Children start their potty training somewhere between one year and a half to 3 years of age. However, this is not a standard by which you should measure your child’s readiness to use the potty. Forcing your child to start his potty training because you feel that he’s too old to still be using diapers will only make it harder for him to understand why you’re pushing this on him.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CHILD IS READY TO GO POTTY
1. He feels icky when his diaper gets soiled. He wants you to take it off him right away and wash him immediately.
2. He doesn’t wet his diaper for long periods, at least two hours.
3. He’s starting to ask you about wearing regular underwear in place of his diapers.
4. He tells you that he wants to pee or poop even while he is wearing his diapers.
5. He’s skipped wetting the bed on occasions.
At other times, your child will be the one to tell you that he wants to go potty. However, even if you see these things in him but he still refuses to go anywhere near his potty, don’t force him to sit on it and order him to do his business there.
If he asks to use it but is not successful, tell him that it’s okay. Encourage him more instead of berating him for not reaching his potty on time. Potty training can be messy so don’t take this as a sign that you are failing in this area.
SUCCESSFUL POTTY TRAINING
To help you potty train your child and get good results, read books about potty training written by the experts.
1. It’s Potty Time by Rose L. Imbleau – This book has colorful illustrations that every child will find interesting and eye-catching. It has the basics of potty training.
2. Lift the Lid, Use the Potty! by Annie Ingle – Children will have fun learning to potty train with this book. It has flaps that you can lift and stickers that enhance potty learning.
3. I Want My Potty by Tony Ross – This is for the little princesses who want to learn how to use the potty. It’s a story that will appeal to every little girl who wants to stop using diapers and start using the potty.
OTHER TIPS
1. Praise your child for a job well done each time he tries to use the potty and is successful – even if he missed a little.
2. Praise him even more for trying really hard and doping his best to use the potty.
3. If he wants to stop learning to use the potty, let him off the hook. Don’t talk about his potty for awhile.
4. While you have introduced the potty to him and slowly guided him into using it, let him learn to use it at his own pace.
5. Have a reward system. Place a colorful reward board near his potty and put stickers on each successful potty use. You may heighten his excitement by placing specific rewards for each successful potty use.
