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From dirty, smelly and wet nappies to clean and dry underpants is every parent's desire for their toddlers. However, most parents do not know when and how to start potty training as there seems to have varied answers when it comes to the normal age for potty training. A lot of parents, especially first-timers, often get trapped in the web of parenthood particularly in the part of potty training which often leaves them in the dark. This episode in the toddler's growing up phase should be an exciting journey and doesn't have to be a daunting task and nightmare for parents.
Is it time for potty training yet?
There seems to be a lot of speculations with regard to the normal age for potty training. Some experts would say between 12-24 months, while others claim it to be between 24-48 months. The fact is there is no specific answer to that. So how would you know when and how to start potty training? You have to watch out for signs. It is worthwhile to note that boys and girls would have a different learning pattern when it comes to potty training. Girls are easier to train while boys require more attention and longer timeframe. The potty training readiness would greatly vary between the two genders. Girls are more likely to mimic their mothers, while boys are also likely to mimic their fathers. Having more exposure to the mother versus a father (or the other way around) will have an impact to your child's readiness.
The "ready to potty" signs
So how would you know if your child is ready to say goodbye to nappy and hello to potty? By evaluating your child's behaviour you will know when and how to start potty training. Regardless of what might be the anticipated normal age for potty training, the signs you have to look for are more on the cognitive, behavioural, mental and emotional development. Here are some signs that you can watch out for to find out when your child is ready to potty:
- If your toddler is able to understand and carry out simple instructions, like picking up a toy
- If your toddler starts to mimic and imitate you
- If your toddler starts getting irritated with his or her nappies and wanting to be changed frequently and is uncomfortable when sitting in a mess.
- If your toddler starts to show signs of doing things by themselves such as pulling their own pants
- If your toddler can go for Two to Three hours without wetting his or her diaper
The next big question would be how to start potty training? Children learn faster by imitation so you may want to start the process by going through the motion and by motivating your toddlers through words and gestures. As long as you watch out for the readiness signs, you shouldn't worry about the normal age for potty training. You will simply know when and how to start potty training when your child shows any of the "ready to potty" signs. It won't be long before you too can say bye-bye to nappy woes and hello to more clean and dry days ahead!