When Should I Start Potty Training my Child?
Your child should be around 18 months or older to commence potty / toilet training. If you start too much
earlier than this and your child is not ready, you will end up running into complications, getting frustrated and
taking far longer. Look out for the following signs of readiness in your child for potty training before
commencing:
- Bladder control: Your child may have a dry diaper a couple of hours
after his/her last diaper change, or he/she wakes up frequently from a daytime nap with a dry diaper. Note however
that in some children, bladder control may not be readily apparent. Your child may have the capacity for bladder
control but pee frequently in the diaper, because it is possible to pee frequently in the diaper without
consequence! This sign is therefore not essential to be observed, but a very positive sign if
shown.
- Bowel
control: Your child shows signs of awareness when he/she needs to do a poo. For example, going quiet or showing signs
of concentration, or telling/signing you that he/she has done a
poo.
- Co-ordination: Your child is capable of pulling pants and
underpants up and down.
- Concentration: Your child can keep occupied with an activity
for five to ten minutes or more.
- Understanding: Your child can follow simple instructions -
e.g. fetching a toy. Has a vocabulary necessary for potty training, i.e. understands words such as pee, poo, potty, dry,
wet, etc.
- Emotional and social readiness: Can be difficult to gauge.
Look for the desire to imitate, the desire to please parents and the desire for control ("I can do
it").
If your child shows all of the above signs, then they are ready to be potty
trained.
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