The Right Time To Potty Train A Toddler
We all know that every human is different–different personalities, different likes, different skills. It makes no sense then to assume that every child is going to potty train at the same time. Parents often get caught up in the fact that someone’s child used the potty before theirs did, but the truth is that a child will go only when he is ready.
Some children just don’t learn as quickly as others. On average, a child will learn to use the potty between the ages of 2 and 3, but some take a little extra time to catch on. Its nothing to get discouraged about.
A child usually knows when hes ready to learn, and there is no real way to rush the process. All you can do is watch for signs that its time. He may start to make faces or point to his diaper when he has to go potty, and some children even tell you that they have to go. If his body knows that it has to go, it means that his muscles have matured enough to use the potty on command.
You can also see if your child is starting to follow you around the house, trying to do the things you do. You can use this shadowing phase as an opportunity to show him how to use the potty. If he can undress himself, then hes capable of pulling off a diaper and should be ready to potty train.
If you feel like its time to start teaching your child to use the bathroom, start by familiarizing him with the potty and the whole process of using it. Even if it seems like he doesn’t understand it, a few days of repetition should get him acclimated enough to start training.
Take every chance you get to run him to the potty, even if it isn’t convenient for you. If he says he needs to go, get him straight in there and tell him how proud you are once hes done. Its a little stressful at first, but you’ll be very relieved when you don’t have to change diapers anymore.
Its important for parents to pay constant attention to their children during this time because children don’t give much warning before they have to go. They have slow reaction times, so when they say they need to go, it may only be seconds before they actually do it.
There are many ways to potty train children, and none are necessarily more effective than others. Most parents develop their own methods to respond to their kid’s personalities. Once children are ready to potty train, parents have to show constant pride in what they’re doing, or children will never learn.
