How to Schedule Potty Training

Not every child potty trains at the same age.

You may find it difficult to know when you should begin potty training. Parents feel pressure from grandparents, preschools and society at large to have their child trained by a certain age. According to the University of Michigan Health System, the average age for girls to potty train is 29 months, and it is 31 months for boys. However, that is only the average age and it varies widely. You have to schedule potty training for your child when you both are ready to start the process.

Things You'll Need

• Toddler potty

Instructions

1. Potty train your child when he is physically capable of potty training. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the elimination muscles of children fully mature when the child is between the ages of 18 months and two year. If your child squats or grunts when he has a bowel movement, tugs at his diaper or holds himself when peeing, then his muscles may be developed enough to start toilet training. Having a dry diaper for three hours or more, and having bowel movements at the same time each day are also signs of readiness.

2. Start potty training your toddler when she is emotionally ready. Ask yourself whether she has the verbal abilities to tell you that she needs to use the bathroom. Children need to be capable of communicating the need to go. Toddlers who show interest in becoming independent, in others using the potty, or in pleasing you may be emotionally ready to start toilet training. Your child should also be able to follow simple directions, such as a command to go to the bathroom.

3. Schedule potty training when you are ready to train your child. It is not a good idea to attempt training your child when you are busy. Potty training takes time and patience. Accidents will happen. If you do not have the time or energy to watch your child and clean up messes then you probably need to wait for a better time. For example, scheduling toilet training around holidays or just after the birth of another child. The family is probably too busy to deal with potty training.

4. Keep a potty journal of when your child pees and poops during the day before you start teaching him how to go potty. This will make training him easier. For example, if you discover your child has a bowel movement when he wakes up every day, you will know to put him on the toilet as soon as he gets up.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Potty training:How to Get the Job Done
• Nickelodeon Parents Connect: Figure Out Your Kid's Potty Training Schedule
• University of Michigan Health System: Toilet Training