Potty training- when and how long?

[Anonymous]

How old was your child when you potty trained and how long did it take? Also how did you know he/she was ready?
And by potty trained I mean peeing/pooping on potty during day (not nap or night) with few to no accidents.

[Anonymous]

20 (boy) and 22 (girl) months. Girl had terrible diaper rashes and was pooping on the potty since 15 months because of that. She used to poop in her diaper and scream before we started the potty.

I don't believe in readiness signs. Read Oh Crap. All they need to figure out is when they are physically peeing and what that feels like when they need to go. Try oh crap. If it doesn't work, back off for a month and then hit it hard again!

[Anonymous]

Kid #1 - started about 28 months, took six months to be sufficiently trained for preschool. Continued to have 1-2 pee accidents a month for another year probably. Later diagnosed with ADHD.

Kid #2 - started about 24 months, took about 2 days.

Kid #3 - started about 28 months, took about 2 months to become reliable.

[Anonymous]

Girl day trained at 21 months and night trained at 22 months. Followed Oh Crap with some variations and it took about 10 days to get 95% of the way there (1-2 accidents a week, but mostly consistent) and about a month to get fully trained. I think around 24 months is the sweet spot, give or take a few months depending on your kid.

[Anonymous]

Our best readiness sign was daycare telling us that the child was staying dry for long periods and us observing the same (previous poster with 3 kids). Child #1 did not exhibit these signs.

[Anonymous]

We started around 24 months. It took her about 2-3 weeks to become reliable, but she was home from daycare the entire time (Covid.) Once she went back to school, it took her another month to adjust there. We followed Oh Crap for the most part.

[Anonymous]

I'd say it's more about the parent being "ready" than the child. My DD was probably capable of training at 18 months. She could follow instructions and was aware of when she was peeing and pooping. But potty training is a huge commitment for the parent too, whether you're following your kid around with a potty, or sitting them down on the potty every 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

22 months old and took maybe three days total. I used Oh Crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say it's more about the parent being "ready" than the child. My DD was probably capable of training at 18 months. She could follow instructions and was aware of when she was peeing and pooping. But potty training is a huge commitment for the parent too, whether you're following your kid around with a potty, or sitting them down on the potty every 15 minutes.

I wouldn't say it's more about the parent being ready, but it's a huge factor. It's several things aligning: your kid indicating they are ready (awareness of being wet or needing to go, interest in learning), you being prepared with the right research and attitude, and having the right set-up and time at home.

Some things make it easier. A SAHP or nanny (though daycare can be really useful for kids who are motivated by watching other kids do it, which some very much are). I really envied our friends with a big yard because they just trained in the summer, letting the kids run around without any bottoms and the little potty on the back deck. It's tougher when you have to do the whole thing inside because you not only have to do the training and encouraging and watching, you also have to clean up accidents. Which for us, was constantly.

Anyway, we trained at 3, after multiple false starts (we did a couple Oh Crap weekends between 2.5 and 3, but neither took). By 3, training is really different, so I'd say it took about 2 weeks with a gradual shift from pull-ups to underwear. We also did a big reward for going a full week with consistently using the potty (a new scooter in her favorite color). Motivation really helps when you train later. But when she was trained, she was trained. No more accidents (knock on wood, it's been 4 months).

[Anonymous]

DD was about 2.5. Daycare told us she was ready for underwear. So, okay! She had few accidents from the start. We never did any formal “training” at home, just offered her the toilet occasionally. Daycare did all the work, over months.

DS is now 22 months and we’re taking the same approach. He’s not in daycare so we got him a potty and he sits on it a few times a day. He knows when he’s peeing and pooping, but not before. We probably could get him out of diapers now/soon if we really wanted to, but we don’t want to deal with a barely 2 year old in underwear. The PP who said it’s about whether the parents are ready is so right!

[Anonymous]

Started around 28 months. Started preschool at 30 months and probably another 3 weeks in pullups just in case there. Should have started earlier.

[Anonymous]

Do it when they want to please you. Even the most stubborn of kids have a window in which they’re eager to please before they go down the rabbit hole of terrible 2’s and 3’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it when they want to please you. Even the most stubborn of kids have a window in which they’re eager to please before they go down the rabbit hole of terrible 2’s and 3’s.

This exactly.

I trained both my boys between 22 & 23 months using Oh Crap.

DS1 got it right away and had no accidents.
DS2 it took about 5 days I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it when they want to please you. Even the most stubborn of kids have a window in which they’re eager to please before they go down the rabbit hole of terrible 2’s and 3’s.

I get what you’re saying here (kids generally go through a phase of establishing independence that can definitely make potty training harder) but all kids want to please their parents, especially at 2 or 3. It can be hard for them to accomplish at that age because of the other challenges of the age. But it’s good to remember, even when training a 3 yr old, they desperately want to please you. Your praise is their favorite thing and they really take it to heart. They also notice when you are frustrated or angry, and they take that to heart, too. But no matter your child’s age, potty training will involve clearly exposing what you want them to do and then praising the heck out of them when they finally actually do it (and doing your best to hide your frustration when the dont).

[Anonymous]

All my kids were fully toilet trained over anywhere from a week to a weekend, anywhere from a month to four months before turning three years old.