While most children are ready to begin potty training between 18 months and 3 years of age, age isn’t the only factor when determining when to start potty training your toddler.
While by age 3, most toddlers have enough day time bladder control to start potty training, your toddler may not be emotionally or cognitively ready to begin the process.
The good news is that there are some clear signs that can signal your toddler is ready to begin potty training. If your toddler displays most of these 10 signs regularly, he’s likely ready to begin the potty training process
- He stays dry a few hours at a time.
- He has regular, predictable bowel movements.
- He shows interest in using the potty.
- He doesn’t like being in a wet or dirty diaper, and lets you know.
- He gives you a sign when he’s having a bowel movement, like hiding, squatting or telling you.
- He can follow simple instructions like “Bring me your shoes” and is cooperative most of the time.
- He has a desire for independence.
- He can pull his pants up and down by himself.
- He has words for urine and stool.
- He is proud of himself when he does something new.
While these 10 signs don’t guarantee that your toddler will experience immediate potty training success, they do signal that your toddler may be ready to begin using the potty. If your toddler is showing most of these signs, start the potty training process by sitting him on the potty regularly throughout the day. Begin by sitting him on the potty when he wakes up, before snacks and meals and before he goes to bed. Offer lots of praise when he sits and offer a small reward when he performs.
