My 16 month old has really started to show interest in potty training lately. Someone had gotten her a potty chair when she turned 1 & we’ve always kept it somewhere she could access it very easily just in case she started showing interest. Recently I’ve moved it into the bathroom. She can still access it as long as she comes into the bathroom with me which 9 times out of 10 she does. I keep it on the lower shelf of a little wicker shelf where she can grab it herself & put it on the floor (she’s VERY independent). Well lately she’s been doing that & sitting on it herself. I’ve noticed for the past 2 weeks she’s waking up from her naps dry or will grab at her diaper if she’s soiled it.

Today she followed me into the bathroom. I have a tummy bug so I’ve been in & out of the bathroom more than usual today. Well she ended up grabbing her potty chair. I asked her if she needed to go potty. She absolutely DEMANDED that I pull down her pants. She was trying to do it herself. So I took her pants & her diaper off (which was dry - i had just changed her about 40 minutes before this) & she sat on her potty for about 5-10 seconds. Nothing. She got up & looked in her potty like “did I do it??” But as she stood up she started peeing & had an accident on the floor. She started crying immediately & came over to hug me.

I told her that it was okay, that it was an accident & that she was in no way, shape or form in trouble. She calmed down after a few seconds. I got a diaper on her & helped her put her potty chair away.

Most articles I’ve read say that children aren’t physically or emotionally ready until like 18 months. Should I just go for it????