All parents want the satisfaction and comfort of their children being potty trained from as early an age as possible. There’s nothing better than noticing for the first time that you don’t actually have to pack a “baby bag” full of diapers, nappies, wipes, mats, creams, powders, and everything related to the baby changing table! However, some parents put too much pressure on themselves and their young children to try to make this happen.

For some reason, we parents love to exaggerate the efforts and accomplishments of our little bundles of joy. I guess that’s what makes us loving parents! Many parents love to proudly announce to the world that their little cherub is potty trained simply because they put their little one on the potty at just the right time and voila, the magical potty is done! Unfortunately babies and toddlers are not kittens and it takes more than one successful mission to win this battle.

So when is the right time to start? The answer is hotly debated and the responses are mixed, however it seems that the general consensus for successful potty training of your toddler is between the ages of around 16 months to 2 years. Keep in mind that this is the general “starting point” and not the actual time frame in which your child should be fully potty trained.

Some people have reported becoming fully toilet trained by the age of 14 to 18 months, but this is extremely rare. Other parents know the struggle of toilet training and have experienced that this stage of development was not successfully completed until the age of 6, 7 and even older. This is by no means the fault of the child or even the parents, but just another example of how different we all are.

I guess the key points in deciding to start potty training are not age related but action related. For example, there is one key behavior your toddler displays that will show you that it is the right time to start.

First of all, this is a stage of communication. If you and your toddler cannot communicate what is required, then you have absolutely zero chance of success. Your toddler needs to be able to understand simple one-, two-, and three-word combinations so that they at least understand what he wants them to do.

Second, your achievement must have changed. They must know that a) they are about to leave or b) they come up to you and tell you that they just left. This stage is also very much highlighted by the “hide” stage where your toddler will go and hide under a table, in another room, or even behind the couch to relieve himself. Your toddler must also have shown that she can “hold it” much longer than before.

Third, your toddler has begun to show interest in why we all go to that little room and may also begin to imitate other family members and want to be “grown up” and use the bathroom.

And fourth, they have mastered the art of taking their pants off (very frustrating, kids love being naked!) and feel discomfort or express aversion to wearing a dirty diaper.

Once your child shows these signs regularly, you’ll be more than ready and have a good chance at potty training. Keep in mind that it is much easier to potty train girls than boys in most cases. Also remember that the decision of when to go to the bathroom is often made by young children themselves despite the parents’ best intentions!