When to Start Potty Training ?

Question

how do you know when your childs ready to start potty training ?

Answer 1

when your child is able to tell you they are wet, or if they start bringing you a diaper to change them, then you should begin potty training.

Some people think a specific age is appropriate, but it really has more to do with the child's level of understanding that they need to go to the bathroom BEFORE the wetting occurs.

Also, they should be able to speak plainly enough to tell you they need to go.

if you think it is about time, get a junior sized potty and let your child sit on it FULLY CLOTHED just to get used to it.
then, begin with a quick attempt right after getting up in the morning and following meal times.

Should your child have "success" , praise them and offer them some sort of minor reward (stickers, M&M's, or other treat).

After charting the progress, give them some big boy/big girl underwear that is fancy (like cartoon characters or wild colors)

Be patient, remember there WILL be setbacks and accidents and above all, remind them that they are doing well and that you love them even if they have an accident.

Good luck!

Answer 2

after a year old then children tend to only poo about once a day. At the age of about 18 months and when u are home all day together, let her run around with knickers on and constantly place her on the toilet telling her good girl/boy and also when u need the toilet then let her see u do it too and congratulate yourself too and she will find that exciting and will pick it up in the end.
Some children take longer then others so don't panic but generally doing it for about 2-3 days all together is fine.

whatever u do don't shut if she has an accident and does it on the floor, say oops and then place it and her on the toilet.
Good luck!

Answer 3

It's how YOU approach potty training that brings fast results. I potty trained my child in less than a week with this method http://pottytraining.toptips.org

Answer 4

No set time. Each child is likely to be different and will tell you when their nappy is wet/full. Our eldest took about a week and was sorted but our 2 year old, doesn't mins sitting on it just doesn't want to do anything. Luckily the weather is on the up so will get to be in the garden wearing pants and will get to know it doesn't feel good and more likely to want to copy daddy and his brother.

Answer 5

Don't know if you have boy or girl but apparently girls train earlier. Apparently girls develop the ability to know in advance that they need to go to the toilet earlier than boys.......well so i was told anyway.

i have 2 boys and my first one was about 2 and my 2nd was about 18 months. We just started putting them in undies and they soon learnt that they didn't like wet undies so worked out what to do. Summer is probably a good time cause they spend more time outside so don't make a mess in the house.
Hope this helps

Answer 6

After their second birthday is a good time because they have a better understanding and can speak and tell you when they feel the need to go.

Answer 7

some signs are - pooing always at the same time
becoming fussy about dirt in general -
having control of their poo and pee muscles

Answer 8

Potty training
While most toddlers become physically able to learn to use a potty or the toilet between 18 months and 3 years, not all of them will be psychologically ready for potty training.

Most people start toilet training their children at about 2 years old - the summer when they're two is most popular, because they wear fewer clothes anyway. How successful this is depends on the child's physical development - some (especially boys, who tend to be slower than girls in this respect) can't yet tell when their bladder or bowel is full or can't hold it for any time. When children are regularly dry after a nap or for at least 2 hours, and produce large amounts at a time, then they're probably ready on this count.

Also children need to be coordinated and capable enough to get to the bathroom or potty, pull their clothing down when they get there, and to get on and off the potty or toilet seat.

Co-operation is just as important. If a child isn't bothered by wearing a dirty nappy and dislikes the idea of sitting on the potty or toilet, then she simply won't want to be toilet trained and, if you insist, the ensuing battle will be painful and unpleasant for both of you. Have patience, and put off the training for a month or two. She's just not ready yet. Give her time and she'll realise for themselves that she's far more mobile, comfortable and adult once she can get rid of the nappies. Being around older children helps a great deal - toddlers are great imitators, and want to do what they see big boys and girls doing.

Physical readiness: signs include your child having a distinctive facial expression or posture or telling you that he's about to wee or poo, staying dry for at least two hours at a time, and having regular bowel movements.

Psychological readiness: he is able and willing to follow simple instructions, uncomfortable in dirty nappies and wants them changed, knows and tells you when he has a full bladder or bowel, asks to use the potty or toilet, or wants to wear proper underwear.

Tips
You'll probably find it easier to start with a potty rather than putting her straight onto the toilet - a potty is less alarming for little ones, who can be afraid of falling down the hole, being flushed away or simply of the noise it makes.

Aim for daytime dryness first - holding it in overnight comes later.

Many boys learn to wee sitting down first - once he's got the trick of that he can go on to aiming.

Things to avoid
Don't start when things are restless or stressful (a move, a new baby, just starting nursery, etc), don't push or nag your child, and don't punish her (accidents and mistakes should be taken lightly and the child reassured that everyone makes mistakes and they can do better next time). Go at her pace, encourage and praise their successes.

Even when he starts to use the potty, it is normal for him to have accidents and to sometimes relapse or refuse to use the potty. It's a complicated process for a small child; he has to realise that he wants to go, get to the bathroom or potty in time, pull down his pants, use the potty and dress himself again afterwards. Most children take up to three to six months, and some longer. Occasional accidents or refusals to use the potty are normal and shouldn't be considered as "resistance". He may be concentrating on something else, or the whole process may seem a bit daunting today - we all have days like that!

Resistance
Even though you shouldn't insist that she sits on the potty, and you should delay training if she resists, if she's persistently uninterested or uncooperative you need to change tactics.

If he is up to about 3½ years old, just forget about potty-training for a month or so and then try again. Children of 3 and under usually resist simply because they aren't ready yet.

If she's older than this, she may have had a bad experience during earlier training, especially if it was started before she was ready. Or it may be part of her character; some children, like some adults, are suspicious of new things and don't want to risk doing something wrong.

Some possible reasons for resistance to potty training:

afraid to sit on the potty - insecure, loss of balance
afraid to sit on the toilet - falling in, being flushed away
pushed too early or too fast, before he was ready
she's been punished for not using the potty or been forced to sit on the potty
inconsistency from adults - especially if he has a number of different caregivers
some children enjoy the negative attention they get by not using the potty or by having accidents
she's afraid of having a painful poo - especially if she's been constipated. Treat the constipation and halt the training until she's having regular, soft bowel movements again. Constipation can be a serious problem in toilet training - children who are afraid of being punished for pooing or who are determined to hold on to their poo can give themselves very severe constipation, which then makes things worse by making it painful to pass, which means they don't want to poo at all because it hurts which of course increases the constipation and leaves them in a very painful and upsetting cycle. The impaction this causes can be bad enough to need medical attention
there are some rare medical conditions that make it difficult for children to hold on to wee or poo. This should be discussed with your GP or paediatrician, especially if your child seems to be developing slowly in other ways.
If your child is still totally resistant to potty training, then let him choose when he wants to use the toilet. Don't punish him for mistakes, and don't remind him to use the potty. If he seems afraid of using the potty, try and have a calm discussion to find out what it is that scares him.

This softly-softly approach can lead to criticism from friends or family members, who may think you should be more aggressive about potty-training your child. Be firm. Remind them that not all children potty train at the same time or speed and assure them you're working on it.

Other tips

have a system of rewards for potty use. Give her lots of praise and attention when she uses the potty. You could also have a star or reward chart for your child to add stickers to whenever she uses the potty. A certain number of stickers earns a reward, a small toy, a treat etc
involve the child in changing his own dirty nappies. This can include getting a clean nappy, taking the dirty one off, cleaning himself (with help if necessary), and disposing of the dirty nappy
limit pooing to the bathroom. Not always possible, but some children who aren't comfortable with the potty or the toilet will ask for a nappy just to poo in. So have them sit on the potty to poo, even if they're doing it in a nappy. Gradually get them to poo in an open nappy, and eventually take it off. Lots of praise and rewards for each step
a regular routine of sitting on the potty for five or ten minutes every few hours a day may help if she is having a hard time learning to use the potty, but isn't resistant
going nuclear - put him into normal underwear. Have a talk about it beforehand and maybe a ceremony to throw away all remaining nappies. Now, if he wees or poos himself, he helps to wash his underwear in the sink or bath. Or he puts it in the washing machine and waits with you while it's washed and dried. He should then put on his own clothes. He can also clean up any mess on the floor. This method is not for everyone, particularly not if you've just had new carpets laid, but I'm told it's usually very effective. Caveat emptor.
Most important, never punish children for not using the potty. You can tell them, if you must, that you disapprove of them not using the potty, but you should not yell at them, nag them, or shame them.

There's a list of things that have worked for other parents here.

For the nursery
Let teachers know what stage your child is at, and which words they use ("wee and poo", "number 1 and number 2", "going to the bathroom/toilet/lavatory")

Books/videos
If you feel they're necessary. Normally children will mimic what they see adults and older children doing, so it's better to let them into the bathroom when others are on the toilet.

There are plenty of books on potty-training aimed at both adults and children, and they may provide good models or make it less awkward for parents who are embarrassed or unsure how to deal with the subject.

You can browse the Amazon category here; the reviews from other parents may help.

Other aids
Toddler toilet seats (and steps) are very useful. They make the child feel much more secure and independent while practising.

There are plenty of people happy to sell you all kinds of products, from targets for little boys to practice weeing standing up on (but you can drop cornflakes or confetti into the bowl for him to sink instead) to musical and colour changing potties. None of these is essential, but if they make toilet training quicker, easier or more fun, why not?