Potty Training Before Age 2

Our Early Success Journey

Before starting our potty training journey, I was sceptical about whether a child could truly be toilet-trained before age 2. Now, having successfully guided my Little One through the process, I’m excited to share our experience and the evidence-based approach that worked for us.

Our Early Beginnings with Elimination Communication

When my Little One was about 5 months old, I discovered elimination communication (EC) through Andrea Olson’s Go Diaper Free method. For those unfamiliar, EC is a practice where caregivers use timing, signals, and intuition to address an infant’s need to eliminate waste. Rather than relying solely on nappies, the caregiver tries to recognise and respond to a baby’s bodily needs by taking them to an appropriate place to wee or poo.

I was intrigued to learn that in 75 countries around the world, many babies use no nappies at all, and half the world’s babies are potty trained by 12 months of age. This was a revelation—what we consider “normal” potty training age in Western countries is actually quite late by global standards.

We started EC rather casually, implementing it when convenient—primarily after naps and first thing in the morning when elimination patterns were most predictable. I wasn’t aiming for perfection; I simply wanted to introduce my Little One to the concept that wees and poos belong in the potty.

First Milestone: Consistent Pooing in the Toilet

To my amazement, by 9.5 months old, my Little One was consistently using the toilet for poos. This wasn’t a fluke—research has shown that EC develops children’s ability to void their bladders more completely, which is generally associated with lower risk of bladder infection. I noticed she would make a specific facial expression and body language before needing to poo, giving me the opportunity to rush her to the toilet.

We would sit her on a toilet seat reducer, and I’d hold her securely whilst making a gentle “sss” sound—a cue that many EC practitioners use to associate the sound with elimination. Initially, we had some misses, but gradually she began to connect the feeling of needing to poo with sitting on the toilet.

Transitioning to Formal Potty Training at 18 Months

When my Little One turned 18 months (1.5 years), I decided to move from part-time EC to more structured potty training. This timing aligns with research suggesting that potty training before the age of two years helps children’s bladders mature more quickly. It may also make it less likely that children will develop bladder problems later in childhood.

I followed Go Diaper Free’s approach, which defines potty training as a “gentle, focused, one-time event that results in your toddler knowing when she needs to eliminate, communicating this need to her caregivers, and receiving assistance with the whole toileting process until potty independence is achieved”.

Our Potty Training Process

Here’s what our potty training journey looked like:

Preparation Phase

• We bought a small potty and placed it in our living room for easy access
• I gathered several potty-themed books to read during potty time
• We created simple songs about using the potty to make it fun
• I blocked off a full week where we could stay home to focus on training

The Training Week

• Days 1-3: These were challenging! We had many accidents as my Little One learned to recognise her body’s signals.
• Days 4-5: Improvements began, with some successful trips to the potty, though still requiring my reminders.
• Day 6: The magical “click” moment happened! My Little One suddenly understood the concept and began telling me when she needed to go.

What does “clicked” mean? It means she grasped the connection between the sensation of needing to wee and the action of using the potty. She started to take herself to the potty without prompting, which felt like a tremendous breakthrough.

Tools That Helped Us Succeed

Books and Songs

Children’s books about using the potty were tremendously helpful. We read them during potty sits and throughout the day to reinforce the concept. Simple songs with potty themes also made the experience more enjoyable and less intimidating.

Consistent Routines

We established clear potty routines—after waking, before and after meals, before leaving the house, and before bedtime. This consistency helped my Little One anticipate when potty breaks would occur.

Celebration and Encouragement

Rather than using sweets or stickers as rewards (which Go Diaper Free advises against), we celebrated successful potty use with enthusiastic praise, high-fives, and sometimes a special dance!

What the Research Says About Early Potty Training

While some people warned me about starting “too early,” I found reassurance in the research. Studies suggest that the concerns about early potty training causing psychological issues or voiding problems are unfounded in the available research. In fact, earlier potty training has been shown to develop good bladder coordination, reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections, and decrease bladder accidents.

The Bladder & Bowel UK guide notes that “there is some research that suggests that potty or toilet training before the age of two years old helps children’s bladders become mature more quickly. It may also make it less likely that children will develop bladder problems later in childhood”.

Overcoming Challenges

Our journey wasn’t without obstacles. We experienced:

• Resistance during certain developmental phases
• Accidents when my Little One was deeply engaged in play

During these challenging times, I reminded myself that learning any new skill involves setbacks. Rather than becoming frustrated, we simply returned to our consistent approach once the challenge had passed.

Final Thoughts

If I could share one piece of advice with other parents considering early potty training, it would be this: trust in your child’s capabilities. Western culture has gradually pushed potty training age later and later—in the UK, the toilet training age has increased by 32% between the 1950s and 2000s—but children are fully capable of learning much earlier with the right support.

My Little One is now confidently using the toilet for both wees and poos, and the sense of accomplishment is evident in her proud smile after each successful trip. She’s gained independence, bodily awareness, and confidence through this process—all before her second birthday.

Have you tried early potty training or elimination communication? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

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Citations:

Go Diaper Free (Andrea Olson’s official site and method): [https://godiaperfree.com]

Elimination Communication 101 – Go Diaper Free: [https://godiaperfree.com/elimination-communication/]

Potty Training 101 – Go Diaper Free: [https://godiaperfree.com/potty-training/]

Elimination Communication – Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication]

NHS guidance on toilet training: [https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/toilet-training]

ERIC (The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity) potty training guide: [https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/]

NHS Children’s Health toileting guide: [https://www.cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/peeing-pooing-and-toileting/a-guide-to-toileting/]

NHS “How to potty train”: [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/potty-training-and-bedwetting/how-to-potty-train/]