Has anyone toilet trained a child by 16 months of age or is this too early?

Question

My mother is claiming she had us toilet trained by 13 months of age, is this at all possible, or is her memory failing her?. I do not know any kids this age who are potty trained?.

Answer 1

I wonder what your mom's idea of potty training is if she really had you 'trained' by 13 months...! A co-worker decided to use a 'potty training' method with her new born. The baby does not wear diapers but the parents are very in tune to her bodily needs/habits and prop her over a little potty seat when she has to poo or pee. However, the baby is not really potty trained - the parents are!

Answer 2

My first daughter was about 18 months when she was fully trained (she really did it herself and there was no training involved) and the second was almost 2 1/2. I really think it depends a lot on the child and being consistant is the main thing. Keep the option for the child to be able to use the toilet, but I would not suggest having it become an issue at that young of an age.

Answer 3

I read an article last year that said the people of another country India or something have their children potty trained by the time they are 9 months old. They do not sell diapers there because of that reason. It seems they go by the child's cry. I have never seen it myself but they say it can be done.

Anyway, my pediatrician said that boys usually train at 30 months while girls usually train at 27 months. You would have to be very diligent to potty train a child at 16 months.

Answer 4

NO THATS WAY TO EARLY!!!!! my son is 17 months and i thought he might be readybecause he would tell me when he had pooped. But my Health nurse told me that the earlyer you start a baby the longer it will take and the more likly you will have accidents. You have to remember they need to be able to , pull down and up there pants on there own, recagnizes the feeling of needing to go, get there in time, i read alot of parenting books and they all said the same thing not till there 2 1/2 at least!

Answer 5

A child doesn't really get control of the sphincter muscles that control bladder and bowels until about 2 years of age. I think Mom is losing her memory. If you try to force them before that you will have bed wetters. It's best to let them train themselves, which they will do around 2. Don't force the issue.

Answer 6

My daughter was toilet trained right after she turned 2 years. I think your mother's memory needs a recheck.

16 months I think is too early.

Good luck

Answer 7

That depends, does your toddler try to take off every diaper the second it's even the slightest bit damp? If so maybe now would be a good time to introduce the potty. He/she may even think it's fun, my kids did.

Answer 8

morgan, Do not start toilet training until both you and your child are ready. You are ready when you are able to devote the time and energy necessary to encourage your child on a daily basis for at least 3 months.

Your child is ready when he or she can signal that the diaper is wet or soiled, or when your child is able to say that he or she would like to go to the potty. This usually occurs when a child is 18 to 24 months of age. However, it is not uncommon for a child to still be in diapers at 2 and a half to 3 years of age.

how to prepare your child for toilet training?
Allow your child to be present when you go to the bathroom and make your child feel comfortable in the bathroom. Allow your child to see urine and bowel movements in the toilet. Let your child play with flushing the toilet.

Before toilet training your child, place a potty chair in your child's normal living and play area so that your child will become familiar with the potty. Consider placing a potty chair on each floor of the house if you live in a multilevel home. Allow your child to observe, touch and become familiar with the potty chair.

Tell your child that the potty chair is his or her own chair. Allow your child to sit fully clothed on the potty chair, as if it were a regular chair. Allow your child to leave the potty chair at any time. Do not force your child to spend time sitting on the chair.

After your child has become used to the potty chair and sits on it regularly with his or her clothes on, try having your child sit on the potty without wearing pants and a diaper. Let your child become comfortable with sitting on the potty without wearing pants and a diaper.

The next step is to show your child how the potty chair is used. Place stool from a dirty diaper into the potty chair. Allow your child to observe the transfer of the bowel movement from the potty chair into the toilet. Let your child flush the toilet and watch the bowel movement disappear down the toilet.
How do I teach my child to use the toilet?
After your child has become comfortable with flushing the toilet and sitting on the potty chair, you may begin teaching your child to go to the bathroom. Keep your child in loose, easily removable pants.

Place your child on the potty chair whenever he or she signals the need to go to the bathroom. Your child's facial expression may change when he or she feels the need to urinate or to have a bowel movement. Your child may stop any activity he or she is engaged in when he or she feels the need to go to the bathroom.

Most children have a bowel movement once a day, usually within an hour after eating. Most children urinate within an hour after having a large drink.

In addition to watching for signals that your child needs to urinate or have a bowel movement, place your child on the potty at regular intervals. This may be as often as every 1and a half to 2 hours.

Stay with your child when he or she is on the potty chair. Reading or talking to your child when he or she is sitting on the potty may help your child relax. Praise your child when he or she goes to the bathroom in the potty chair, but do not express disappointment if your child does not urinate or have a bowel movement in the potty. Be patient with your child.

Once your child has learned to use the potty chair, your child can begin using an over-the-toilet seat and a step-up stool.

How long will it take to toilet train my child?
It may take up to 3 months. It is important for you to be patient and supportive. Do not punish your child when he or she has an accident.

If your child is not toilet trained within 3 months, consult your family doctor. The most likely reason your child has not learned to use the potty is that your child is not yet ready for toilet training.

Answer 9

it could happen but usually the average is 2-3 years old