Q, When's the right time to start teaching your child to use the potty?
When your child shows signs, emotionally and developmentally, that your child is ready....Here are some clues:: your child's diaper stays dry for several hours, your child knows ' bathroom ' words such as pee, poop, and wet or whatever terms your family uses....Your child's interested watching other family members use the toilet , If you see some of these behaviors, give it a go!...If not, hold off for a few more weeks, When your child is ready to learn, he/she will.... :P
Q, At what age are most children ready to try?
It varies widely...While 18-24 months is typical, some children may not be ready until even later.....
How exactly do I teach my child?
With lots of patience and a schedule....Most children tend to urinate or have a bowel movement a hour or so after a meal....Have your child sit on the potty soon after he/she's finished breakfast and again after dinner.....Make ' going potty ' fun , read a story together, play a game , or sing to your child....If your child's successful making a big deal out of it:: say something like , ' I'm so proud of you ' If nothing happens after ten minutes or if your child gets fidgety and wants to get up, put your child diaper back on, praise your child for trying and leave the bathroom together....The idea is to get your child used to a potty training....If you stick to the schedule every day, your child will get the hang out of it!
Q, Should I get a floor potty or a ring for the toilet seat?
Try both, and see which one you and your child prefer, Many children want to use the ' big potty ' and a padded ring which attaches to a standard toilet, play into a sense of feeling grown up....Your child can put it on and take it off by him/herself, though you may want to keep a step stool in the bathroom...On the other hand, it's easier for children to get on and off a plastic floor potty....Remember, though:: Potty chairs need constant cleaning and rings don't...
Q, What will my child do first in potty?
Most likely number two, but there are plenty of children who learn to urinate first and children who learn to pee and poop at almost the same time....Look for signs that your child's about to go, grunting, making a face, so you can get your child to the bathroom in time....If you have a ' boy ', don't be surprised if he prefers to pee seated ( remind him to point his penis down ), which is easier than standing....
Q, I've heard girls learn to use the potty faster than boys do, true? How long does it take?
Girls tend to begin a few months earlier than boys, but every child, regardless of gender is different and learns at his/her own pace....Some 2 years olds may master the potty in just a couple of weeks, others may take several months or more....And that's only during the day, staying dry at night ususally takes even LONGER, a few weeks to many months....At night, your child has to hold urine for many hours, and if he/she's a deep sleeper, your child may not wake up when he/she feels the urge to pee....Be prepared for accidents by protecting your child's mattress with a waterproof sheet or mattress pad....
Q, How often should I remind my child to go?
Once your child had some success, ask serveral times a day, especially before you leave the house....Reminders help children get into a habit of thinking about the potty....
Q, Should I give out rewards? if so, what?
Experts say that positive verbal reinforcement is a major factor in successful toilet teaching, giving your little one praise or a hug for a jobwell done is a great idea!
Q, When should we start using training pants?
If your child has difficulty taking off his diaper to use the potty, switch to disposable training pants, they're easier for little hands to get on and off....While some parents think that putting a child is underwear will encourage him/her to use the toilet, experts say it doesn't have that effect if he/she isn't ready, the only result is dirty underwear...
No matter how well your child has adapted to toilet teaching, he/she'll undoubtedly have a few mishaps along the way....The best approach to handling them is to stay calm and make as little fuss as possible, even if you feel frustrated or embarrassed....Your child isn't doing it on purpose...Most often, a child doesn't make it to the bathroom on time because he/she's playing or distracted...If it's early in the teaching process, you might say ' Oh, your pants are wet, Let's change them ' NEVER punish a child or make him/her clean up his/her own mess, this could lead to long-term resistance...Take your child's potty seat with you when you leave home, using a familiar toilet may reduce accidents away from the home.....
When your child shows signs, emotionally and developmentally, that your child is ready....Here are some clues:: your child's diaper stays dry for several hours, your child knows ' bathroom ' words such as pee, poop, and wet or whatever terms your family uses....Your child's interested watching other family members use the toilet , If you see some of these behaviors, give it a go!...If not, hold off for a few more weeks, When your child is ready to learn, he/she will.... :P
Q, At what age are most children ready to try?
It varies widely...While 18-24 months is typical, some children may not be ready until even later.....
How exactly do I teach my child?
With lots of patience and a schedule....Most children tend to urinate or have a bowel movement a hour or so after a meal....Have your child sit on the potty soon after he/she's finished breakfast and again after dinner.....Make ' going potty ' fun , read a story together, play a game , or sing to your child....If your child's successful making a big deal out of it:: say something like , ' I'm so proud of you ' If nothing happens after ten minutes or if your child gets fidgety and wants to get up, put your child diaper back on, praise your child for trying and leave the bathroom together....The idea is to get your child used to a potty training....If you stick to the schedule every day, your child will get the hang out of it!
Q, Should I get a floor potty or a ring for the toilet seat?
Try both, and see which one you and your child prefer, Many children want to use the ' big potty ' and a padded ring which attaches to a standard toilet, play into a sense of feeling grown up....Your child can put it on and take it off by him/herself, though you may want to keep a step stool in the bathroom...On the other hand, it's easier for children to get on and off a plastic floor potty....Remember, though:: Potty chairs need constant cleaning and rings don't...
Q, What will my child do first in potty?
Most likely number two, but there are plenty of children who learn to urinate first and children who learn to pee and poop at almost the same time....Look for signs that your child's about to go, grunting, making a face, so you can get your child to the bathroom in time....If you have a ' boy ', don't be surprised if he prefers to pee seated ( remind him to point his penis down ), which is easier than standing....
Q, I've heard girls learn to use the potty faster than boys do, true? How long does it take?
Girls tend to begin a few months earlier than boys, but every child, regardless of gender is different and learns at his/her own pace....Some 2 years olds may master the potty in just a couple of weeks, others may take several months or more....And that's only during the day, staying dry at night ususally takes even LONGER, a few weeks to many months....At night, your child has to hold urine for many hours, and if he/she's a deep sleeper, your child may not wake up when he/she feels the urge to pee....Be prepared for accidents by protecting your child's mattress with a waterproof sheet or mattress pad....
Q, How often should I remind my child to go?
Once your child had some success, ask serveral times a day, especially before you leave the house....Reminders help children get into a habit of thinking about the potty....
Q, Should I give out rewards? if so, what?
Experts say that positive verbal reinforcement is a major factor in successful toilet teaching, giving your little one praise or a hug for a jobwell done is a great idea!
Q, When should we start using training pants?
If your child has difficulty taking off his diaper to use the potty, switch to disposable training pants, they're easier for little hands to get on and off....While some parents think that putting a child is underwear will encourage him/her to use the toilet, experts say it doesn't have that effect if he/she isn't ready, the only result is dirty underwear...
No matter how well your child has adapted to toilet teaching, he/she'll undoubtedly have a few mishaps along the way....The best approach to handling them is to stay calm and make as little fuss as possible, even if you feel frustrated or embarrassed....Your child isn't doing it on purpose...Most often, a child doesn't make it to the bathroom on time because he/she's playing or distracted...If it's early in the teaching process, you might say ' Oh, your pants are wet, Let's change them ' NEVER punish a child or make him/her clean up his/her own mess, this could lead to long-term resistance...Take your child's potty seat with you when you leave home, using a familiar toilet may reduce accidents away from the home.....
***HUGS*** Angel, Great thread... 
He's only about 10 months old now. 
Oh well, I deserved to be my experience challenge my child(s).
