Most parents are familiar with the traditional advice that their child will likely be ready for potty training when they are some time between 18 months to 3 years old.
That is in line with the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which states that "between 18 and 24 months, children often start to show signs of being ready, but some children may not be ready until 30 months or older."
They may be surprised by the idea that you could try to potty train your baby when he is just 2, 3, or 4 months old. In fact, experts on infant potty training say that if you are considering this technique, you might be getting a late start if you don't begin by the time your baby is 6 months old.
Infant Potty Training
Also called 'elimination communication,' infant potty training is reportedly how children are potty trained in many non-Western cultures that do not rely on keeping their kids in diapers.
With infant potty training, you try to learn and anticipate when your baby will have to urinate or have a bowel movement and then have them go in a potty chair, the toilet, or outside. You also try to give your baby signals that he can associate with going on the potty.
Critics of infant potty training often say that it is not necessarily the baby that is being trained, but rather the parent, who learns her baby's signals and takes him to the potty. There is little to be critical of though, as long as you have patience and are willing to spend the time with your baby that it may take to complete infant potty training.
Books about Infant Potty Training:
If you are interested in infant potty training, one of these will likely be a good resource to help you learn what to do:
Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics. Toilet Training.
