1. When to Start Toilet Training?
Many people want their children out of diapers as soon as possible. But starting before your child's ready can actually delay the process. Children are ready if they can tell you they've urinated or moved their bowels, or if they're interested in using the toilet. Most children are ready to start around 24 months, though some aren't ready until they're nearly 3 years old.
2. The First Step is Preparation
Rather than just dumping your child on the toilet and telling him to urinate, you have to prepare your child. Let him play with flushing the toilet and with the toilet paper. If you're comfortable, let him see you use the toilet. If you're using a toilet seat, let your child sit on it fully clothed. Congratulate your child for sitting on the toilet seat, but don't force him to sit on it.
3. Put your Child Onto the Potty Seat
For the next three months, plan on putting your child onto the potty seat every few hours. Let her know what you expect to her to do, but don't scold her if she continue to use a diaper. Give her books or a small toy to play with while she sits on the toilet. Learn your child's facial expressions when she's urinating or moving her bowels; many children have specific things they do. When you notice she's using her diapers, transfer her to the toilet.
4. Accidents Happen
Toilet training typically takes three months or more. Expect accidents to happen. Putting your child in loose pants or in potty training diapers can help. It may be something you have to deal with for a few weeks with towels and cleaning products. Never scold a child for having an accident, or you may traumatize them. It's common for children to regress with toilet training during stress, such as with a new baby in the house or a move to a new home.
5. Make Toilet Training Fun!
Many products can help you toilet train your child. One of the simplest and cheapest is big child underwear that your child can pick out. Big child underwear gets wet easily, letting your child know when he's urinated and many children don't want to soil their special underwear. Pull-ups, disposable diapers for toilet training, work for many children, but for some it may impede their progress. There are also potty seats for children to sit in and special wipes for potty training children. Consult books and videos about potty training, such as "The Potty Book for Boys and Girls" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Dorothy Stott.
