It can be hard to figure out when you should begin potty training your child. Every ‘expert’ will tell you something different and you’ll end up feeling plain confused. All you know is that you don’t want to rush your child and while nappies are messy at least it’s a contained mess!

Do you think potty training = accidents? Accidents that you have to clean up? While there will be mishaps, you can minimize the discomfort to you and your child by only beginning when you know your child is ready. Your child is the one that needs to decide when they are ready to begin. And no they are not going to sit you down and tell you its time. You have to look for the signs, the non verbal clues that tell you where they are at.

The most important thing is to be patient. It is not a competition and how early or late your child is trained is no reflection on your parenting skills.

Some parents just don’t seem to want to wait for their child to call the shots and instead force them into doing it early. This is a real problem that can cause all sorts of problems for the child if he or she isn’t ready to start the potty training process. And it is a process, don’t think you can get train your child in a nanosecond. Learning anything new takes time, and learning to use the potty is a big deal when all your life you’ve worn diapers.

Most children are able to begin potty training when they are between the ages of 18 and 24 months. You will know when they are ready because they will be giving off the following clues:

* Interested in using the toilet

* Tries to imitate other family members using the potty

* Is able to tell you that they need to go potty or tell you they went already

* Is able to pull their pants up and down by them self

* Is annoyed when diapers are wet and stays dry for about two hours at a time

* Interested in big kid underwear

So OK, you know they are ready, what next? It's time for you to begin introducing him or her to the potty. Start by choosing a comfortable potty chair that will make potty training fun for your child and is also easy to clean. If you are not sure which chairs your child will like, take them with you when you choose it.

A good way to prepare your child for potty training is by reading a potty training bedtime story at night or by watching a potty training DVD together. You can also teach your child the following steps to going potty on their own:

* Taking underwear off

* Sitting down

* Actually going to the bathroom

* Wiping themselves

* Flushing

* Washing hands afterwards.

Quick tips:
It may help to give your child more liquids so that you can increase potty training chances. This will help your child to build muscle memory and help them train quickly.

Use your oven timer or a watch with an alarm and schedule to take your child to the potty every thirty minutes. Have your child sit for a couple of minutes and read a book together while he’s still on the potty. Turn on the faucet or place your child's feet in warm water to encourage urination. The sound of rushing water is often all the encouragement they need.