Title: Q&A: Know Your Child’s Level of Readiness for Potty Training | Parents
Headings: Q&A: Know Your Child’s Level of Readiness for Potty Training
Q&A: Know Your Child’s Level of Readiness for Potty Training
How should I start potty training my child?
What is the earliest you can start to potty train your kids? My son is 14 months old. Is he too young to start trying?
Should my child use a potty chair before transitioning to a real toilet?
My son will be four in March and refuses to potty.... Shouldn't he be interested by now?
My 3-year-old is adamant about not using the potty. How can I motivate her?
What's the best way to reward my child for using the potty?
Should I transition my toddler to a bed before beginning potty training?
I have a 22 month old daughter who now takes off her diaper and urinates on the floor. Is this a sign she is ready for the potty?
My husband is pressuring our 2-1/2-year-old son to use the potty, but I don't think he's ready. What should I do?
How do I help my child move from the potty to the big toilet?
Is there anything I can do to prepare my child for potty training?
At what age are most kids ready for potty training?
How often should I remind my child to go to the bathroom while she's being potty trained?
How long should it take to potty train my child?
How should I teach my child to use public bathrooms?

Content: Every child is different and there is no need to move to a toddler bed before initiating potty training. The move to a toddler bed is a change that should be made when the child is large enough that they may be able to climb out of the crib as a fall to the floor can be dangerous. For some children, this size happens before age 18 months which for most children is too young to initiate potty training. When you child shows an interest in the toilet, is starting to be dry during nap time or bedtime, and you have the time to commit to toilet training they are ready to begin learning to use the toilet. Push them to the bathroom too early and you may have initial success and frustration a few weeks to months later when the desire to use the toilet disappears. Children can also develop constipation from being pushed to toilet train to soon. The average male child potty trains between ages 3 to 3 and 1/2 and the average female between 2 and 1/2 and 3. Make both transitions as positive as possible, reward with praise or small treats for success in getting the job done in the bathroom or remaining in the toddler bed all night and avoid punishing for accidents or nighttime visits to your room. Stay calm change the clothes or return the child to their bed immediately and try again as persistence will pay off in the end. Remember that 5% of completely normal children still wet the bed at age 5 years and this will resolve with time.