Potty training for toddlers involves a bit of consistency, patience and creativity for many parents. Potty training little girls may be quick or slow, depending on the child. Some girls may be potty trained in days, while others may take weeks or longer. While most children potty train at between 24 and 30 months, according to Lisa Julian of ParentingToddlers.com, others start earlier. Patience is the key to success, and watching for signs that your child is ready, such as telling you she has to go, telling you she wants to use the "big potty" or being able to pull her own pants up and down are just a few indications she may be ready to give potty training a go. Parents use different methods to potty train, which is fine, as long as children are never punished or placed under pressure.
Step 1
Pay attention to your child's urination habits for a clue to whether your 15-month old is ready to potty train. Some girls wearing cloth or disposable diapers may stand with their feet spread when they urinate, signaling the parent they're ready to go. Others may say things like "wet" or "pee" just before or after they go. In such cases, having a potty chair available will enhance potty training efforts. Little girls may be ready earlier or later than 15 months. Some little girls appear ready for potty training as early as 12 or 13 months, while the average is about 18 months to 2 years.
Step 2
If your 15-month-old has expressed words or gestures that she wants to try going by herself or gestures that she wants to use the potty like a big girl, purchase a potty training chair, and take her along to help pick one out. Place the potty chair in the bathroom to facilitate eventual transition from small to big potty. Make sure potty chairs are sturdy enough to support the child, whose feet should be able to reach flat on the floor.
Step 3
Purchase cotton training pants, which still allow absorption of urine, but not quite as much as offered by diapers. Cotton panties or training pants will saturate with urine, unlike disposable diapers, which hold in urine and keep dampness from the body. This will encourage the child to let you know immediately if she starts to go, giving both of you the opportunity to make it to the bathroom in time. Some 15-month-old girls are quite verbal if she needs to go, while others will signal with gestures, so you'll have to be aware of her habits and read her clues. If she has an accident, cotton panties will give you the chance to change her right away, while at the same time reinforcing the importance of her telling you or going to the bathroom on her own before she has an accident. Dr. Green of DrGreen.com suggests allowing the toddler to pick out her new potty training pants or regular panties, depending on parent preference, as doing so encourages excitement and cooperation in the potty training process.
Step 4
Take the child to the potty chair as soon as you recognize signs of her having to go. Some of the most common signs of a toddler having to go potty, according to the Mayo Clinic, include squirming, clasping the genital area and literally squatting down toward the floor. Let the child lower and raise her own pants and then praise her for telling you or getting to the potty before she had an accident.
Step 5
Encourage her to use the potty chair first thing in the morning after waking, and ask the child at regular intervals during the day if she has to go to the bathroom. Try to time your requests to before she's wet the diaper or training pants. Allow the child to sit for a few minutes, but don't let the child sit on the potty training chair for longer than a few minutes in order to encourage good toileting habits.
Step 6
Instruct your daughter to wipe, from front to back. You may want to repeat the process if you think it's necessary. Follow every potty session with a good hand washing. A 15-month-old will need your help in washing, so be ready to stand by and offer help.
Step 7
Consider rewarding the child with either verbal praise or with stickers or other incentives for her success. A 15-month-old little girl will be pleased with not only stickers, but an extra few minutes of story time or being rewarded in some other way. Find what works best for your child and be consistent with praise. Don't worry about accidents---they will happen, according to the Mayo Clinic---but continually encourage your child with positive reinforcement.
