Hi there,
With my first I started at 18 months just by putting the potty out and letting her play on it. I used to put her on it before and after a bath and then whenever I thought she would wee. She spent a lot of her time at home out of nappies. She was tt by 2 and night trained by 2.5.
dd2 I used the basics of EC. from when she was a newborn I would hold her over a potty or sink if I thought she was going to wee. She spent a lot of time out of nappies from when she was tiny. She started walking at 10 months so could get herself to the potty pretty early. We went overseas for 3 months when she was 15 months old, so we had a little setback as I had her in nappies a lot due to travelling and not having access to a toilet (or grass) for long periods of time. She ended up totally tt (day and night) by 2. I started using this method not so much to train them early (I think tt is a gradual process, not instant - like eating, speaking etc) but solely to save on washing nappies. Every wee I caught was one less nappy to wash! I did it as it suited me rather then leaving her nappy less all the time. I would also use a nappy if I was going to the shop or a long drive. Other people take a potty. I just didn't have the time and I was also trying to look after a 2 yr old. So it was all purely practical!
In regards to when is the best age to start..... it depends on your expectations. I think earlier the better, however I think a lot of the common methods are detrimental to use at this age. (eg rewards, bribes etc) I think starting early and making it normal, not making a big deal out of it is the way to go.
All the best!
