Potty Training- Where to Start?

Posted on 04 Apr 2019 by Elissa Sungar

The pressure to get your child potty trained is at an all time high. More and more day care centers and preschools are requiring children to be potty trained before they may attend. Getting a child successfully potty trained, however, is more difficult than someone deciding it’s time for your child to get out of diapers. When do we start? What method is best? Should my child already be potty trained? There are so many questions, concerns and ideas that go into successful potty training… where to start?

 Potty training is incredibly individualized, and each child might have completely different experiences. For some, it will be quick and easy. Others, though, might require lots of time, try your patience and have many accidents. Be prepared for either scenario!

Potty training often occurs somewhere between 18 months and 3 years old for most children. A little before or after is no big deal! What’s helpful to remember is that for your child to have success, certain skills and development need to occur before potty training can begin. Here is checklist we have put together from multiple resources that can help you decide if your child (and you) are ready to begin the potty training adventure!

 Physical:

·      Can walk by themselves to toilet and undress on their own

·       Has regular bowel movements

·      Diapers remain dry for at least 2 hours at a time; their bladder now has more

       muscle development to hold urine

Behavioral:

·      Uncomfortable with dirty diapers and asks adult to be changed

·      Shows interest in others using the bathroom

·       Embraces learning to use the toilet

·      Shows signs of independence

Psychological /Cognitive:

·     Aware of what having to go to the bathroom feels like

·      Uses proper words for urine and stool

·       Follow simple instructions… “walk to the bathroom”

 These are just guidelines of some of the skills and developments that often take place before successful potty training occurs. Whether you can “check” all or none of the above, it is ultimately your decision about when to begin potty training and how to go about it. We are always here at www.ifnotyouwho.org to answer any of your questions. Thanks for stopping by!