Potty Training Age - How To Decide When To Start Potty Training?

One of the most common potty training questions asked by parents is "At what age should we start?". Unfortunately there is no simple answer to the question of potty training age because all children are different, but in this article I will give you some general things to consider. In most cases the potty training process will start when the child is between 18 and 30 months of age, but this is no fixed rule and the correct age for your child will depend on how ready they are in the following developmental areas:

Emotional and Social Skills

1. Motor Skills
2. Cognitive and Verbal Skills
3. Physiological Development
4. Emotional and Social Skills

To determine the readiness of your child in the above areas, ask yourself if he or she:

* Has the ability to walk to the toilet and pull down their own pants? (Motor)
* Has the vocabulary to understand relevant words like potty, pee, pants etc? (Verbal)
* Has the ability to solve problems with logical thought and follow instructions? (Cognitive)
* Has some bladder and bowel control and an awareness of bodily functions? (Physiological)
* Has a desire to show independence and attain parental approval for accomplishments? (Emotional)
* Has a desire to imitate and act like people they look up to, like their parents or siblings? (Social)

If your answered yes to half or more of these questions then your child is probably ready for potty training, never discount your own parental intuition. Parents will usually have a gut feel about the right potty training age of their child and if you are not 100% convinced that your child is ready, then it is normally better to wait. Unfortunately the modern lifestyle don't always allow us to wait, so if you are pressed to start with training for whatever reason, make sure you choose a method that will encourage the above skills.

By: Nathan M Scott

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