Before starting potty training with your child, watch for signs of readiness for training. Trying to toilet train a child too early may prove to be futile and a waste of time. A child who is forced to try to comply may experience a sense of failure (so do the parents).
General Signs of Readiness
o Demonstrates initiative behavior
o Dislikes wet or dirty diapers
o Able to pull elastic waist pants up and down
o Is aware of the "need to go" and shows it by facial expression or by telling you.
o Is anxious to please you
o Asks to use the potty chair or adult toilet
Preparatory Steps
o Take your child into the bathroom with you. It helps if brothers and fathers set an example for boys, mothers and sisters for girls. Siblings are often delightful to be role models.
o Make a point to change diaper in the bathroom as it will associate the process with the place.
o Talk about the advantages of being trained; the pleasure of being clean and dry, no more diaper rash and no more interruptions for diaper changing.
o Let your child practice putting and taking off the training pants by himself.
o Have a potty chair handy on which the child may sit on (even with the clothes on), perhaps while you are in the bathroom yourself. It is to let your child get familiar with the equipment. Let your child try flushing the toilet for you, to help him or her get used to the noise it makes and avoid possible fear later on.
o Start off by reading "potty" books to your child. Many good ones are available.
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