what is the earliest age you can toilet train a child?

Question

My friend told me that his sister started when her son was five months. My friend has been known to lie, and I can't imagine how this could be possible.
So, if anyone has done this with there child please tell me how you did this or tell me if this is completely impossible.

Answer 1

It's possible to train them that early, but it's a bad way to go. You shouldn't potty train a child until THEY are ready...not when YOU'RE ready.

Now I'm not for sure on this, but from what I've read and heard children who are potty trained at an early age like this tend to have multiple problems later on such as bed wetting, wetting themselves, and bladder problems.

Answer 2

As far as I know babies are not able to have full bladder control until age 24 months. Yes, you might be successful in getting him/her to use the toilet but those instances are pure luck. They do not have control over their bowel movements or bladder activity until 2 years of age. When the child gets close to that age you could show him or her what it is you do in the bathroom or just periodically take them to the bathroom and praise when successful. NEVER, ever punish them for accidents before they are even physically able to have full control. This of course is only in reference to daytime potty training. Night time will be longer than that...! Yes, you will have all those older friends and relatives that always think they know everything better than we do...don't listen to them. The older our parents and grandparents get, the younger we seem to have been when we were doing certain things....lol.

Answer 3

It is possible, but it is not a child potty trained. It is a parent trained to know when to take a child. I have known many children who begin at 18 mo. , some at 2 yrs., but only 2 that began training earlier. They began at 15 and 17 months.

Answer 4

5 Months is impossible. She is lying. Most kids start to train at about 2 years old.

Answer 5

My best friend toilet trained her little girl at 2 and now she says that she has to use the bathroom and her mom takes her but she doesnt go by herself but the good thing is that she lets her mommy know.

Answer 6

i would think it's impossible, i would never even try to train my child until they were at least a year old and walking. a 5 month old cannot comprehend going to the potty

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

Perhaps she was referring to "elimination communication"
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_parenting/108708
It's quite common in other countries, especially since the whole world doesn't have access to disposable diapers or a washer for cloth diapers.

Answer 9

i read in parents magazine that 27 months is the age that is most successful. i started mine after their 2nd birhtday.