What is the best age to start potty training?

All children develop at different rates and therefore there is no best age to start potty training.  Be guided by your child.  These are the signs that show she may be ready;

• She can go a couple of hours between wees.

• Takes an interest when you or a sibling goes to the toilet.

• Is obviously aware she is passing a stool.

• Asks to be have her nappy changed when she has passed a stool.

Very few children are ready to start before the age of 2 years old and some are getting on for aged 4.  If you start to soon the process will just take longer and will only cause upset for both you and your child.

How do I go about training my child?

Make sure you have a potty or a child’s toilet seat - a toilet can be quite scary for a small child to sit on with no child seat.  If possible it’s a good idea to start in the warm weather so you can allow your child to spend some time with no clothes on her bottom half.  This way she will become more aware of when she is weeing.  Encourage her to sit on the potty regularly and praise her just for sitting on it.  There will be lots of accidents in the early days, so don’t get cross, just clean it up and tell her never mind, next time try and wee wee on the potty.  If she does manage to use the potty successfully, praise like mad and this will encourage her to do it again.  If during this stage your child becomes distressed or obviously is not ready, just leave it for a couple of months and then try again.  As your child has less and less accidents you can leave her nappy of for longer periods and use underwear, until eventually she is completely trained.

Top tips

• Make sure your child is ready.

• Don’t rush your child.  This is a new skill for her and can take some time to master successfully.

• Never force your child to sit on the potty, this can make her scared of it.

• Put her in clothes that are quick and easy to pull down.

• Be positive and make it fun.

• Build up the time without a nappy.

• Praise, praise, praise.

Good luck with potty training.