The key to any toddlers toilet training success is to begin when she is ready. Some girls start as young as 18 months, while others may not reach that developmental stage until well into their fourth year. Luckily for parents of girls, they learn quite quickly; to potty train boys will take longer. There really is no point trying to get a head start on the process. Studies have shown that when parents try to potty train a child before she is physically or emotionally ready, the process takes longer to complete. You will arrive at your destination, which is the completion of potty training, no matter when you start.
Start your toddlers toilet training by buying her a potty seat that is her very own, or an adapter or training seat that fits on your big-person potty. Have her try sitting on the potty with her clothes on. When she has practiced this a few times, you can suggest she try it with her diaper or underwear off. Early in the process, your child just needs to get used to the idea of using the potty. If she seems resistant, then don’t be tempted to pressure her.
A good way to get ready to toilet train and to get your daughter focused on the benefits of being potty-trained is by taking her shopping to buy some pretty underwear or cloth training pants. Let her choose whichever kind she wants. Talk with her about the shopping trip ahead of time so she gets excited about the adventure. She will be pleased to be old enough to use the potty and wear underwear just like her mommy or sister.
Teaching your daughter how to wipe properly is one of the most important things you will need to do. Start by explaining to her that she needs to make sure she moves the toilet paper from front to back. This is especially important when she has a bowel movement to avoid spreading bacteria from feces to her urethra and vagina.
She will likely have a few accidents, but eventually she will go into her potty. This is the time to make a big fuss over her. Reward her with a big girl treat, such as watching a special video or getting an extra bedtime story to reinforce the idea that she has reached a significant milestone. Try not to make too big of a deal of every trip to the potty though or she may start to feel nervous and self-conscious with all that attention.
When you acknowledge your toddlers toilet training achievements, you reinforce her pride in the new skill set she has acquired. The more she uses the potty chair, the more adept at potty training she will become. A few potty training tips to keep in mind though; dress her in easy to remove clothing, never demean or punish her for accidents and give her praise when she does well. She has accomplished a great deal when she can finally say goodbye to diapers once and for all.





