When to start potty training
Most parents start thinking about potty training when their child is around 24 months old, but there's no perfect time. Do it over a period of time when there are no great disruptions or changes to your child's or your family's routine.
Children are able to control their bladder and bowels when they're physically ready and when they want to be dry and clean. Every child is different, so it's best not to compare your child with others.
It usually takes a little longer to learn to stay dry throughout the night. Although most children are dry by the ages of three and five.
Signs that your child is ready for potty training:
Physical signs:
Your child is coordinated enough to walk, and even run, steadily.
They urinate a fair amount at one time.
They have regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times.
Has "dry" periods of at least two hours or during naps, which shows that thier bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine.
Behavioral signs:
Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes.
Can pull thier own pants up and down.
Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty nappy.
Shows interest in watching you go to the toilet.
Gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you
Shows you that they can be independant.
Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet.
Cognitive signs:
Understands the physical signals that mean he has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until he has time to get to the potty.
Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy."
Ways to help and encourage your child to go on the potty:
A good first step is to buy a potty; put it in the bathroom or somewhere easily accessible and tell your child what it is for. Suggest your child sits on it to see what it's like. Be prepared to demonstrate this yourself!
Make sitting on the potty a part of your child's daily routine, perhaps when dressing in the morning and before the evening bath. Don't expect your child to sit there for long at first your child may only stay there for a very short time - you are simply getting your child used to the potty.
Start encouraging your child to let you know when they are passing urine or having a bowel motion - and give lots of praise when your child tells you what they are doing. Awareness that a wee or poo has happened is important, and comes before awareness of the need to go. You may choose to potty train in the summer when your child can run around without nappies.
If your child has a regular time for opening their bowels; perhaps after breakfast, try to ‘catch it' by sitting your child on the potty at that time. If and when you do ‘catch' something show your pleasure and approval
It helps to remember that you can't force your child to use a potty. If they're not ready, you won't be able to make them use it. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is to encourage the behaviour you want.
