Potty Training Readiness: The 6 Early Signs That Your Child is Ready to Begin

Sean October 8, 2009 - 5 Comments
Potty Training

Though potty training is a process, it is important to know when to get started.

Knowing what to look for is the key to early success.

Check for these 6 early signs to see if your child is ready for potty training and let the process begin!

1) Language

The child is articulate and demonstrates and clear understanding of parent requests. The child also remembers information and can take action. Look for specific examples of this by giving a 2-3 step direction.

For example: Please go get your blocks and we will build a tower.

Being able to follow directions boosts a child’s self esteem and increases listening comprehension.

2) A Place for Everything

When children can pick up toys/books and place them in cubbies or on shelves they demonstrate a sense of organization and routine.

Giving children a sense of orderliness, opportunities to arrange things and routines enhances parent expectations and gives children security.

3) Physiological Awareness

Building an awareness of our body parts, functions and bathroom vocabulary is part of language development and increasing your child’s awareness of their body.

When your child has an awareness of body patterns he will point or articulate that the diaper is soiled.

Children will also assign terms for body functions such as #1 or #2,poo poo orwee wee. Make it a team effort to use the same words for the body functions so that everyone is on the same page.

4) Identify a Schedule

Start looking for predictable times that children eliminate.

How long does the diaper stay dry before a diaper change, does your child stay dry during nap time and are bowel movements at predictable times such as during or after meals?

Making note of elimination times and make sure to search for patterns that can help your child understand how the body functions, especially in regard to time time.

5) Imitation is a Form of Flattery

It is natural for children to emulate mom and dad.

Typically children will wear parent’s shoes, imitate speech patterns (â€œI need to go to Target now), pretend to drink coffee and even though this tickles our funny bone it is also a positive sign that they are watching you closely. Modeling positive expectations is one of the most powerful forms of communication.

This is a great opportunity to translate parent’s bathroom behaviors to transitioning toddlers to imitate and eliminate.

Children naturally want to imitate parents and siblings, so use this desire as a powerful opportunity to transition your expectations to the bathroom.

6) Focus

When a child can sit down and learn new tasks for short periods of time and manipulate objects, draw, or put a simple 5 piece puzzle together, this is a sign of interest for more advanced activities and expectations like potty training.

One or more of these signs can indicate that your child is ready for potty training.

Best of luck and congratulations on getting started!