ideal time to T train, 18 months??

Mini Cookie

Wed, Jul 22 2009, 10:43 pm

So I'm going crazy trying to train DD 2.9 years old & I was shocked to read this chapter in Dr. Susan Schulman's new book "Understanding your child's health".

She writes that though most psychologists write that it's best to wait till the child is ready she disagrees. She claims an older child is more likely to feel afraid & become resistent to the whole concept & that is why so many people are finding more challenging to toilet train nowadays. It's safer to impliment it into your child's routine before the child has a mind of their own.

Confused

queen

Wed, Jul 22 2009, 10:54 pm

I can only speak from experience with our kids. Both girls started going to the bathroom doing both things from at least 18 months.

With my oldest, I had her trained by 2.5, but not perfect... wearing underwear for a month. She would have small accidents, but I was so proud- she was out of diapers. Her summer camp last year after one or two wet accidents asked that I send her in pull ups. I was not happy as pull-ups to me are diapers. I agreed to their request as I didn't have much of an option- but we then digressed back to square one. No underwear. No going to bathrooms. Full time diapers again. I was not happy. It took another 9 months until we began to be ready to use the bathroom again.

At 3.5, she basically trained perfectly overnight. No accidents and a pleasure.

Lesson learned::::: DON'T PUSH IT. Encourage when child wants, but I don't initiate for my younger daughter (currently age 2). She goes to the bathroom at times, but is in full time diapers. I'd much rather wait, and have an easy transition than having to be on top of daughter that she goes every hour and worry about accidents.

baschabad

Thu, Jul 23 2009, 12:32 am

Perhaps she means that at a younger age children could be more receptive to something presented as a new and exciting game as opposed to when they are older and have been exposed to the pressure of growing up! I could see how it could potentially be beneficial to begin toilet training activities (in a fun and pressure-free manner) at 18 months.