When to begin potty training?

When to Start Potty Training 

Most infant potty training begins sometime between 18 months and three years of age, so if your child is otherwise growing and developing well, it is perfecty normal for a 2 ½  year old to refuse to use the potty.

Many parents feel pressure to complete all child potty training by 3 years old. There is no magic age by which a child must be potty trained. When to start potty training depends on your child’s motivation, growth and development. Some children are not fully potty trained until 3 ½ to 4 years of age. Potty training at a later age is no cause for alarm. What you can do to speed up the process of potty training is not begin toilet training your child during times of stress or change, such as the family moving or welcoming a new baby. Also, never push and never punish. Be sure to go at your child's pace. Show strong encouragement and praise when your child is successful, with only mild disappointment and hope for a better result next time when your child makes a mistake.

As with any child, it is important to look for signs of readiness before you begin potty training, including:

• staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time
• having regular bowel movements
• being able to follow simple instructions
• being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed
• asking to use the potty chair
• asking to wear regular underwear

If your child has begun to tell you about having a dirty diaper you should praise him or her for telling you and encourage your child to tell you in advance next time. Even if your child isn't totally ready to begin potty training, you can still buy a potty chair and have your toddler decorate it with stickers and sit on it with clothes on to watch TV, etc. Whenever your child shows signs of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement you should ask if he or she wants to use the potty or take your child to the chair and explain what you want. Only keep a toddler seated for a few minutes at a time. Don't insist, and be prepared to delay training if your child resists. Other good techniques include modeling, where you allow your child to see family members or other children using the toilet. This involves narrating what is happening and asking questions while potty training, such as, “Did you just sit on the potty?” or, '’Did you just poop in the potty?”