Potty training is a very big step in a child and a parent’s life. A lot of parents struggle with exactly konwing when to start potty training. Many experts believe that it will vary for each child, an having trained one girl and currently potty training another, I tend to agree.
Picking a potty is easy. It’s knowing exactly when to do it is the challenging part. There are tons of potties to chose from. Amazon.com has a lot of great ones and you really can’t go wrong in picking one. We have the Fisher-Price My Potty Buddy – White/Blue
and it works great. It’s easy to dump the pee and poo and it’s easy to glean. It’s very cost effective as well.
The potty takes time to learn how to use, so don’t expect miracles overnight and you’ll be fine. 14 months is exactly when we introduced the potty to my daughter. By the time she was 2.5 she was completely pull-up and diaper free. It takes time for kids to grasp the concept of going both number 1 and number 2 in there. They usually understand the concept of peeing in the potty first and foremost. Of course you’ll encounter some mistakes along the way like little yellow puddles, wet underwear and the like but eventually they get it.
Pooping in the potty is usually the most difficult to train. Kids seem to have a kind of phobia, embarrassment or something just feels uncomfortable for them at first. Eventually they come around and will drop the little brown bombs in the potty. It takes time, it takes patience and it takes persistent consistency and encouragement. There is a psychology about it too, which includes having family members, friends and peers encourage your child. By seeing examples set by other children your child is close to, it will only make her/him want to learn faster. But all of these facts are exactly why you have to be committed and ready to continue potty training once you start.
Most pediatricians suggest 18 to 24 months is the time that most toddlers attain the necessary levels of physical, emotional and psychological maturity to make potty training realistically possible. Some toddlers may be physically ready but not co-operative, because of their age and mental maturity. Some kids develop faster mentally, it’s a proven fact. Some are not as developmentally advanced by the age of two and it may take you longer to decide you’re ready. If this is the case, it is better to wait until they are closer to 3 years old, when most children become significantly more compliant. Waiting will make the process more enjoyable and stress-free for both trainer and trainee.
It highly suggested by pediatricians that you start potty training when:
1. You have no major events planned, such as the imminent arrival of a baby, a vacation or relocation, new job, work deadlines etc. Focus, commitment and consnsitency are the most important aspects of potty training,
2. Your child shows the signs of readiness or an eagerness to want to learn.
A common issue with starting potty training too early is that a toddler who is not ready is likely to have more accidents and less successes. This can lead to trainer and trainee frustration or even trainee refusal, and the process may in fact take longer to complete than waiting for complete readiness.So be cautious and read the signs yourchild is giving you.
If the toddler has not reached the ideal level of physical maturity, they will not be able to competently undress and redress themselves, or wipe their little bottoms. Insufficient physical dexterity means more mess!
Common issues with beginning potty training too late is that it may be more difficult because bad habits there may be established, and the child may be too comfortable in a dirty diaper.YUCK! An older child may be more difficult to motivate. Toddlers are keener to please and imitate ‘grownup’ behaviors, which goes back to the support I mentioned earlier. If they see friends and family members going on the potty, they will want to as well.
Like many things in life, the more you prepare for potty training, the smoother it is likely to run. Your child will let you know when they are ready to start potty training, just be sure you listen to them.
Here are some more examples of “little toilets”
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