When do you start Potty Training and how?

Well--let me say when they are ready is the best answer...but here is my second answer:

I just read this really good book on potty training and here are all of the notes that I took while I was reading it: I think what is so important as far as age to know about potty training is that not only does your child need to be ready—but you need to be ready to give up your flexibility of the diaper at all times when they need to go potty...Because once you commit to do the training, you cannot go back...I think I am also taking some of my cue this time around with the boy from Easton because he will sit all day long on the potty and he will go every time I want him to go without any sort of a fuss—he loves it! But, nothing ever comes out—so I consider it still playing until something comes out...
Elle said she wanted to use the big girl potty and she went in there and went—at 15 months...then we just supported her from there...Easton is going on 27 months and he won't go on the potty—so I am in a holding pattern until something happens on that potty—then we are full speed ahead...BUT—I loved everything this lady had to say about potty training—feel free to find her book: Potty Training Made Easy, Fast & Simple
Powerful Secrets, Tips, and Shortcuts
From My Work With More Than 317 Children (Including
My Own!)
By Johanne Cesar
www.thepottytrainer.com
Again, here are all of my notes from the book....
If it was nothing to get upset about when you changed your child’s diaper,
try to avoid being upset now that you’re potty training. Try to stay matter-offact,
pleasant, and calm while you change your child or help your child change
themselves.
Now take out a sheet of paper and write down your expectations. What do
you hope will happen during potty training? How can you, as a parent, make it
easier on your child? Here’s an exercise that will help you:
Picture yourself at your job. You have just made a mistake and your boss is
screaming at you. What is your reaction? You are probably saying to yourself,
“Dude, screaming at me is just not helping me make this situation any better
Decide now –will you say pee-pee or poo-poo? If you tell your son or
daughter, “Let’s go potty,” what does that mean? Are you doing No.1 or are
you doing No. 2? Be very specific! You don’t want to just pick a general word
like “potty.” Children need clarity because without it, they will make more
mistakes. So you might use “tinkle” for going No. 1, and “poop” for going No. 2.
Your child is a lot smarter than you think, and will quickly learn the difference
between No. 1 and No. 2, or the difference between “tinkle” and “pooping
First, desensitize your child. Go to the library and get some videos and
books on potty training. Start showing your child these videos and read the
books with him or her. You want to get your child accustomed to seeing other
children in the potty training process. Yes, you can start showing the videos or
even the books to your child as early as you wish. The books and the videos
help desensitize the child to the potty
The most important factor is getting your child used to being in the
bathroom. Here is an excellent trick for accomplishing this: 3 to 8 weeks
before formal potty training starts, hold story times in the bathroom. This will
help you not to be afraid of being in the bathroom.
You can also use this time to get your child used to the toilet. At first, let
your child sit on the potty chair as you’re reading the story. Then for a few
days, have your child sit on the potty chair with the chair open as you’re
reading the story. Finally, maybe you have the child sitting on the potty chair
with their pants down as they’re being told their story.
This would be a good time to get yourself a potty training chart and or
journal to familiarize yourself with the times your child usually goes potty
So really create some excitement. Make it a big celebration. Tell your child
how wonderful today is Remember the goal here is also to train you, the parent, to be vigilant –
just as much as we want to train your child to be potty trained. The easiest
way to do this is to get rid of the diapers.
Underwear can motivate children in another way. If they do have an
accident, explain that they have only 2 or 3 clean underwear left for the day.
That means if they make all their underwear dirty, they will have to wear a
diaper. Such a simple and excellent motivator for a child –most of them
simply don’t want to make their special underwear dirty
When the bell went off, it was almost like the 4th of July! Every 20
minutes it would sound, and everyone in the house would chant, “It’s potty
time!” That included not just mommy, but my older son who was 4 ½ years
old, my second son who was 3, and my husband. We would all start to sing the
“It’s potty time!” chant. Even though we want to get rid of diapers altogether, in the first week or so you want to make sure you put a diaper on your child when he or she is
sleeping, especially during nap time. It may take a few months before your
child can sleep without a diaper, so don’t be disappointed. I’ll cover nighttime
potty training more completely later in this book, but for now, keep some
diapers around for nap time and sleep time.