Is it safe to potty train from birth?

From our experience of potty training our children from birth, then yes, it is safe, providing you support your child when they are on the potty.

The main thing to remember with potty training early or Elimination Communication is ensuring you and your child are safe, supported and not stressed.

Support, support, support

When putting a very young child on the potty you must ensure you:

• Support your child's head, neck and body

• Never leave your child unattended on the potty

• Safely put your child on and off the potty

• Don’t stress you or your child if they haven’t ‘gone’ on the potty

Ensuring you look after your child's wellbeing is important and if they haven't gone on the potty don't stress, they may just go later.

Easier to potty train slightly older babies

It is of course slightly easier to potty train babies who can sit up and support themselves. It is your decision whether you start early or not. You may feel comfortable potty training later, but you shouldn't feel pressured.

The Institute of Health Visiting say you should start potty training from 6-9 months so your child gets uses to being on the potty.

However, we started putting our children on the potty as soon as we got them home from hospital. Very young we know, but many other parents who practice Elimination Communication do so too.

Children used to be potty trained earlier

The age at when children are potty trained has got older over the years. Before the advent of disposable nappies, children were potty trained a lot earlier.

In some parts of the world namely South East Asia, children are out of nappies much sooner than children in the UK, the US and Europe.

The fact that children for 1000s of years have been potty trained at an earlier age can give you some comfort that it is safe to do so, providing you support your child.

Benefits of potty training from birth

Our blog, What are the benefits of potty training earlier? gives a comprehensive overview of the benefits, but there are many.

A major benefit is by starting early you get it into you and your child’s daily routine. If you start early, then the child won’t know any different. Going on the potty will be like them having breakfast, getting dressed just an everyday occurrence.

Remember it’s up to you

Don’t feel pressured to potty train early if you don’t feel it is appropriate for you and your child. Every child is different, some take to potty training quickly others take a little longer.

The key is not to stress about it. If it works for you and your child then great, if not then come back when they are older.

In our experience, it does work, even if there ups and downs. We are glad we potty trained early as it took the stress out of potty training.

For us, putting our child on the potty when they were very young was just normal. Yet other parents couldn’t believe we were doing it or that our children were actually using the potty.

At the end of the day whatever you decide, just ensure you do what is best for you and your child.