Hi all, my dd has just turned 4 months and I was told by a few ppl that I could start potty training her by seating her on the potty - this way she would be trained by the time she is 6 months of age! I was under the impression we shouldn't start until they're ready - and I don't think she would be quite ready yet! Does anyone have an opinion on this? How soon would you start potty training?

what the!!!!

Sorry but who told you that i have never heard of anything so crazy!!!!!

From what i have read children can't be potty trained till they are at least 18 months of age i can't remember the excat reason why but i think it is something biological, sorry but who told you that?

Hi - be prepared for lots of different opinions on this one!!!

My son is 7 months old and I'm about to start introducing the potty to him. The 'advice' you'll probably be given is to wait until the child understands the urges and can communicate their needs to you (2-3 years of age), but my family has always done it much earlier without any problem. (I'm not sure whether your daughter will be trained by 6 months though!)

My sister was the most recent member to go through potty training, and she had a potty with a tray attached to it. As soon as her kids could sit by themselves (usually around 6 months), she would sit them on the potty at times they usually did a poo and either give them toys to play with (on the tray) or fed them. As soon as they did a poo, she praised them and took them off. There wasn't much drama involved and it wasn't scary as the kids were so young they didn't know any different.

She did this for quite a few months and then when they could walk she would watch for signs and take them to the potty when she knew they needed to go. They soon learned that they sat on the potty when they did a poo.

Whenever they were at home they would be only in training pants rather than nappies, so as soon as they were wet they knew about it and didn't like it. Whenever they went out or to bed they wore a nappy.

Her daughter was fully trained at about 18 months (overnight as well) and her son a bit closer to 2. As it was such a gradual process, there were no struggles or regression other than the occasional pant-wetting when they couldn't get to a toilet fast enough.

In my opinion, the later you leave it the harder it is for the child to learn because they've been allowed to go to the toilet in their nappy for so long and then suddenly it's not OK. Then again, I haven't trained my son yet, so I may think differently later!!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. It really is an individual choice.

That is so wrong. i spoke to my clinic sister about this when my 7 yr old was born. It's perfectly natural for a young baby to go straight after feeding as their bladders aren't "trained" yet.
I found my kids wanted to learn about 2 yrs of age. Mitch was just over 2 and briana was nearly 3