Is Your Toddler Ready for Potty Training? 10-Point Checklist
To know if your child is potty training ready, print and read through the checklist below. Tick the statements that apply to your child in the box provided.
If most of your answers are "**Yes**" then you are safe to begin training. If most of your answers are "**No**", then perhaps you should wait for your child to be better prepared.
However it's important to note that not all children will display all of those signs. Look for a general trend towards independence and an understanding of what it means to go to the bathroom.
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Potty training your baby is going to require 100% commitment for it to succeed. If for some reason you are unable to put in 100% then it may be advisable to wait until you can.
It may also be advisable to avoid starting potty training if:
* There's an arrival of a new baby into the family.
* If any of your child's siblings are going through any problems.
* A change to the family's routine such as people visiting etc.
* Going away on vacation.
* Moving to a new house.
* Starting day care.
* Periods of stress that either one or the other parent is going through.
* Illness.
* If your child is going through behavioral problems – refusing to change clothes, brushing teeth etc.
* If your child is going through a phase where they are being particularly resistant to any activity, then you may want to postpone potty training until later.
If you begin potty training during any of the above situations, successful child potty training will be harder to achieve, because the process needs 100% attention and commitment.
You need to focus on your child and your child needs to be free to co-operate. If their concentration is split between potty training and another significant occurrence in their life, they will not be receptive enough and to put it simply, your efforts will just be wasted.
Add to that that if the experience proves to be unpleasant for your child, and unsuccessful, they will be disheartened and reluctant to try again. Therefore, it may well be advisable to hold off potty training while issues or periods of unsettledness have been resolved and a family routine has once again been established.
