Most
children begin to show signs of readiness to begin toilet training between 18
and 24 months, although some may be ready earlier or later than that. Typically,
boys often start later and need more time to learn to use the potty than girls.

Instead of
relying upon age as a readiness indicator, notice other signs that your child
may be ready to start using the potty, such as the ability to:

• follow simple instructions


• understand words about the toileting process


• control the muscles responsible for elimination


• verbally express a need to go


• keep a diaper dry for 2 hours or more


• get to the potty, sit on it, and then get off the potty


• pull down diapers, disposable training pants, or
  underpants


• show an interest in using the potty or wearing
  underpants

Tips for Toilet Training

·        
Use words to express the
act of using the toilet ("pee," "poop," and
"potty").

·        
Ask your child to inform
you when a diaper is wet or soiled.

·        
Identify behaviors
("Are you going poop?") so that your child can learn to recognize
peeing and pooping.

·        
Use a potty chair your
child can practice sitting on. Start with having your child sit on it clothed.
Then, she can sit on it with a diaper on. And when ready, your child can go without
the diaper.

If you
judge your child to be ready to start to use the potty, these tips may help:

·        
Allocate some time for potty-training.

·        
Do not force
your child to sit on the toilet against her will.

·        
Demonstrate to your child
how you sit on the toilet while explaining what you're
doing, because children learn by watching adults. You also can have your child
sit on the potty seat and watch while you (or a sibling) use the toilet.

·        
Establish a routine. You
may initiate toilet teaching by having your child sit on the potty after waking
up with a dry diaper, or about an hour after drinking a god amount of fluid.
You may be able to catch your child peeing. Only put your child on the potty
for a few minutes a couple of times a day, and let your child get up if she
wants to.

·        
Try catching your child in
the act of pooping. Children usually show signs of needing to use the bathroom as
their faces turn red, and they may grunt or squat. And many kids have a quasi-regular
routine of passing a bowel movement on a regular day.

·        
Have your child sit on the
potty within 15 to 30 minutes after meals to take advantage of the body's
natural tendency to have a bowel movement after eating (this is called the
gastro-colic reflex).

·        
Remove a bowel movement
(poop) from your child's diaper, put it in the toilet, and tell your child that
poop goes in the potty.

·        
Make sure your child's clothing
are convenient for potty training so that she is able to undress herself
easily.

·        
Some parents are OK with
keeping their child diaper-free some time during the day. In case she pees
without wearing a diaper, your child may be more likely to really experience
what's happening and feel uncomfortable. If you choose to follow this strategy,
you may want to keep the potty nearby.

·        
Offer your child small
rewards, such as a hug, some praise, or stickers
for every time she goes in the potty- but no candy. Keep a chart of successful
attempts. Be positive, this
helps your child learn faster than when she gets punished. When she fails,
tell her you’re sure she’ll do better next time and ask her to help you clean
up. While she is toilet-training, praise your child for each success,
and provide predictable, non-punitive consequences (such as helping to clean
up) for each failure.

·        
Make sure every person who
looks after your child, like the grandparents or daycare teachers stick to the
same routine and use the same names for body parts and bathroom acts, so that
your child does not get confused.

Regarding your child’s language development, she should
ideally be able to do the following:

COMMUNICATIVE

• Has vocabulary of at least 50 words

• Uses 2-word phrases

• Asks parent to read a book

COGNITIVE

 What do you think your child understands?

• Follows 2-step commands

• Names one picture, such as a cat, horse, bird, dog, or man

• Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books

• Corrects you if you change a word in a book he knows

• In response to, “Where is _____?”, points to object or animal in a book

If she has no ear problems and
is otherwise thriving normally, make sure you talk to her more often,
especially if she does not receive enough language stimulation on a day to day
basis (no older siblings, no daycare etc.). If you’re still concerned, discuss
this with her pediatrician for investigation.