Potty Training Signals

New parents often wonder when they should start potty training their little one but rather than setting a certain timeframe to train, watch for signals from your child. He or she will let you know when it's time. Watch for signs from your child and let them be your guide. Most parents assume that potty training should begin between eighteen and twenty-four months. Although this is a standard timeline it is not set in stone. Some children may be ready at an earlier age while others may not be ready until later. Each child progresses at his or her own pace.

Relatives and friends may be full of advice and you may hear statements such as "Boys take longer to potty train than girls." This is not true. It depends on the individual child's readiness. As a mother of three boys and one girl, I can honestly say that two of my sons were fairly easy to train and were completely potty trained at an early age. On the other hand, my other son and my daughter required more time until they were ready to be trained and the process took longer with each of them.

As I mentioned previously, let your child be your guide. When your child begins tugging at his diaper or pulling it off, you may want to ready yourself and your child for toilet training. A few more signals to look for includes your child climbing on the potty or toilet, keeping his diaper dry for at least two hours at a time and wanting to wear "big boy" underwear.

It is often helpful to ready your child for toilet training before you actually start the process. Buy him "pull ups" to wear instead of diapers. This helps him to feel more "grown-up." Purchase a potty chair with a removable bowl to be emptied rather than a potty seat to go over the regular toilet. It can slip and make a child nervous or fearful whereas the potty chair provides a more secure feel.