When Is it Time to Potty Train?

One of the biggest mistakes a parent can make when potty training children is waiting too long to start. Many moms and dads tell me that they are waiting for their child to show signs of readiness before they begin toilet training a child. Some moms are still saying this when the child is 3, 4 and even 5 years old. I personally believe that 96% of all kids are ready at a much earlier age.

I get many moms and dads who say that their child doesn't talk well or they don't understand everything that is said to them. Let me just say that your child does not, let me repeat, does not need to know how to talk well. He or she does not need to be able to say "Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom because I need to use the potty." Baby talk works just as well.

Now with the understanding that your child doesn't need to talk well to be ready for potty training, what are some of the signs of readiness?

Well first you need to be sure that your child isn't going to bed with a bottle or cup. This is very important. Besides the fact that it's very unhealthy for a child to sleep with a bottle, children who sleep with bottles or sipper cups cannot wake up dry in the morning; it's just impossible and it will hinder the potty training process.

The second thing is to do a simple test on your child. Our Potty Training Guide gives details on this simple test. The guide will tell you how and when to perform the test. Children as young as 16 months can pass the test and are ready to be potty trained. Is your child ready?