Title: How to Start Potty Training - The New York Times
Headings: How to Start Potty Training
How to Start Potty Training
The Gist
Determine when your child is ready.
Look for signs that your child has the skills to potty train.
Motor skills:
Emotional development:
Cognitive skills:
Aim to start potty training when your stress levels are low.
Decide what’s best for your child to sit on.
Remind children to go, and be prepared for accidents.
Offer praise frequently, and don’t scold a potty-training child.
Don’t worry if your child is still wetting the bed.
When to Worry

Content: Typically, the timer should go off every 10 to15 minutes throughout the entire first day (while your child is awake) to get her used to sitting on the potty and also to maximize successes and minimize accidents. Reward your child with praise every time she sits on the toilet. “ Over the course of a few days, as your child succeeds, begin to increase the duration of the timer to 20, 30 and 40 minutes and then remind your child at regular intervals to use the potty, especially when waking up or leaving the house,” said Dr. Porto. Decide what’s best for your child to sit on. Some kids are afraid of a big toilet seat, while others want to mimic a parent or an older sibling and use a ring on the toilet bowl. Often pediatricians find it is easier to use a potty chair, or a small portable potty that your child can sit on while placing both feet on the ground. A potty chair offers a more comfortable position to eliminate, without the feeling of falling off (or into) an adult-sized toilet. Introduce your child to both options and see what she’s more interested in using. “ If your child likes to sit on a regular toilet seat, use a step stool to help them maintain the squat position that will make stooling easier for them,” said Dr. Porto. Place the potty chair wherever your child is most comfortable — whether that’s in the living room, playroom or even outside while playing outdoors.