When to Potty Train
When and how should I start toilet training? This is a question that all parents ask themselves at one point or another. How do you know they are ready? How do I enforce it? Am I ready for all that extra work? These questions will undoubtedly follow…
Believe it or not, toilet training is a fairly straightforward process though. Some toddlers pick it up in a few days, but mastering the habit is more likely to take a few months. The key is waiting until your child seems ready to begin to learn about the potty. Be patient. Don’t consider potty training a matter of ’success’ or ‘failure,’ and do recognize the project as your child’s alone. You should not feel overly proud or especially disappointed in your child’s potty progress. Instead, see it as a separate endeavour that your child is embarking on. Avoid getting your sense of confidence as a parent wrapped up in how soon your child chooses to use the potty.
Although each child is different, a good recommendation is not to start before the age of 2. Before that age, most children’s bladders empty so often that it’s too difficult for them to control and because they’re not tuned in to having to ‘go,’ it’s useless to begin teaching them. The key: wait for your child to demonstrate ‘readiness’ first.
A child is ready to be potty trained if you can answer yes to any of these questions.
- When your toddler needs to use the bathroom, does he/she recognize or indicate the need to go?
- Does your child complain to be changed if they are in a wet or dirty diaper?
- Does your child show any interest in the toilet bowl?
- Can your child undress herself and pull elastic waist pants up and down?
- After a nap, is your child’s diaper dry?
