stress-free without having to clean up any mess in the house.
Children learn at different paces. Do not push him or punish him for not doing it or having an accident. If he is not ready he is just not ready. When he does do it, offer reward (we ALL like rewards :) ) (We used one smartie for pee, two for the other) and praise but not too much otherwise when it does not happen he feels like a failure. Do not stress. He will pick that up from you and think it is stressful to go to the bathroom. He is learning like he learned to walk, talk, etc. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

It depends on the child. I think that fourteen months is a good time to start. I started at twelve months, a little early when I think about it now. Wait about two hours after he has wet his diaper, and then sit him on the chair. Maybe he will associate, but not the first time. Be sure to praise him after he goes on the potty chair.
If this doesn't work the first time, maybe he's not ready to go. Wait another two hours and if he's dry, put him on the potty chair and repeat process.

Answer 4

I have a 3 year old I started since she was about 11/2. it took her about six months to understand. So by the time she was 2 she was going on her own. It takes a while that's why they recommend you start soon. Every time you go take him with you and explain what you are doing and why, and if he even wets a little, make a big deal about it clap, dance, jump kids love this kind of attention. Make him feel like if its another game his playing with mommy that way it will be more fun, but be very patient and try not to get frustrated. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 5

Boys notoriously take longer than girls to start potty training. My son wasn't ready til he was almost three.

My sister is going thru potty training right now with my nephew, she's starting with the bowel movements. He has set facial movements and sounds he makes when he's "in the process" and so she picks up on the cues and puts him on the pot.
She said trying to train him for urinating doesn't work because he likes to "play" just as your son does.
At least with the bowel movements you know he's gotta be doing something, not just grabbing for the fun of the touch.

Answer 6

I have always used this rule...if your child can say "i need to potty"...then they ready. Also, if he can't stand having on a soiled diaper....that is a really good sign. My doctor told me that your child will shoe alot of signs that they are ready. 2 is a good age to start, but not necessarily right for everyone. My first daughter was trained by 2 1/2, but my next is that age and still has no desire. Wait until your child is ready...that makes it alot easier!

Answer 7

You will be successful when the child is 2 1/2 -3 years old.Before that is waist of time and energy.They are ready at that age and they understand and that's when they can tell the difference between dry and wet.With my both children i started at 2 years.No luck until 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Answer 8

It helps to let him go with daddy to the potty. Little boys want to be like daddy and going to the potty is one of those things he'll want to emmulate. I have 2 girls and they both started by copying off of me. It was REALLY annoying at first because they just wanted to sit there and pretend at first but, the first time they actually went, they got so excited that the kept it up pretty well after that.

Answer 9

I purchased a child potty sit...My son was walking at nine months, and went to his pottie ....Know it was wonderful.
Again my daughter, did not, until she was 2 years old.
she wanted to wait, until she could sit on the seat, Mommie and Daddie did.
I, myself do not think you are helping, by going games, etc.
Takes his attention out of what he is trying to do....
Let him go to the bathroom by himself.....there should be no games etc. for him to do his duty.
Hopes this helps...

Answer 10

at any age and when the child starts to show interest in the potty