You will see clear signs when your child is ready to potty train. If your child is dry for about three hours at a time, has regular bowel movements and seems interested in what you're doing in the toilet, harness his interest and begin training. While all children develop at their own pace, most experts agree that most children potty train at about 2 1/2 years old. Keep in mind a few tricks and tips to make potty training go smoothly.
Accidents Happen
As your child learns to use the toilet, accidents will happen. Focus on success with hugs and praise. Consider tracking successful days with a chart and stickers to visually reward your child and remind her of her successes. When an accident occurs, don't chastise her; mistakes are part of the learning process for every milestone in childhood development. Instead, comfort her, clean up and calmly segue to the next activity in her day.
Avoid Stress
If you're moving, starting school, expecting another child or changing marital status, hold off on training. While your child may be ready, momentous events can send things off track and set him back, making potty training potentially necessary (and frustrating) a second time.
Similarly, don't push your child and make it stressful for him. If he's not yet ready, wait for the signs of readiness. Think of potty training as similar to surfing; ride the wave when it's ready and don't force it to happen.
Get the Right Equipment
For clothing, focus on quick and easy to remove. Once your child knows she's ready to go, she needs to be able to sit down quickly on the potty. Snaps, buttons, zippers and the like can interfere too much to make training successful. Focus on clothes that slip off easily, such as elastic-waisted pants and shirts that end at the waist. Forego tights as well if you're dressing your daughter in dresses as the fine motor skills to peel tights off can be too taxing.
For the home, get a potty ring to sit on top of the toilet, a step stool and a potty chair. While you don't need all of these items, a potty ring and step stool are key. The potty ring prevents unintended falls. A step stool makes it easier for a child to get off the potty. Your child can easily access a potty chair as you transport it from one play area to the next.
