About Potty Training Children

Potty training, or toilet training, is the process of teaching a young child how and when to use the potty. Potty training children can be a lengthy, difficult and stressful experience for many families, but when done at the right time and without pressure, it can turn out to be an enjoyable milestone in your child's life. While most children are ready to begin potty training around the age of two years, some children may be ready earlier or later. Listening to your child and watching for readiness clues can help you determine the best time to begin the process.

Significance

For nearly all children, potty training is an inevitable stage of development. It is considered by some to be the first major milestone in a child's life, and is the gateway between toddlerhood and childhood. The process itself may takes weeks or months and is often a cause of great stress for parents. Some parents look forward to potty training their children, while others delay the process as long as possible. Potty training can provide your child with a sense of accomplishment, and allow him or her to feel like a "big boy" or "big girl."

Time Frame

For most children, potty training generally begins between the ages of 18 and 36 months. Not all children will be ready to potty train at the same age. Girls are generally ready a little sooner than boys. When your toddler is able to remain dry for two or more hours, has regular, predictable bowel movements, and is able to follow simple instructions related to using the potty, she is ready to begin potty training.

Other signs your child may be old enough to begin potty training include a reluctance to wear an unclean or wet diaper, an obvious interest in using the toilet, and the ability to let you know of the need to urinate or have a bowel movement. If your child shows no interest in using the potty by 36 months, or is unable to regularly control urination by the age of four years, a consultation with your pediatrician is recommended to rule out any medical conditions that may interfere with potty training.

Function

Potty training should teach your child how and when to use the potty, and should never be a form of punishment or a source of stress for your child. Some children do better using separate potty chairs designed to sit on the floor, while others may prefer to use a seat attachment on top of a standard toilet. When your child shows signs of needing to use the potty, he or she should be guided into the bathroom and encouraged to sit on the potty chair. If, after a few minutes, your child has not used the potty, he or she should be allowed off the potty.

Speaking to your child about potty training or reading him or her books on the subject often increases the child's interest in using the potty. Incentives, such as stickers, can be used to foster a sense of accomplishment when the child begins actively participating in the potty training process.

Considerations

Girls are sometimes ready to begin potty training before boys. This is because girls in general tend to be able to vocalize their needs sooner than boys, and girls may develop bladder control at an earlier age than boys. Differences in bladder control is often especially obvious at night, and boys may continue to wet the bed longer than girl children. These differences should be considered and parents should set their expectations accordingly. Moreover, all children, regardless of gender, may be ready to train sooner or later than other children in their age group. Putting pressure on your child to potty train because other children in their age group are already finished with the process may only delay training and make the process more difficult and unpleasant for everyone involved.

Misconceptions

Nearly every parent has been told at some point that someone else was able to potty train their child at the age of 12 months or even earlier. Children younger than one year of age very rarely have the awareness or bladder control necessary to potty train. Plus, forcing an infant to hold his or her urine or bowel movements can increase the likelihood that a urinary tract infection will develop. Potty training this early may also result in a refusal to use the potty later on. Waiting until your child is truly ready to potty train will be more effective, less stressful and healthier for your child.