Mason Burstow fired two first-half goals as Bolton piled more pressure on Peterborough, who continued their worst start to a season in more than half a century.
Posh have never won in Bolton and the writing was on the wall for another fruitless visit when Burstow turned home a cross from Cyrus Christie after five minutes.
The Hull loanee then produced another impressive finish for the second goal on 21 minutes after combining with Amario Cozier-Duberry.
Bolton were cruising at that stage but inexplicably allowed their opponents back into the game and after Teddy Sharman-Lowe had made one save from Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Posh skipper Peter Kioso stroked home Harry Leonard’s cross to give his side some hope.
The home side should have built on their lead in a one-sided second half, Xavier Simons coming closest with a looping shot which bounced off the crossbar.
Cozier-Duberry and Ibrahim Cissoko also went close, with Posh never looking likely to get level in what is their worst opening to a campaign since 1972.
