Ready to be Potty Trained?

A mommy friend & I were having a chat the other day & the conversation drifted to the Oh-So-Dreaded topic of Potty training.  Just uttering that five-letter word seems to be giving her the willies.

She said she knew she is supposed to enjoy every minute with her son but she’d really, REALLY like to fast-forward through the toilet-training stage, which is about to descend on her household and disturb the diaper-clad peace.

I am sure my friend isn’t the only one feeling so & this is what prompted me to talk about Potty training. This article is dedicated to all the parents who dread potty training, especially to my friend.

So when is your child ready to be potty trained is the big question. If research is to be believed, at two and 3 months, your child officially enters the potty-trainable demographic but may not necessarily be ready to be potty trained.  It is a possibility that most of his/her little daycare friends have crossed the great divide already.   As in case of all milestones, children are unique— and it's important to let your child set the pace for when to start potty training.

If your tot's not ready for potty training, you must be aware even the best techniques would fall flat. So the best thing you can do is wait for them to show these signs of potty training readiness:

Physical signs

• Your child is able to walk and even run steadily.Your child should be coordinated enough to walk to the bathroom and complete the task on his own.
• Your child is able to urinate a fair amount at one go. Kids till the age of 20 months urinate very frequently & thus in small quantities, it’s futile to even attempt to potty train them at this stage. Wait for some time till they pee a fair amount at one time.
• Your child has regular bowel movements which are well-formed happen at somewhat predictable. Make sure your child has milk on schedule, a rhythm or a regular cycle will be helpful to you—this will make your child ready and help him/her become successfully potty trained.
• Has "dry" periods of at least two hours or during naps, which shows that his bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine. Until about 20 months, kids pee very frequently, and if you expect them to control their bladder you sure are having unrealistic expectations. Still every child is different and if your toddler stays dry for an hour or so— at times awakes without dirty/wet nappies— s/he is physically ready.

Behavioral signs

• He's able to perform simple undressing. When nature calls, the potty won't be of much use unless your child can quickly yank down his trousers and pull-ups or underwear. Girls should be able to lift their skirts up.
• Your child can sit at a place for at least 2-5 minutes.If your tot is extremely antsy then getting him to sit in one place to potty train will prove to be a herculean task. Wait till s/he is a little more patient.
• Dislikes wearing dirty wet nappies and diapers. At some point, many preschoolers or toddlers go through a stage when they're loath personal messes — they're irritated by sticky fingers, and more than ready to get away from dirty diapers and nappies. This is a golden opportunity to kick off the potty-training period because your child hates their stinky diapers like you do.
• Shows keen interest in bathroom habits. If your child is ready for toilet training, s/he will want to know what the experts (as in: parents) do. So your little one might want to follow you whenever you enter the bathroom.

• Gives a verbal or physical hint when s/he's is about to have a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you. Some kids seem to get potty trained easily and make sure they tell you when they want to do the big job. Many children tell through actions or sounds — like, by going in a corner or producing grunt sound. Your child might have different ways of telling you… but if s/he is giving you regular signals… its time.
• Takes pride in his accomplishments. Your child showing interest in recognition & appreciation will help you in potty training him. A successful job means rewards, this will ease the process considerably. 

• Is not a contrary or negative stage. If your child is undergoing a negative phase or mood in which he resists all interventions, try stick to your routine/ techniques for a couple of weeks, repetition is the key.

Cognitive signs

• Understands the physical signals which means, your child understands and tells you when they want to pee/poo. They might be able to hold it till you make them sit on the potty.
• Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy."
• Understands the importance of putting things in the right place.
• Understands bathroom lingo. Whether it is kid-friendly jargon like "poop" and "pee" or formal terminology like "defecate" and "urinate," your child's ready for potty training if he understands and is able to use the family's words for bathroom functions and any associated body parts.

Most important of them all Your child's toilet training experience should be positive. If Potty training for you mean tantrum, power struggle and arguments, it is best to take it easy for some time. You might think you’re ready but is your child ready.