Bottoms up

Potty training checklist

Your child may be ready to start potty training if he/she:

• Has regular, soft, formed bowel movements
• Can pull his/her pants up and down
• Imitates others' bathroom habits (likes to watch you go to the bathroom, wants to wear underwear, and so on)
• Makes a physical demonstration when he/she's having a bowel movement (such as grunting, squatting, or telling you)
• Has words for stool and urine
• Can follow simple instructions (such as "Give me the toy.")
• Understands the physical signals that mean he/she has to go and can tell you before it happens
• Dislikes the feeling of being in a dirty nappy
• Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours (this shows his/her bladder muscles are developed enough to hold his/her urine in and store it)
• Isn't negative about everything
• Understands the value of putting things where they belong
• Demonstrates a desire for independence
• Can walk and sit down

Once your child is ready it's important to make potty training a priority. It's all too easy to put a nappy back on for a car trip or for convenience when out and about but this sends confusing messages to a child.