At what age did you begin potty training?

[liltate]

I just have a quick question. For those of you who have potty trained your DC early (like under 2yrs) are you SAHM or do you work?

I couldnt let my DD run around naked at any point during her day! I work as a Nanny and she comes to work with me, and Im pretty sure my employer wouldnt appreciate having her pee on their floor! And currently we are living with relatives, same deal. If it was my own home, sure, but someone elses. I was raised to respect other peoples property, as I will raise my DD to do as well, and she wont go peeing or pooping on others floors!

Sorry if this may come across as a little harsh, but some people wonder why I dont have any 'mummy friends' or spend time with others who have children, I have enough issues with feeling like a crappy mum, I dont need others telling me they think I am too!!

[Dengineer]

Originally Posted by shannondw1 I don't know I just don't get it, I couldn't have imagined having a 2yr old in diapers still having to wipe their butts and change them and be tied to a diaper bag up to 3. IMHO they know what they are doing and I feel for you on the every 20 min but I personally would have left him in his wet undies after a few days of it and explain that is just the way it will be if you can walk and talk you can make it to the potty. If you can throw a tantrum you can understand to make it to the potty. If they can't potty train w/in a week I would have gone to the docs and asked maybe they have a bladder infection or ?? I was too lazy to continue to change diapers and I didn't want to continue to throw money away on them. I remember when I was about 5 and my BFF next door was 4 and she was still having issues w/going potty at night but she stayed w/us for a few days while her parents were out of town and my mom put it point blank to her that she had better wake her self up if she has to pee during the night or she would get a spanking. And I tell you what she never had an accident at our house. It was 1980 and my mom had known them since the late 60's so we were all close but they let her be babied. Again my honest opinion and just in awe of a 3yr old in diapers. And like the lady said above...they feed themselves, they walk themselves.

Congratulations on being a perfect parent (most of us aren't) and on potty training your kids early. Like I said, I tried and it didn't work. I guess I could have punished my kids for not being ready to be potty-trained or let them sit in their own waste but that's just not my style. Things like that usually don't work anyway. Waiting until a child is ready to be potty-trained is NOT babying them. I know some people don't agree, and thus the "Mommy Wars" begin...

And one more thing--there is a process by which children physically mature and each child is innately different. Some children reach milestones at an earlier age than others--which gives their parents a HUGE superiority complex because they think that was the result of their great parenting instead just being the way the child was born. And just because a child is able to walk, talk and throw a tantrum does't mean they are a miniature adult. My 15 month old is walking but I wouldn't expect her to be able to tap dance like Fred Astaire. And since when did throwing a tantrum become a sign of maturity anyway?

[GaPeach76]

Originally Posted by Dengineer Congratulations on being a perfect parent (most of us aren't) and on potty training your kids early. Like I said, I tried and it didn't work. I guess I could have punished my kids for not being ready to be potty-trained or let them sit in their own waste but that's just not my style. Things like that usually don't work anyway. Waiting until a child is ready to be potty-trained is NOT babying them. I know some people don't agree, and thus the "Mommy Wars" begin... And one more thing--there is a process by which children physically mature and each child is innately different. Some children reach milestones at an earlier age than others--which gives their parents a HUGE superiority complex because they think that was the result of their great parenting instead just being the way the child was born. And just because a child is able to walk, talk and throw a tantrum does't mean they are a miniature adult. My 15 month old is walking but I wouldn't expect her to be able to tap dance like Fred Astaire. And since when did throwing a tantrum become a sign of maturity anyway?

[mkmattingly]

I think this was a bit over the top and unnecessary. I have a genuine question. I'm NOT saying everything was perfect in yesteryear, but do you think children develop later today than they did prior to the 1950's? How else to explain that most children were potty trained by age 2 then? And with much less consternation and hand wringing than accoumpanys this process today. I feel confident that 30 or 40 years ago, potty training was not the topic of discussion that it is today.

Personally, I don't care when anyone potty trains their child, but I just don't accept this modern philosophy of readiness signs and letting the child make the decision. If people choose to wait later, that's fine, but it's just that, their choice.

I don't think my children are special, I don't think they developed any faster than most children. What I do believe is, that I can take any normal child, barring any genuine physical or mental delays, and potty train them by or around age 2.

Originally Posted by Dengineer Congratulations on being a perfect parent (most of us aren't) and on potty training your kids early. Like I said, I tried and it didn't work. I guess I could have punished my kids for not being ready to be potty-trained or let them sit in their own waste but that's just not my style. Things like that usually don't work anyway. Waiting until a child is ready to be potty-trained is NOT babying them. I know some people don't agree, and thus the "Mommy Wars" begin... And one more thing--there is a process by which children physically mature and each child is innately different. Some children reach milestones at an earlier age than others--which gives their parents a HUGE superiority complex because they think that was the result of their great parenting instead just being the way the child was born. And just because a child is able to walk, talk and throw a tantrum does't mean they are a miniature adult. My 15 month old is walking but I wouldn't expect her to be able to tap dance like Fred Astaire. And since when did throwing a tantrum become a sign of maturity anyway?

[beth119]

Dh pottied trained our boys. I didn't dare tackle it... They were both about to be 3, and were completely trained within 3 days. They were READY...
DD, well, she has Crohns...it well after 3, and that was an accomplishment!

So, to those who think that ALL kids should be done before 2, WHO CARES? If a kid is 2, 3, or 4, what the heck difference does it make in the long run? Really? AND on top of that, deal with a kid like my DD who has a disease that effects her digestive system... No go there...

[andidavis2634]

Originally Posted by mkmattingly I think this was a bit over the top and unnecessary. I have a genuine question. I'm NOT saying everything was perfect in yesteryear, but do you think children develop later today than they did prior to the 1950's? How else to explain that most children were potty trained by age 2 then? And with much less consternation and hand wringing than accoumpanys this process today. I feel confident that 30 or 40 years ago, potty training was not the topic of discussion that it is today. Personally, I don't care when anyone potty trains their child, but I just don't accept this modern philosophy of readiness signs and letting the child make the decision. If people choose to wait later, that's fine, but it's just that, their choice. I don't think my children are special, I don't think they developed any faster than most children. What I do believe is, that I can take any normal child, barring any genuine physical or mental delays, and potty train them by or around age 2.

Do you think that some of the reasons our children do things a little later is because many Moms don't get to stay home with our children full time? I am sure that my Grandmother had a heck of a lot more time to work on potty training than I do, as I work 2 jobs.

I also think that I choose my battles. To me, my ds is going to be potty trained before he goes to pre-k. I have taken him to the bathroom with me from the time he was mobile, and he uses the toilet, on occasion, and has since before he was two. But, I am not going to let my son sit in his own filth. I am not going to threaten physical punishment for lack of bodily control.

IMO punishment is for conscious disobedience. I have a VERY well behaved, advanced son. (And I don't say that to pat myself on the back, while I try to work with him and read regularly, I just got lucky.) I believe in rewards and discipline. I believe in letting children fail at things, to let them learn to work harder...I just don't agree that applies to potty training as well.

I think each mom needs to do things according to what works for her and her child/ren. We are almost all guilty of judging for one reason or another, most all of us have our hot button issues, but we really need to let that go. Unless what I am teaching my child/ren endangers you or your child, I think that you should just let it go.

[Macaela25]

Originally Posted by beth119 So, to those who think that ALL kids should be done before 2, WHO CARES? If a kid is 2, 3, or 4, what the heck difference does it make in the long run?

Well said. Last I checked, "Potty trained before age ___" was not on any resumes.

A quick google search will bring up many reputable websites discussing physical development in toddlers and preschoolers. The fact of the matter is, there are a number of factors that influence potty training:

-Physical ability to determine need to relieve bladder. Girls are generally potty trained younger because their anatomy helps them feel the urgency sooner than boys.

-Verbal ability to alert an adult of the need to go.

-Dexterity to get clothing up/down. My DS struggled with this one!

There are more, but I'm not going to bore you.

We all have our own opinions, and I feel that it's a rare case when a child is truly potty trained (can self-toilet with little/no help) before age 2. I feel that in that case it's usually the parent who is trained, not the child.

[Dengineer]

And with much less consternation and hand wringing than accoumpanys this process today.

The only consternation or hand wringing I experienced with potty training was when I tried to force my kids when they weren't ready. It was tough to take my DD to the bathroom every 20 minutes for 3 months, only to have her sit there on the toilet, not go and then go in her pants 5 minutes later. She clearly was NOT READY. When she was ready, potty training took less than a day. Just because she didn't fit into some "timetable" or "milestone" doesn't make me a failure as a parent.

Originally Posted by Macaela25 I feel that in that case it's usually the parent who is trained, not the child.

LOL--That's what my mom and grandmother always say/said (my grandmother is now deceased.)

[oscamaya]

DS will be 2.5 tomorrow and he is nowhere near potty training. He just started telling me only sometimes if he feels like it that his diaper is dirty.

He can take his peepee diapers off and throw them in the trash though. It makes my job easier, but he wants nothing to do with the potty except to play in it.

[liltate]

Originally Posted by oscamaya DS will be 2.5 tomorrow and he is nowhere near potty training. He just started telling me only sometimes if he feels like it that his diaper is dirty. He can take his peepee diapers off and throw them in the trash though. It makes my job easier, but he wants nothing to do with the potty except to play in it.

ditto for my little PITB!!! She tells me when she needs to go, takes off the dirty diapers, and we go 3 rounds of wrestling to get on a new one!!! :hectic1: I never knew 2.5yr olds were so strong!!

And she loves to see what will fit in the potty...toys, CD's, DVD's, clothes...you name it, shes crammed it in there to see if it will fit :P STINKER