Generally speaking, a child learns to be comfortable with a potty around their second year, but like all other aspects of a child’s development, everyone is different. Therefore, the question of when to start potty training depends on the readiness of the child.

Until around 20 months, a child’s bladder empties frequently, making it difficult for them to maintain their personal needs long enough to go to the bathroom. In addition, it is at this time that the child learns to dress and undress himself.

Other parents prefer to potty train their children during the summer, when they feel more comfortable going around the house with fewer clothes on. If your child isn’t ready for summer, don’t try to force it. When to start potty training now will depend on your observations of your child’s readiness.

It is found that boys take longer to learn as they also have to learn to urinate standing up. Other family members should show you the right way to go.

Here are some signs of when to start potty training.

• A child may be ready to be potty trained if they can stay dry for about 2 hours every day.
• If your child becomes interested when you or a family member goes to the bathroom, it could be a good sign of when to start potty training.
• When you notice that your child has regular bowel movements, for example, after breakfast.
• If your child can show you that he is currently having a bowel movement through gestures or sounds, now is a good time.
• When your child can let you know that he wants his diaper changed when it’s dirty, he’s also showing signs of when he should start potty training.
• When your son can pull his pants up and down, introducing him to the toilet now might be the best time.

These signs are usually seen when the child is around 18 to 24 months old. But it’s not common to see 2-3 year olds still in diapers.

There may be signs of when to start potty training, there are also some signs of waiting to do the training at another time.

Here are some of them:

• If a new baby comes to the family.
• When trying to move your child from crib to bed, maybe it’s time to stop wondering when to start potty training.
• If you are moving to a new place, first postpone potty training.
• If the family is experiencing some relationship problems, it is better to reserve time for the future.

Remember that your child is different from other children, so comparing him to others does not help at all. If your neighbor’s child who is the same age as yours can already use the toilet and yours can’t, don’t try to rush and pressure your child into potty training in no time. Teaching him in a hurry can do more harm than good. Your child may develop anxiety about going to the bathroom, which can be difficult to correct.