So you’re changing diaper number 11,875 and you think you toddler might just be ready to venture into the mysterious territory of potty training, more recently referred to as toilet learning. Done with care and very little seriousness, potty training can be a fun adventure with an outcome both you and your child can appreciate. There are many steps and levels to be considered before you begin, and potty training is an activity that must be done when well prepared.

Is Your Child Ready?

First of all, you must make sure your child is ready and that the reasons for beginning training are not in any way selfish. Is your child physically ready? Usually, before 20 months, the bladder empties too frequently for a child to master bladder control. If he or she stays dry for about two hours at a time on a regular basis and often wakes up from naps with a dry diaper, they’re probably physically ready.

Sometimes readiness is marked by an increased intolerance of wet and soiled diapers, and a lot of times, dirty hands and face. They usually want their diapers changed immediately after urinating or defecating. Occasionally there is a greater interest in the bathroom habits of parents and older siblings. Your child may sometimes want to follow family members into the bathroom to see what goes on in there when bigger people go potty. They may begin to imitate the things they see happening including unrolling toilet paper, flushing the toilet, and of course flushing down the toilet paper.

There should also be an increased awareness of bodily functions. Your child has signs that you have probably been seeing for a little while, at least. You know those special concentrating “looks” and the tell tale grunt-n-squat. If your child is an avid talker he may even begin announcing the particular event! Now it is imperative that you pay very close attention to those signs. When they become apparent, there is no time to spare when rushing to the potty chair.

Another readiness sign you may be fortunate enough to notice is regularity of wet and soiled diapers. In particular is the regularity of the bowel movements. If you know he is going to have a bowel movement first thing in the morning or after a particular meal, it will make toilet learning that much easier. However, some children may not ever be that regular.

If your child is able to do some minimal self-dressing, such as pulling down pants and shorts and lifting up a skirt, encourage them to do so while potty training. It will give then a little confidence boost when they are praised for it and will be helpful to you at the same time.

A couple of other things that are also helpful are if your child has interest in wearing “big kid” underwear and if they are familiar with the toilet terminology spoken in your household. If he or she has interest in wearing grown-up underwear or panties, this will, of course, add some motivation to make the toilet training work. If they know the toilet terminology and everyone is consistent in the words and phrases they use for potty talk, this will cut down on the confusion that the whole process can sometimes cause.