When to Start Potty Training

The following advice on potty training is to help you figure out at what age you should start potty training your child. It can be counter productive to introduce your child to the potty training too early, likewise if you wait too long then bad habits will set in and they will be difficult to break.

Your child should naturally express an interest in wanting to learn how to use the potty and toilet on their own. They will start to tell you when they want to go or more when they have already gone in their pants or diapers. They will express irritation at having dirty diapers. They will start to imitate family members when they do use the potty, they will also be able to go for up to 2 hours without wetting themselves.

Once the child has shown that they are ready to start potty training then you should introduce them to the potty. Choose a comfortable and practical model (there are hundreds to choose from) that is easy for the child to use and easy for you to clean. If you are having trouble deciding then your child might be able to help you make the choice if you can take them to the store with you.

There are potty training DVDs and potty training videos which are aimed at the child, introducing them to the concept of using the potty. Also there are bedtime stories that can be used, just to get the child used to the concept of the potty. Then you should show your child the steps involved in using the potty. You should choose a routine and stick rigidly to it making sure that you do not vary from that routine each time the child needs to use the potty. The steps involved are:

• Taking down of the underwear
• Sitting down on the potty
• Letting go (going to the bathroom)
• Cleaning up (wiping themselves)
• Flushing
• Washing their hands

If you have time and are at home then to speed the training process up a little then you might want to give your child a little more liquids to drink so they will need to use the potty more frequently and give you a chance to make a fuss of them when they ask or when the actually use the potty.
You can try taking the child to the potty every half an hour or so...  Make a game out of it.. have a race, make a big fuss of them. Sit and read together if they do not want to go at first, let water run in the wash basin for inspiration.

At what age you should start potty training? Get advice on potty training with our free 5 day email course on potty training.

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