Is my 18 month old daughter old enough for potty training?

Question

I know that this would probably sound like a personal preference question but I am a first time mother and I have no idea even where to start with potty training? My mother keeps telling me that I need to start potty training my 18 month old but I don't know if she is ready or even where to start. Can anyone PLEASE give me some tips or advice. I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

Most children have the muscle control to regulate themselves between eighteen months and three years of age. Certain medical problems may delay or prohibit a child from developing the muscle control needed for self-regulation. More important than chronological age is the child's level of readiness. There are 14 readiness signals. Children do not need to exhibit all of these before you begin training. However, the more signals they exhibit, the easier and faster training will be.

READINESS SIGNALS

Over the excitement of learning to walk and run.
Able to sit down and play quietly for about five minutes.
Able to help dress and undress self.
Shows imitative behavior.
Wants to put toys and other possessions where they belong.
Able to understand and follow simple directions.
Takes pride in accomplishments.
Not in a period of negativism.
Has bowel movements at regular times every day.
Bowel movements are well formed.
Able to remain dry for about two hours at a time.
Able to urinate a good amount at one time.
Aware of the process of elimination.
Has a name for urine and bowel movement.

In addition to considering readiness signals, make sure the child is not experiencing a stressful situation when you start toilet training. Stressful situations may include weaning from the breast or bottle, the birth of a new baby in the family, and changes in child care arrangements. Wait four to six weeks after the stressful situation before beginning toilet training.

Answer 2

Your daughter will set the schedule of potty training, not you or your mother. However, there's no reason not to try. With 2 successfully potty trained, and working on a third one, the only thing I can tell you is that if you are going to start this early, don't be frustrated if it takes a long time. Ask yourself, which would be better starting at 18 months and it takes a year to train, or starting at 2 1/2 and it takes a few months?

Answer 3

It really depends on your daughter if she is ready yet, my daughter is 17 months old and we started potty training her a few days ago and she is doing great. But before we started she would tell us when she peed and pooped so we knew she was ready, now she tells us when she needs to use the potty. It depends on the child some are ready early some not until later, my friend has a 3 year old daughter that just got potty trained.

Answer 4

You need to see if your daughter is ready. My 18 month old daughter is doing really good with potty training, my friends 21 month old daughter is not. It depends on the child, don't force her she'll let you know when she's ready. Can she tell you when she's wet or when she needs to go? Do she hate being in a soiled diaper? If so, she may be ready.

Answer 5

Yes she is . Try and make potty time fun . Put a shelf up above the potty where she can not reach it . Put a bunch of new toys she likes up there and tell her every time she uses the potty she can have a new toy and lots of praise . I did that with my son and daughter . With my boy I also put Cheerios in the potty and had him aim at the Cheerios to make them go under water he was trained at 11 months going on 12 months . My daughter was 14 months . Good Luck !!!!

Answer 6

My son is 18 months old and I was thinking about starting this summer. Only because it will be warmer then and where we live it's freezing and I know I'll be doing alot of laundry. Our washer/dryer is in the basement. I'm not sure that he is mature enough yet. He does catch on real quick but is going thru that attitude stage right now. If your child is ready then I say start trying. I've always heard that girls catch on quicker than boys.

Answer 7

sure you could start, I didnt start til my stepdaughter was 2 and because of her mother she was in diapers til she was 3 1/2. Just by her a little potty chair and have her sit on it when you go to the bathroom. Good Luck!!

Answer 8

She would show signs she is ready. You cant start until then. Most kids start after the age of 2.

Answer 9

Yes if she understands you then why not most kids potty train older becuz they dont understand

Answer 10

No.