Potty training is a major milestone in the life of your toddler. Weary of diaper changing, many parents are typically ready to start potty training before their child is but this is something you can’t rush. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to start potty training your child. As the Mayo Clinic website points out, “Potty-training success hinges on physical and emotional readiness, not a specific age.”
Most children are ready to start potty training sometime between age 2 and 3 1/2. If your child hasn’t expressed much interest in potty training by age 3 but is showing definite signs of readiness, watching friends move from Horizon Education’s Toddler Care class into our Childcare and Preschool Program may provide the extra incentive your child needs to master potty training skills.
Here are a few of the potty training tips we’ve found helpful:
- Using simple, correct words, talk to your child about going to the bathroom. Let him see you and other family members using the toilet.
- Place the potty chair in the bathroom and encourage him to sit on it with or without a diaper.
- Start scheduling regular potty breaks but don’t turn this into a battle.
- Read a potty training book together while he “tries.” (Click for reviews of 14 potty training books recommended by Parents.com.) Whether or not your child goes in the potty, praise him for trying and remind him that he can try again.
- Rush your child to the potty if he shows signs that he is ready to go so he learns to associate the urge with the event.
