If there is one word of wisdom to always remember if you are trying to potty train toddlers, it is “patience.” You may think your child is ready to be potty trained, but if you try too early, you will only find frustration. Even if your first child was potty trained at 18 months, that doesn’t mean that your next child will be, and forcing them to move faster than they are developmentally capable of doing is frustrating for you and demeaning to them.
One of the most powerful potty training tips is that you have to first treat your children as individuals. This is not a race! You should not be competing against other parents in the neighborhood to see which kid is out of diapers first. Your child develops at his or her own particular rate and that, rather than your skills, will be the determining factor on when it is time to start.
The first step to potty train toddlers is to determine if they are psychologically read to be potty trained. There are several signs that you should be looking for, including their own interest in potty training. If they see their older brothers and sisters not wearing diapers and they want to use the bathroom like they do, then you know that their interest in the process will help it go smoother.
Your child should also be physically capable of holding their urine for extended periods of time, not to mention the fact that they will have to pull up and down their own pants. Without these two skills, no potty training techniques will ever work.
The real key to potty training your children is patience and understanding your child, without overestimating their developmental stage. By understanding just where they are in their life and taking your time, you will have a much easier time of potty training.