Potty training. Something that I admit has been pretty easy with all of my kids, and we are well on our way to being completely potty trained with my youngest, who turned 2 in June. I am surprised at how well he is doing and how quickly he caught on. Looking back, though, I think the key with all three of my kids was waiting until they were ready. For the most part, they all exhibited the same signs and behaviors, even though they all potty trained at different ages.

They say that boys are harder to train than girls, but out of my three kids, my son is training the earliest, so I am not sure if I agree with that. So how do you know if your child is ready? What are the signs?

Most experts say children are ready for potty training between the ages of 2 and 3, but according to the Mayo Clinic, potty readiness is more of a physical readiness than an age, and starting before they are physically ready may only result in longer potty training. Some signs to look for to determine readiness are (according to the Mayo Clinic):

Does your child seem interested in the potty chair or toilet, or in wearing underwear?
Can your child understand and follow basic directions?
Can your child ask simple questions?
Does your child stay dry for periods of two hours or longer during the day? Does he or she wake from naps dry?
Does your child have fairly predictable bowel movements?
Does your child tell you when he or she needs to potty or poop?
Is your child uncomfortable in wet or dirty diapers?
Can your child pull down his or her pants and pull them up again?

If your child exhibits some or all of these signs, you may be ready to begin potty training. Many people begin by putting the potty in the room the child plays in most often. Encourage him or her to sit on it (either with or without a diaper).

When your child is ready, move the potty to the bathroom and when he/she is ready, sit them on the potty without a diaper. Schedule regular bathroom trips and offer praise for sitting there. You may have many unsuccessful trips to the bathroom before having success, but that’s OK. Be patient and consistent and praise them for sitting there and trying.

Be ready to get to the potty FAST. As soon as you see your child hide behind the chair, grunt, or make strange faces, get to the bathroom.

Use incentives. Praise and positive reinforcement is so important. After my son pees or poops on the potty, everyone in the house starts clapping and wooting. He loves it. Some children respond to stickers or sticker charts. It’s OK to use something to motivate your child.

Make sure all of your child’s caregivers follow a similar potty routine that you do. Both sets of grandparents have potty chairs at their house for Christopher to use when he is there, and we try to keep the same routine. Consistency is the key.

Above all else, remember accidents are unavoidable. They will happen, and when they do:

Remain calm. You may say something like, ” You didn’t get there in time this time, but next time you will get there sooner.”

Offer reminders, especially when they are playing. Often children will become absorbed in what they are doing, and always be prepared with changes of clothing and absorbant underwear.

Keep at it and don’t get discouraged. Before you know it, diapers will be a thing of the past.

Posted by Mally