Many people don't start thinking about potty training until their child is 2.  You do not have to wait that long. 

When my daughter was younger, I remember reading about "elimination communication" and infant potty training.  I thought it sounded a little ludicrous. My daughter had been fully trained day and night by 16 months old, and I thought that was very young. I couldn't imagine having an infant using the potty but had heard it was possible. 

I, unintentionally, started doing this with my son when he was only a couple months old.  After getting "sprayed" by my newborn son many times on the changing table, I began to learn what to look for when uncovering the diaper. I learned EXACTLY what my son looked like in the seconds before drenching me! At first, I mastered removing the other diaper and cover him up with a new one at lightening speed. I often waited a few seconds after doing so and then changed that new diaper.  It seemed ridiculous that I was often waiting for him to wet the new diaper and going through 2 diapers in one changing. My daughter has a baby bjorn- a very tiny potty that we keep in the van for emergencies- and I decided to bring it inside.  If I knew he was about to wet, why not hold him over that little potty? Well, I did, and sure enough he went.  I wasn't surprised but thankful that it went somewhere other than on my shirt- and saved a diaper in the process!

We began to do this at every diaper change and he almost always went without fail.  The same day I started putting him on the potty, he strained and grunted and pooped in the potty as well! Now THIS surprised me.  However, it made sense because sitting up was an easier position for him to go in. He is currently 5 months old and this has become a habit for us.  I put him on the potty first thing in the morning, after naps and often during diaper changes.  I haven't changed a poopy diaper in a month or so and he often will fuss when he needs to go.  He will go if I hold him over public toilets as well.  I have read that if you make a "sssssss" sound while holding them over the potty, this will stimulate them to go and eventually they will go whenever hearing that sound, though this hasn't really been necessary for us.  If you are a stay at home mom or have the time, give it a try! It will save a few diapers at least and maybe make potty training come easier and earlier in the long run!

 

 





Editor's Note: If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy this one: Elimination Communication