As eager as most parents are to get rid of diapers, the prospect of potty training can be daunting. Most children are ready to potty train sometime between ages 2 and 3---Medline Plus's Health Day News, citing a study published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Urology, says the "sweet spot" for most toddlers falls between 27 and 32 months. Potty training a toddler can be challenging, but patience and persistence will help you--and your toddler--succeed.
Step 1
Look for signs that your toddler is ready to potty train. If your child is able to stay dry for long stretches of time, expresses an interest in using the potty and has mastered the art of pulling her pants up and down, she may be ready. Experts at the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus's Health Day agree that age is less important for successful potty training than physical and emotional readiness.
Step 2
Equip your bathroom with a potty your child can use. Try a small, toddler-size potty or an attachment for your regular toilet plus a stool for your child to rest his feet on.
Step 3
Encourage your child to sit on the potty periodically with her diaper off and her pants down. Boys and girls both do best learning how to potty sitting down first, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 4
Stay with your child while he's on the potty. Choose a special potty-time book or toy to entertain your child during his toilet time.
Step 5
Praise your child when she successfully uses the potty.
Step 6
Let your child get off the potty when he wants to, even if he hasn't used it. Tell him you're proud of him for trying. Most kids won't use the potty during these early training days, according to Medline Plus's Health Day, so keep that in mind as you're teaching your child to use the toilet.
Step 7
Learn to recognize your child's ready-to-potty signals, and act quickly to get her to the toilet. Kids might squirm, grab their diapers or squat when they have to go.
Step 8
Enlist your child's other family members and caregivers in the potty-training process. The more consistent you are with your potty-training efforts, the quicker your toddler will master using the potty.
Step 9
Take a break if things just aren't working. Your child may simply not be ready to potty train yet. Wait a few weeks or months, then try again.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't ask your child if he needs to use the potty; he'll almost always tell you he doesn't, Peter Stavinoha, author of the book "Stress-Free Potty Training" and a clinical neuropsychologist at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, said in an interview with Medline Plus's Health Day. Instead, when you see your child showing signs he needs to use the toilet, say, "It looks like you need to use the bathroom. Let's go sit on the potty."
