Is Your Child Ready to Potty Train?

You've made it through the baby stage and now you are thinking it may be time to ditch the diapers. Does your child show interest in the potty?  Are they able to tell you when they need to go?  Can they stay dry for extended periods of time?  Potty training is a very individual thing.  No one method works for every child.  There is no specific age or time that works best.  Each child, even within the same family, will have a different schedule and a different technique.  Here are a few of the basic that work for many children.

• Make frequent trips to the potty.  Though not always convenient, putting your child on the potty on a regular basis, whether they have to go or not, is often very beneficial in the beginning to help establish a routine.
  
• Offer plenty of positive reinforcement - A little praise goes a long way.  Children love positive reinforcement, and potty training is a good time to use it frequently.  Even if they don't go each time, encourage them to try, praising them when they do.
  
• Try a small prize - Many kids are visual learners.  A sticker chart, M&Ms or a small token make do the trick. 
  
• Encourage modeling - If they go to preschool, seeing the other kids go to the potty may motivate them to want to go to.  Talk about all the people that use the potty, and what fun it is!
  
• Pick out special underwear - Let your child be involved in this process.  A little pride in choosing their big kid underwear will go a long way!
  
• Consider a potty book - Kids love to read.  There are many cute potty books available.  Purchase one and read it and allow them to take it to the potty with them if they need to spend a few minutes in there :)
  
• Practice consistency - Consistency is key. Don't potty train one day and then use diapers the next.  This sends a confusing message to the kids, sometimes it's ok to go in my pants but not others.  

There will be accidents and setbacks, this is a normal part of the process.  Remember, potty training is a marathon, not a sprint.  The end result is always worth it!