Potty training is one of the first opportunities that your child will have to control a situation, and it's likely he'll take full advantage of that. Power struggles and boundary testing are a normal part of potty training--as are compliance and pride--and keeping a few basic tips in mind will make the process go much more smoothly. In this way, your child will be in control of his body and you'll be in control of your sanity.
Readiness
Making sure your child is ready to use the toilet is essential to a smooth toilet training experience. According to babycenter.com, signs to look for in your child include taking an interest in using the potty, staying dry for several hours, ability to take off pants or diaper, dislike of having a wet or soiled diaper and ability to tell you when she needs to use the bathroom.
Rewards
Children respond to positive reinforcement and most will agree to use the potty if they will receive a small token. Ideas include a couple of M&Ms or animal crackers for each attempt, plus a sticker on a reward chart if the attempt is successful. Decide with your child how many stickers she'll need before she gets a small toy or other treasured item. Dollar-store coloring books, driveway chalk or a trip to a bouncing place or arcade are good incentives for most 2-year-olds. The experts at pottytrainingtips.com suggest that, once your child gets the hang of using the potty, space out the rewards you offer so that your child doesn't always expect a prize.
Ditch the Diapers
Once your child has had a few successes using the toilet, get rid of diapers and pull-ups except for some reserved for night time. Diapers are so absorbent that many children can't easily feel wetness, so accidents will be ignored. Underwear allows a child to feel wetness immediately and some of them can make it to the bathroom after just a small leak. Also many children don't want to soil underwear that they've chosen and that has pictures of a favorite character.
Travel with a Potty Chair
Most toddlers cannot hold their urine for very long, so it's essential that you have a potty available for them to use, even on a short trips. It's very tempting to put a child in diapers for trips, but this sends a mixed message about the importance of using the potty. Use a disposable diaper to line the potty--this way, once your child uses the portable potty, you'll be able to quickly dispose of the potty's contents.
