Ask Kat: Potty Training at 18 Months

As the mum of three small boys, an expert in baby products and a no-nonsense parent, resident blogger Kat Armstrong always seems to be called upon by friends, family and strangers to answer tough parenting questions. We thought it was high time she shared this knowledge with you, and her series Ask Kat was born. If you have questions for Kat, you can email her at askkat@ohbabymagazine.com.

Dear Kat,

My 18 month old doesn’t seem ready to potty train but I have heard so many people who say their babes were already trained at this age! How can I prepare my baby to get onto the potty?

Marcus, Toronto

Marcus,

Woah, papa slow down! While there are some cases of very small toddlers who have successfully potty trained, most kids aren’t physiologically ready until around age 3. If your toddler is showing signs of interest, asks to sit on a potty or tries to use the toilet without prompting, then they are ready. Otherwise, don’t fret or push it, it may cause too much stress in future.