Ask Our Expert - Potty Training in a 22 Month Old Showing Signs of Readiness

October 14, 2008

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Ask Dr. Jana Potty Training in a 22 Month Old Showing Signs of Readiness

QUESTION


My daughter is 22 months old. At what age should I try to start potty training her? She actually tells me "pee-pee" or "poo-poo" when she has something in her diaper. — Rhonda (location unknown)

ANSWER	May 28, 2000


Your daughter is taking a necessary step towards toilet training, since awareness of having urinated or had a bowel movement is a key initial step in the process. This is a good time to start potty training in the sense that you should be encouraging and praising your daughter for using words to describe what she feels, letting her participate in the process of getting out wipes and a clean diaper, and disposing of the soiled/wet diaper. Follow your daughter's lead in terms of pursuing toilet training any further, since many toddlers your daughter's age take quite a while to demonstrate the next steps necessary for true potty training. These include control, interest, and the actual physical ability to put their urine and BMs in the toilet. While you should let your daughter see you using the toilet, make a potty seat available for her to use, and continue to teach her about what's involved with potty training, you should not (and can not) force her to be interested. — by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.

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