When is it Time to Start Potty Training Your Child? Three Easy to Spot Signals
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Daniel Wiggs in Potty Training
The question on the lips of most parents as their children enter the toddler stage is simple: When is it time to start Potty Training? While there are many theories about how to potty train, there are less guidelines about when to do so. Most child psychology experts agree that the best time can be as individual as your own child. Every child develops at a different pace, but all children will start to exhibit certain signs that will indicate readiness for toilet training. Here are some of the ways that you can tell if your child is at the point in their development that they are ready to transition out of diapers.
One of the most essential components of readying your child for Potty Training is making sure that they are at a stage in their life where they are able to follow some basic instructions. When you tell you child to go get their shoes, or to pick up a toy, are they understanding you and following directions? If so, they are already showing the first sign of readiness. Of course, many toddlers can be stubborn and refuse to follow directions on occasion, but if your child is comprehending you and understands how to do what you instruct, that is a good first step.
Another way to tell that your child may be at the right developmental stage for Potty Training is their interest in the toilet. Does your child seem interested in the toilet, the toilet paper, and the act of flushing the toilet? If so, they are probably beginning to connect elimination and the toilet, so they are probably ready to begin sitting on the toilet themselves sometimes. This is especially true if your child sometimes approaches you to let you know that he has soiled his diaper. This is an indication that he is aware of his body and is capable of starting to exert the control that toilet training will require.
While every child may develop at their own unique rate, and Potty Training can occur at different times for everyone, the signs of readiness above are fairly common in most children. If your child appears to be ready to begin, you can start toilet training and allow your child to dictate his own pace of learning.
Potty training your child will be straightforward and stress free, providing you follow the tips in this article. Use these strategies and very soon you will see a happier, more confident child.
