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When your child is between the age of 18 months and 3-years-old, it’s time to start thinking about potty training. The best time to start is when your child starts to show an interest in the potty.
Holly Menino sits down with Jackie Swan, the early Intervention Program Director at Summit County Health Department on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast. Together they discuss when to know if your child is ready for potty training and the best ways to teach them.
Question: What are signs that children are ready for potty training?
Answer: Around 18 months, children develop control over their bowel and bladder. Some kids are ready at 18 months and some at age 3. Your child is ready when they stay dry for at least two hours at a time, recognize that they are urinating or having a bowel movement, develops physical skills that are critical for potty training including walking, pulling down pants, getting onto potty, coping parents toiling behavior, follows simple instructions, wants to wear big boy pants, doesn’t like to be in soiled diaper and asks to be changed.
Question: What are some pre-training tips?
Answer: Take trips to the bathroom to practice the routine, even when the child is still wearing diapers, change the diaper in the bathroom.
Question: What are signs not to start potty training?
Answer: When your child is going through significant changes in their life, it might be a good time to wait. Examples include: moving, change of child care arrangements, switching crib to bed, new baby, illness, death in family or crisis. If it’s a stressful time and you see more accidents, this is normal. Take a break and come back when things have settled down.
Question: What should I avoid when potty training?
Answer: Be matter of fact and without lots of emotion, toilet training can have lots of power struggles because the toddler wants control. Don’t force your toddler to use the toilet, avoid power struggles, don’t talk about potty training or doing anything about it for a while until your child shows signs of readiness and interest again.
Once Upon a Potty and Everyone Poops are two recommended books to read with your child.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.