While many parents often complain of experiencing difficulty when they are potty training their children, for most families, potty training is relatively easy to do. Even when there are problems or children show signs of resistance to it, these difficulties are usually able to be resolved and the children will eventually become potty trained.

However, this is not always so when dealing with children that have disabilities or developmental delays like autism, Down syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, etc. Children with special needs can be more difficult to potty train.

Most children show signs they are ready to begin using the potty as toddlers, usually between 18 months and 3 years of age, although up until 24 months their muscles may not be strong enough for training to be successful. Rather than going by age, it is better to keep your child's developmental level in mind when you are considering starting potty training.

Let the child show you signs that they intellectually and pschologically ready first. How do you know?

Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your child to work out their readiness to begin potty training:

* Is you child able to follow simple instructions?

* Are they cooperative when it comes to following your directions?

* Are they uncomfortable in dirty diapers and asking for them to be changed?

* Can you recognise when they need to go to the bathroom or need to have a bowel movement?

* Can your child tell you when they need to urinate or have a bowel movement?

* Can your child stay dry for at least 2 hours?

* Does your child have regular bowel movements?

All of the above are very important in your child’s success at the potty. If your child is not ready your efforts will be fruitless.

If you answered yes to all of the above then your child is definitely ready to begin. If you answered yes to some of the questions and no to others then perhaps it is worth holding off the training for awhile longer. Many experts agree that commencing training later achieves control faster than if you hurry your child along before they are ready.

Being uncomfortable in a dirty diaper is an important sign that your child is ready to begin potty training but if your child isn't bothered by a soiled or wet diaper, then you may need to change him more often to get him used to the feeling of being clean and dry.