Best tips on raising babies and toddlers

Eight Signs That Your Child Is Ready for Potty Training

By Nicole T Spencer
Is your child ready for potty training?

Probably.

A child can be effectively potty trained as early as 18 months, though most parents make the mistake of waiting as late as three to 3 1/2 years, at least in this country.

The worldwide average for potty training is still 18 months, same as it was in America back in the 1940s. Perhaps it’s time to meet somewhere in the middle, with 18 months been slightly too early for many modern families in 3 1/2 years being late enough to invite more struggle the necessary.

There is no universal answer for when is the ideal time to start; it’s a question of if your child is ready. To find out, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Is my child able to stay dry for several hours at a time?

2) Does my child wake up dry from rest time?

3) Does my child have predictable bowel movements, with elimination occurring at around the same time each day?

4) Is my child able to tell me when he or she needs to use the restroom?

5) Can my child follow simple instructions such as, “it’s time to go to the bathroom. Follow me!”

6) Can my child get dressed in the morning and ready for bed themselves at night?

7) Does my child have simple words for the many things in his life, such as books, toys, and food?

Is my child combative?

Only you know your child best. If you can answer yes to the majority of these questions, it’s probably time to get started. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be for both you and your child. On the other hand getting started, maintaining your momentum, and seeing it through to the end can help you finish fast and without the frustration.

Make sure you celebrate all the small successes and encourage your child as often as possible. They want nothing more in the world to please you, and sometimes mistake the negative attention they’re receiving for the positive attention you’re longing to give.

Though you don’t want to rush into the toilet teaching process, you also don’t want to linger too long. Your hesitation can quickly become their hesitation, which can turn what would be an otherwise problem free potty training process into a series of disasters.

Get going, stick with it, and stay strong. You will have a happy, healthy, toilet trained toddler in no time!