| Baby potty training is one of those milestones in your | | | | training? |
| child's life - it can be an incredible bonding experience | | | | The amount of time it takes to potty train a baby |
| between the child and his / her parents. It's also an | | | | varies greatly. Some children just simply learn faster |
| important step in the development of the child because | | | | than others. The average training time is somewhere |
| for the first time in the baby's life, he / she will have a | | | | between a couple of days and a couple of months. |
| feeling of independence and responsibility. Once potty | | | | There is hardly any difference between boys and girls |
| trained, your baby will be responsible for taking | | | | when it comes to potty training although studies have |
| themselves to the potty to do their business. | | | | shown that girls are generally slightly more receptive to |
| The Right Baby Potty Training Age | | | | their potty training and learn slightly faster. However, |
| Decades ago in the 1960's, 80% of all babies were | | | | girls are also at more of a risk to infection so make |
| potty trained by the age of 18 months. Today, the | | | | sure you look out for painful frequent urination or |
| average is closer to 36 months (3 years) - in other | | | | abdominal pain. If you see any of those signals then |
| words it has almost doubled in a shade under fifty | | | | take her straight to the doctor for a professional |
| years. The technology of the modern diaper is largely | | | | medical opinion. |
| to blame because they are now so absorbent that the | | | | High level overview of the Baby potty training process |
| baby can hardly feel any discomfort when an accident | | | | When you have established that your child is ready for |
| occurs and therefore has no reason to want to get | | | | potty training the first port of call is to buy the |
| out of diapers. Back in the old days of the cotton | | | | necessary equipment. You have the option of child |
| diapers, it wasn't comfortable and you'd soon know as | | | | sized potties or even a special child-sized seat for the |
| a parent if the baby needed changing! | | | | toilet. It's also possible to pick up some kind of picture |
| It's important for parents to realise that potty training is | | | | book or DVD to capture the child's interest. One |
| a huge step in the development of a child and to delay | | | | famous toy that seems to be popular amongst the |
| potty training to three or four years into the child's life | | | | kids at the moment (although not amongst the parents |
| may hamper the baby's development. Generally | | | | because of its high pitched annoying tone) is potty |
| speaking the baby is ready for potty training by the | | | | Elmo - based on the character from Sesame Street. |
| age of 18 months. This means that he / she is | | | | These training aids can help captures the child's |
| physically up to the task, can communicate, can follow | | | | interest but shouldn't be relied on too heavily. |
| simple instructions and is having regular soft formed | | | | Next it's all about introducing some kind of routine to |
| bowel movements. | | | | the baby. So it's advisable to take him / her to the toilet |
| Apart from these crucial signs, there are other signs | | | | or potty to get the baby used to it and to make sure |
| that will give you an idea of how ready the baby is to | | | | that the baby isn't scared or intimidated. This should |
| be potty trained. I call these "nice to have" because | | | | happen over a period of a day or two - just keep |
| they aren't fundamental but if present it means your | | | | making regular trips to the bathroom until the baby is |
| job of training the child will probably be a bit easier. | | | | comfortable with the surroundings. Explain the purpose |
| Nice to Have Baby Potty training Signs | | | | of the toilet and what people use it for. |
| I've already mentioned that the baby must be | | | | The next step is to ditch the nappy and explain how |
| physically able to pull up / down pants, communicate, | | | | and why adults undress before going to the toilet / |
| follow simple instructions and have regular soft formed | | | | potty. Physically show the baby where the excrement |
| bowel movements but you should also look out for | | | | should go by taking the nappy over to the potty and |
| these nice to have signs as well: | | | | putting it in. Next you'd explain that the baby is |
| - Does the baby imitate any actions that you or a | | | | responsible for going to the toilet and make sure that |
| partner does? | | | | the baby understands that he / she can go to the toilet |
| - Is the baby showing signs of wanting some | | | | whenever is required. This is the first time the baby |
| independence? | | | | has ever had independence and responsibility and is a |
| - Does the baby show any signs of understanding | | | | defining moment a child's development. |
| when he / she needs the toilet? | | | | Finally, when all else is sorted, you can resort to night |
| - Does the baby show signs of discomfort after an | | | | training. Be warned that it can take another couple of |
| accident? | | | | years for the babies to master the art of |
| If you answered yes to any of those points then that's | | | | understanding when they need to go to the toilet whilst |
| a very good sign! | | | | asleep. Accidents will happen but handle them |
| How long does it take to complete the baby potty | | | | gracefully and definitely don't punish the child. |