Are you ready to say goodbye to diapers?

Sometimes you wonder if your child is ever going to stop using those nappies. How do you know when diaper-free days are near? We gathered advice from The American Academy of Pediatrics and Diane Stafford, one of the writers of the book Potty Training for Dummies.

Between 2 to 3, you can start potty training. Stafford says, your child is ready if you notice the following:

• She’s interested in watching you use the toilet and helping you flush.
• He’s uncomfortable in dirty diapers and wants them changed.
• She regularly has dry diapers in the morning or stays dry during naps.
• He lets you know when he needs to use the potty.
• She begins to develop a predictable peeing and pooping schedule.

Some may advice you to get started with the toilet training as soon as possible, or to start based on a set schedule – such as, “no later than 18 months!”

Experts now know it is not good to rush kids. Each child will also vary. Your elder child may have been toilet-trained at 2 years old, but don’t be surprised if your younger child takes until 3 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids who start potty training at 18 months may not be fully trained (day and night) until after age 4, while children who start after age 2 are often done by age 3.

Once you feel your child is ready based on Stafford’s guidelines, go ahead and buy that potty seat. Let your toddler try out the potty first, maybe even let him sit on it fully-clothed. Eventually, based on his poop and pee schedule, let him use it. It also helps when you take him with you when you use the toilet yourself. If it’s cool enough for mommy and daddy… it’s bound to be cool enough for the little one. Take advantage of how your toddler idolizes you!

Toddlers also learn with repetition and encouragement . Expect accidents and mistakes though. Never get angry when these happen. Potty training provides many good teaching moments for learning from our mistakes.

My kids also got some help with these good “bathroom reads”:

Once Upon a Potty, by Alona Frankel. This comes in “boy” and “girl” versions, uses humor to help kids grasp the concept of using the toilet.

Time to Pee! by Mo Willems. This won the National Parenting Publication Award Gold Medal, and tells the story of a group of friendly sign-toting mice that encourage kids to use the potty. Each book comes with a success chart and stickers.

Other moms swear by videos and DVD’s that tackle potty training. Those are worth a try too. Most important, remember to be encouraging and patient. Don’t worry, they won’t be in diapers when they’re 21. You’ll stop buying those nappies eventually!

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