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When Should I Start Potty Training?

It is important to know that there is not a specific age that all children should be potty trained by. All kids are ready at different times and sometimes children take a little longer than others to master it. For parents of little boys, they tend to be ready at a later age and it can take them longer to develop the skills (while sometimes it can be difficult, try your best to not compare to others). Rather than use a specific age as an indicator, you should look for signs to see when your child is ready.

Signs Your Child is Ready

Awareness of wet diaper
Ability to cope with the sensory environment of toileting (noises of flushing toilet, hand dryers, etc.)
Awareness of need to toilet
Verbally express a need to go
Shows an interest in using the toilet
Attention to task to be able to sit still long enough to toilet
Comprehension of the sequential steps of toileting and dressing
Attempts to remove clothing in readiness to toilet
Ability to follow simple adult-directed routines

Tips For Potty Training

A very common misconception is that potty training can occur from one day to the next. Before beginning the potty training process, it is extremely important to prepare by making sure your child understands the concept of going to the bathroom and everything involved within it.

Ask your child to let you know when their diaper is wet
Identify behaviors so that your child can learn to recognize the different between bladder and bowel movements
Get a potty chair and have your child practice sitting on it with the diaper on
Role play with a teddy bear or your child’s preferred toy
Make sure your child’s wardrobe is adaptable to potty train (avoid overalls or onesie shirts that snap
Be consistent to facilitate awareness of muscle control
Read children books on potty training with the child
Visual schedule detailing the steps involved in going to the potty
Reward chart to chart successes
Use a timer

Early Development Insights