How do you know when it is time to start potty training?

Answer 1

Hi
you might find it odd getting an answer from a man but I have had three kids an ben active in their development. All my kids were sat on a potty as soon as they were old enough to sit up unaided. This gets them used to the thing and even if they don't do anything whilst sat there I gave them lots of praise anyway. It became a ritual almost. In the morning and before bathtime sit them on the potty and read them a story or similar. Eventually they will do a wee or the other because of the position they are sat in. When this happens lavish praise on them and tell them how clever they are....it's amazing how quickly they catch on. Mine were 3 months when this process was started and they potty trained by 6 months and using a toilet almost as soon as they were walking.
Give it a go but buy the smallest potty you can find to start off with.

Good Luck
Hugh

Answer 2

Well it's best to start around two years old anyway!
If your rugrat is telling you he/she needs his nappy changed thats always a good sign, i.e. taking the nappy off or saying "wee wee" when he/she has done jobs. This means they understand what they are doing and will get the concept of the potty very quickly.

My little rugrat started taking his nappy off when he had done a wee at about 18 months, so I got the potty out and just said to do wee's in there, I wasn't strict about it (as I thought it was still quite early), when he got cheers & claps for doing his business in his potty he was very impressed with himself, and from then on he was a potty genious!!!
I've heard that if you start them too young then you could be setting yourself up for lots of accidents & bed wetting later on. So unless you feel they are ready don't start till after their 2nd birthday.

Good luck and don't forget the praise!

Big Smiles

x

Answer 3

I read somewhere that the child needs to be able to walk up and down stairs normally, as an indicator that they have the muscle control needed to hold their bladder, in time to get to the potty. Before that, it is a good idea to get them sitting on the potty anyway, so that they are not frightened of it. We had problems with my DD, but we started early with my DS (17 months) - he sits on it, and looks at a book or a toy at the same time.

Answer 4

When your child starts to become interested in using the toilet or potty! It's no good trying to get them going too soon as they will do it all in their own time. Try getting a couple of books about it (there is a Little Princess book called 'I want my potty' which is lovely) and do some reading together. Get a potty and leave it lying round, perhaps your child's teddies or dollies might like to try having a wee in it first! Above all, take your time and praise them to the rafters when they get it right. Good luck!

Answer 5

Baby will tell you when s/he is ready - make sure potty is out at all times esp. during nappy change time, so they associate the two! Make a game of it - if you push baby too much to use potty you might find in months to come that s/he might take a backward step!

Answer 6

When your child starts to fight you when you try to put a diaper on them. About this time they are fed up with the constant changings and will work well on potty so they can be independent. I suggest you start out when when they wake up you try to put them on the potty RIGHT AWAY. Most children pee as soon as they wake up. Praise well. The bigger bang you make out of it the more they like it and will want to hear the praises again. (we made up a special dance and song) Then start with right before naps and bedtime and even after naps. Start there and see how your child reacts. Try not to push, it only discourages them.

Answer 7

when they are about 2-3,they show signs,
they tell you when they are weeing or pooing,better still they tell you before they do it,a dry night nappy is a good sign-or periods of dryness during the day when they previously would have been wet-they are practising!,
interest in your own times to use the loo,
some start to hate their nappy,many taking theirs off-
then they become aware when nappy is off of exactly what they are doing,and if they show that they can hold it a bit or with your prompts use the loo or potty successfully a few times then it is time!

Answer 8

when tey can walk, they pull their diper off because of the discomfort of the wetness, and they understand you well enough to know what a potty is. my daughter sat on the potty everytime i sat on the potty, i would fill her up with water and drink alot myself so we both had to pee all day long and one day she finally went, i also had a potty in the livingroom to prevent accidents. when she did potty i cheered really loud and gave her her favorite treat!

Answer 9

i think 2 but whenever baby is readyget them used to seeing you use the toilet or your partener if hes a boy and remember not all kids like the potty cos they dont see you use it my eldest son was being difficult about using the potty til i realised its the toilet he wanted to use

Answer 10

Opinions vary. Usually it's a good idea to start introducing the idea by about a year and a half. Two is a typical age to start. Your child's doctor is a good person to ask, since s/he knows you and your child and can answer the question more accurately.