Back in high school, students strived to excel in a sport or activity to earn a letter for their prized letter jacket. Little did we realize that once we become parents, there are unofficial ways to earn our own parenting badges of honor. But this time, it's not about running a mile in under six minutes—it's about having your child walking by six months.
Yes, I said it. As new parents, we unconsciously collect parenting accolades when our little ones reach milestones ahead of schedule. “Oh, yeah. She started crawling at three months.” Or “She's been speaking in complete sentences since she was fifteen months.” You don't mean to boast (okay, maybe you do just a bit…), but you're incredibly proud. So it's only natural to want to apply the same early achievement to potty training and get them trained as soon as possible. But let me tell you: if your child isn't ready, you'll end up with pee and poop all over that beautiful parenting letter jacket!
So before you hop on the potty-training bandwagon, here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine whether you and your child are prepared.
Eight Questions to Evaluate If Your Child Is Ready for Potty Training
1. Does my child show any curiosity?
A child who naturally expresses interest will likely learn faster than one who doesn't. And if you overlook that interest, you might miss their optimal training window.
2. Am I prepared to be fully present?
Initially, successful potty training depends as much on the parent as on the child. Are you mentally ready for this journey? The younger the child, the more the parent needs to stay attuned to their signals. Even after training, they may not hold their bladder or bowels as long as a child a year older, so success often hinges on parental support.
3. Am I ready for bathroom stops while out and about?
It sounds odd, but diapers can actually be more convenient for some kids than underwear. Once they're trained, trips to the grocery store or Target will likely involve potty breaks—sometimes more than one. Oh my!
4. Do they get upset when they're messy or wet?
A child who dislikes being dirty or wet will usually train more easily than one who doesn't mind. I had a son who would pee his pants and never tell us. Because he DID. NOT. CARE, which meant potty training was a LONG process!
5. Are they older than 24 months?
There are always exceptions, but the younger the child, the longer it may take to become fully trained. While some kids manage at 18 months without issues, I believe the sweet spot for most children is between 24 and 36 months. However, if your child shows interest, don't miss their window, regardless of age. So go for it.
6. Are their bowel movements predictable?
If their poop is regular, it's easier to sit them on the potty and get them to go. If it's irregular, you'll rely more on their ability to tell you, which can be tricky with young kids but not impossible.
7. Am I willing to wake up and take them at night?
Some children don't night-train at the same time as day-train, but some do. For those who do, the parent must be ready to get up and escort them to the potty during the night to maintain success.
8. Are they over three?
Even if you answered no to all these questions, once a child reaches age three, they are almost certainly ready! So it's worth your time because the older they get, the more disgusting diaper changes become. Am I right?
That wraps up our quiz portion of this article. If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, your child is likely ready to potty train! Congratulations! The next step is deciding which method to use: slow and steady or fast and furious. My favorite book for quick training is Potty Training in Three Days.
Cheers to earning your potty training parenting letter!
Did I forget any questions? Tell us what else should be on this list!
