Potty training is a developmental milestone for children. By watching for certain signs, you'll be able to determine whether your child is ready to potty train. Most children show signs of readiness between the ages of 18 and 24 months. All children develop differently--some may be ready for potty training earlier than 18 months, while others will have more success after age 24 months. If your child isn't ready, don't push her, because doing so may prolong the training process and distress you and your child.
Step 1
Observe your child's behavior when he needs to urinate or to have a bowel movement--if he's hiding or squatting, he's aware of the need to go to the bathroom. Other physical signs include no bowel movements throughout the night, fairly routine bowel movements, dry spells without urinating and a large quantity of urine at one time.
Step 2
Look for cognitive signs of readiness. Give your child simple instructions to follow, such as "put your toys away." If he can follow them, he may be ready for potty training. Listen for words he may use for "urine" and "stools," and determine whether he can understand vocabulary associated with potty training, such as "wet," "dry," "potty" and "underwear."
Step 3
Watch for your child to demonstrate awareness when her diaper is wet or soiled and to signal or to try to make you understand that she is uncomfortable. She may also display interest in the bathroom and curiosity when you go. If she wants to do things by herself and takes pride when she achieves a goal, she may be ready to train.
Step 4
Assess your child's motor skills. If your child can undress himself and pull his pants and underpants down, he has the motor skills required for potty training. Determine whether he is capable of going to the potty, sitting on it and getting off.
