Between the ages of 14 months and 36 months are typically the ages that toddlers start to potty train. More often than not, babies who use toweling diapers are ready to potty train earlier than their disposable diaper counterparts. Generally baby girls will show signs of readiness earlier than boys.
How long does your baby stay dry? Does your child inform you if the diaper is wet? Is he uncomfortable with a wet diaper? Does you child watch you on the toilet and asks questions? Is your child aware of how his body works? If you've answered yes to most of the above questions, then your child is ready for potty training.
It is very essential to start potty training at the right time as starting too early will result in you waiting most of the time. Keep your schedule clear for about 2 weeks so that you have enough time to spend with your baby to start the process. Avoid starting when you have big events happening like vacations or traveling. Summer time is a great time to start as he can run outside nude without having to worry about soiling his pants. Accidents will occur and is however part of the process. Changing a diaper in the bathroom will also associate the process with the place.
Many folk believe that if your child has his own toilet it will confuse him. By introducing the potty chair, then gaining mastery over it then proceeding to the potty seat which fits over the regular toilet will generally make the transition at lot easier. Every child is different so make sure to adopt a "horses for courses" approach.
If you decide to use the baby potty chair, make sure you get it before the potty training starts, to get your child familiar with it. Let you child be a part of the buying process for the potty chair. Choose two or three styles of chairs and allow your child to make a choice from among those. He will see it as a new toy and become anxious to try it. The suitable potty chair should allow your child's feet to touch the ground as this will assist in pushing when having a bowel movement.
As mentioned before, accidents will occur but it is important to stay calm and be patient. This is a big transition in your child's life and can be daunting if you not patient with the process. As accidents occur, and they will, just be supportive.
Try and encourage your child by giving him constant praise for whenever he sits on the pot or you see he has made progress. Praising words can serve many functions for your toddler. It can boost their self-esteem, raise their confidence, and be a huge motivator for them. It can also promote an atmosphere of comfort for them. Every little progression should be encouraged particularly in the early stages. Giving little rewards to your child in the form of his favourite candy or sweets are great but the ultimate reward is your approval.
Finally, don't rush the process as it will take several attempts for your child to be potty trained. Relax, have fun and remember that soon you'll be ditching the diapers forever!
Learn more about Baby Potty Training and getting the correct potty seats for your child.
Jason Peter Brown is a father, husband, entrepreneur and avid sportsman. Jason has several websites that deal with children, family and parenting and has successfully assisted many helped many parents in making correct choices with regards to their children and developing successful parenting skills. For more in depth information visit Baby Potty Seats
