what about starting to sit my baby on the potty at a year...?

Question

Although I want my child to learn at his own pace i would like to see my son potty trained sooner than later in life... as a single mother, diapers are quite expensive... My thoughts are to put him on the potty for less than a minute or so at a time, just to get him used to the hight, the coldness, etc... if I am not forcing him, might it work sooner?? If I am consistant, add a little love and comfort and maybe a reward, depending on his uninterest in it... serious only please... thanks :)

Answer 1

Go for it as long as he doesn't object. Some tips: Sounds silly, but if you have the opportunity for him to see another young child do it (cousin, good friend, daycare buddy), he will get interested. Also, buy a little potty and keep it in the bathroom next to yours. He might discover it on his own. Try putting him on the pot at routine times: as soon as he wakes in the AM, after a nap, right before bath, before bed. He may just play on it for a long time. He will pee when he is ready. Be sure to praise him!

Answer 2

That would be fine and would probably help it along... as long as you're just sitting him on it.
He will probably be a little scared at first so you might want to let him sit on it with the lid down and his diaper on. Then slowly introduce his baby potty (whichever type you choose) and sitting on it without a diaper.
Rewards, praise and love will really help, but any form of forcing or punishment will set it way back. Just expect some pee and poo NEXT to the toilet instead of in it at least a few times.

=) It might take quiet awhile to get him truely potty trained, but this will help his comfort level alot. Good luck with it!

Answer 3

One is not too young, it really depends on the environment AND of course the child. I have an Israeli friend who told me of daycare centers in Israel where they literally have a long line of potties and ALL the kids go potty at the same time, or rather they all go sit on it and so on. She said that it was normal for kids in those "classes" to be potty trained before the age of 2. It was a fun social event. Don't know if that is still the practice now, she was talking about decades ago.

I think the trick is to offer it and avoid letting your desperation show (you'll get desperate eventually). Give light praise, keep it light and fun, act like it is not really a big deal. Because of course it really isn't a big deal!

Answer 4

According to my ped, there are 3 things you can't make a child do. Eat, sleep and potty train. Will it hurt him? No, but the fact that he's a boy makes him much more likely to be ready around three years old than either one or two years. Gentle encouragement never hurt anyone, but if he shows any stress at all you could be setting yourself up for longer delays than if you waited until he was ready.

Now having said that, I have a friend from Russia and they start potty training at 1 because historically money was so tight diapers were an extravagance. Her daughter was PTed by 2 and as far as I can tell doesn't have issues :)

And finally, if you aren't on freecycle (www.freecycle.org) get on there and start asking for diapers. Lots of times people have extras from when their child outgrew the old size. And if you haven't tried the White Cloud diapers from Wal Mart they rock and are so cheap. Sign up on the huggies and pampers sites.. they send really good coupons.

Answer 5

It sounds like you have a very reasonable expectation of just introducing the idea and not actually planning on him training juist yet. Sounds completely harmless as long as you keep it a light, fun thing for him. You should look into a little potty chair for the floor and perhaps some fun sesame street videos about it. It could work sooner if he is willing and comfortable, or it may not. Can't really hurt. Good luck and give yourself a pat on the back for being a single mommy!

Answer 6

As long as you are NOT forcing, coercing, bribing, or manipulating, it's ok. A child needs not only to be mentally mature enough to understand toilet training, they also need to be physically mature. Boys typically tend to train later than girls. Mine was 2.5, and everyone was amazed at how 'fast' he did it. I thought it was slow. I got very frustrated at how slow it was. I started at 18 months and thought for sure it would happen by the time he was 2.

Babies don't fully empty their bladders when they pee, so they typically pee about every 20 minutes or so a little at a time. When they are physically able to hold it, then pee it all out at one time, they'll have success at training.

I started by letting my son run around in the backyard naked so when he peed he saw it and could associate the feeling with the physical workings. I praised him with lots of "Good job! You are going potty! Good job going potty!" so he knew he was 'going potty'. I gave him a stool to stand in front of our toilet and gave him a jelly belly to pee in it. If any drops came out, I'd reward him. My husband was afraid I was going to screw him up somehow with the candy as a reward thing, but as a new 3 year old, he goes on his own now without any reward now except a 'good for you!'.

The worry I have is that, like me, you will be frustrated at how long it's taking, and that will of course transfer down to your son. It may make a tramatic training situation for him.

Letting him be familiar with a potty is good, but a year old is pretty young.

Good luck!

Answer 7

If he likes it then go for it. I got told but three stupid "professionals" that one was too early to potty train. Well I had a one year old who would tug my pants leg when she had to pee and made it to the potty almost every time. Being young and ignorant I listened to these so called professionals. I now have a three year old who is still in diapers and scared of her own fecal matter. Do it the moment he shows interest and it will be easier on everyone.

Answer 8

At one year old he obviously has no concept of using a toilet and may not yet even realize the feeling of needing to go so it would be a waste of your time. If you really want to try to speed this up though I would suggest you set him on a training potty and stick his hands in warm water. It could produce results and it would also introduce the thought of washing afterward too.
I encourage you to be patient though. He will start tugging at his diaper when it's dirty and that is the signal that he is ready for training. Wait for it. I think you have about a year to go.
To cut the cost, use cloth diapers and rubber pants.

Answer 9

It can't hurt to introduce it, but I think it might be a bit early. I hope you don't plan on putting him on an actual toilet. He should have a potty, that you place in the bathroom by the big one. But really, I think one year is a little young to expect anything. Typically, children will let you know when they are ready. At a year, i don't even think he knows that he has to pee. You know your child far better than I do though and if you think that he feels the urge, then give it a shot. It won't hurt and I don't think it will delay him later, provided he's not ready now.
Good Luck... I hope it all works out in your favor

Answer 10

Yes put him on the potty after he eats, sleeps, or plays vigorously. If he thinks the feeling and the sound is cool encourage it if hes not ready don't do it. But if it works just think of all that money you will save. Good Luck


My BF used this method to train his daughter who is now 18 when she was 1 she learned quickly my boys learned quickly as well and my sister just decided at 18 months to potty train herself it happens every child is different