Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training

by Brett Singer (Subscribe to Brett Singer's posts)
May 25th 2009 10:00AM

Done with diapers? You might be tired of plopping your kid onto the changing table four or five times a day, but if they aren't ready to start using the bowl, that's just your tough luck.

About.com says that potty training is a "skill" that "requires certain other skills and abilities that must be in place before learning can begin." In other words, you have to crawl before you can walk. Here are some of the signs that your little one is ready to make the leap from diapers to underwear.

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Dry diapers:

When you go to change your son or daughter, have you noticed that they seem to have a clean diaper more often than not? If so, that could be a sign that your child's "bladder capacity is increasing." No, he or she isn't part camel! Being able to hold it in for a longer period of time is a normal part of growing up.

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Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training

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Shows an interest:

Over at DrSpock.com, Dr. Robert Needlman writes "You don't have to wait until your child is ready to toilet train him, but it makes it much easier if you do!" In other words, if little Johnny has been trying to sit on the toilet, or is wondering just what daddy is doing when he grabs the newspaper and disappears into that little room on the other side of the house, that could be a sign that its time to start training.

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Knowing when its time to go:

It's easy for us big people to forget, but there was a time when we just paraded around town, pooping and peeing whenever we had the urge. Getting that "gotta go" feeling is something that children develop at different times, although the American Academy of Pediatrics says that it usually starts to happen around 2 years of age.

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Ability to communicate:

If your child doesn't yet understand the question "Do you have to go to the potty?" odds are...he or she isn't ready.

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Has the physical ability:

Can your daughter pull her own pants down and pull them up when she's done? If not, you may want to wait until she can. Most experts agree that part of potty training is the pride of being able to "do it myself." And we all know how much toddlers love that.

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Age:

Although some kids get trained earlier (God bless 'em), most pediatricians recommend that you don't start potty training your toddler until they are at least 18 months old.

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Stability and routine:

This is partially about the child, and partially about your family. Most experts say that it is not a good idea to start potty training while a major life change is going on, such as a move or a new sibling. If possible, wait until things have settled down -- or at least until things are back to their usual craziness.

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Being out of the "NO!" phase:

While any parent knows that it is impossible to predict the moods of a toddler, there are times when the answer to everything is "no." For obvious reasons, this is not the time to start potty training. If your child's first word was "no" and he has continued to be more sour than Donald Trump after losing another casino, you may have to bite the bullet and dive in. But if possible, try and start training during a more pleasant period of toddlerdom.

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More Recent Questions:

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