At what age did you begin potty training?

[MrsPinecone]

I don't plan to start until he's around 2.5. I have seen so many people start way early, and then complain that "it's taking FOREVER to train DS/DD!"

He'll be way more ready at 2.5, and with a new baby coming, I don't want to throw pt into the mix.

We'll go straight to big boy underwear. I think that training pants are a major cause of extending the pt issues.

[jenjacobs]

DS is about to be 26 months and I agree I'm not starting till he is at least 2.5 years. He is showing no interest in potty training right now.

[daisydog215]

My daughter started right around 2.5 and was trained at 3. Son proved more difficult and wasnt' trained until close to 3.5.

[ladywaterwind]

I'm waiting for around then too. Right now she likes going to the potty with me, and gets all 'potty! potty!' but she isn't interested in the concept other than saying the word.

[Macaela25]

DS began showing interest around 21 months, and we bought a potty for him to get used to. I began making a serious effort at about 25 months when he began announcing when he needed to go and put him in underwear while at home and at preschool. His teacher was great, which was a huge help. He was fully trained without accidents within about 6 weeks. He's 2.5 now and accidents are very rare. He tells us when he needs to go and usually takes himself - he uses the big toilet. He's been dry at night since 18 months, so we never had to worry about wearing pullups to bed.

My mother assures me that I will never have it this easy again.

[shelleyf]

On my son's 3rd birthday he decided to train himself. lol We didn't try to force him to train just kept showing him when he was 2 1/2 per the Dr's advice. On his birthday he said mama look and then peed by himself. That was the easiest training we ever had. All of our kids trained themselves just by us showing them. So you are doing the right thing.

[coles1mom]

I don't think it's an age, it's a matter of whether they're ready or not. My son wasn't completely potty trained until he was about 3 1/2 but I think boys usually take longer. On the other hand when he was ready it happened seemingly overnight. When they start to know they have to go before they are wet that's when they're almost ready. If they don't have the awareness of what's about to happen then you're wasting your time and energy. It took about an extra month for my son to want to go poop in the potty but that was a matter of choice for him rather than ability. I think he didn't want to see it. You'll know when your child is ready, don't rush it.

By the way I accidentally clicked the wrong answer on the poll. I think I clicked on 27months but I meant to choose the last option.

[bubblefly23]

After potty training two boys (now 3 1/2 and 8), I am convinced that most boys aren't ready until around 3. We started both around 2 1/2, and it was a battle. Charts, rewards, etc....you name it, we tried it. At some point we decided just to stop fighting it and wait until they were ready. All their little "girl" friends were potty-trained, but they were still in Pull-Ups. Then, around 3 yrs., something just clicked. Very little regression, too, and with the 3 1/2 yr. old, there was a new baby in the house as well. Introduce the concept, but they'll let you know when they're ready. My little guy just told me one day, "Guess what? I pooped in the potty." And there it was!

Just one more to go.....and yes, another boy. Gotta love 'em.

[StephKB]

With #1 we started putting him on the potty before bath (so every other night or every night) around 18-20 months. I don't really think of this as 'starting', although it was introducing him to it. He'll be 4 at the end of the month and has just been going on his own (pee AND poop) for about a month. He's been staying dry for several months.

#3 is 2 years old and asks to sit on the potty some - we let him when he asks and try to sit him on it before baths (every other night), but again I feel this is just an introduction...not really the start of potty training. I probably won't go any further with him until he's 2.5 or even 3, unless he begins to ask more frequently.

[ASweetHeart]

Become familair with the signs, and go with your instincts.

Every kid is different. If you try and push them too hard, you'll end up going crazy. With my first DD, she took to the potty at almost 2 exactly. With ds, he's not talking a whole lot still, so I didn't bother until he turned 3, which seemed to work out pretty good.

I wouldn't stress about it. It will happen in due time.