Potty training is a time honored tradition which occurs in the lives of all children and parents. The question is when does potty training begin? Every parent wants to get rid of the diapers but unfortunately nature leaves everything up to the child. For the parent, the number one characteristic required if you want your child to be potty trained is patience.

Nothing will rile up a parent more than this time period of a child’s life. What every parent wants to know is when the child is ready for potty training - and there is no real firm answer. In general, most children are ready around the ages of 2-2.5 years. However, some may even take a little longer. There are some parents who want to start potty training much earlier, but if the child is not ready the process can take a long time. The biological clock for the child is the determining factor not what the parent wants. Remember you can take a horse to water……but……

For the parent, the first thing to do before potty training is not to listen to other parents. Every parent will brag about how early their child was potty trained and make you feel bad. It is the very rare child who learns to potty train before the age of 1. All these stories about potty training before 1 year are simply that- tales.

The child has to be both emotionally and physically ready before potty training can begin. If a child can’t even stand up and walk, you can forget about training. The age of the child is irrelevant. If the child is handicapped or has physical problems, then of course potty training will take longer

How does one know when the child is ready? Some of the following may be a clue:

  • Most children will naturally show some interest in potty training by the age of 2-3

  • If your child refuses to wear a diaper and want to wear undies he/she may be showing signs of going potty

  • Does your child follow basic commands like sit, push?

  • Does your child speak any words? Generally children who can’t speak any words are not ready for potty. Over the years we have observed that the ability to speak and go potty occur at the same time

  • Does your child have regular bowel movement? This is very important. Many parents simply push the children too early and make their child sit on the potty for hours when there is no urge. This is seen as a punishment by the child and the potty training is further delayed

  • Does your child ever watch you go potty or ask questions?

  • Can your child put on his/her pants?

While these are not the ultimate factors that determine if your child is ready for potty training, but in general, if the answer is yes, your child is ready to be trained. At this point a few weeks of training and he/she will be weaned of diapers. If the answer to these questions are no, you have to wait. Any premature decision to rush a child to go potty will only result in agony, bitterness and annoyance on both your parts.

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