You really need to know when it's time to stop and don't expect a performance at first. If your child can't go after 2 - 4 minutes, just try again later on. If your child starts to strongly protest when you suggest it's time to return to the potty, don't insist. This resistance could mean it's not the right time to start training.

Allow your child to learn from you and other family members since kids are often interested in their family's bathroom activities. It may be helpful to allow a child to watch their parents, older brothers and sisters, trusted friends, or even relatives when they go to the bathroom. Seeing other people using the toilet will make children want to do the same.

Your child should be an active participant in getting himself or herself dressed and undressed. Have your child practice lowering and raising their underwear or training pants as well as putting them on and taking them off.

Regarding the bathroom, make sure to keep the door from closing or locking. You might put a towel over the top of the bathroom door to prevent a child from locking themselves in the bathroom or accidently closing the door on their hand or fingers. This will also prevent the door from closing.

Potty training boys can actually be a lot easier than potty training girls. Have a boy try sitting on the toilet to urinate before learning to stand, which will reduce sprays and dribbles on the walls and floors -- and prevent spills all over the potty chair as well.

You should also respect your child's feelings and privacy. Even though they're little people, they do have these feelings. Potty training focuses so much on their most personal and private body parts it's important to proceed in a dignified and respectful manner. Some children require privacy and simply won't go if there's someone looking at them or in the bathroom with them, so respect this.

You can also expect some fooling around by toddlers. For instance, when they go through the phase of saying "no" to everything, their "no" doesn't necessarily mean "no." In other words, if you ask your toddler if s/he needs to go potty and the response is a resounding "no," this response sometimes has nothing to do with your question. Understanding this is all about learning to read your child to become familiar with all their forms of communication.

During the intitial phases, you'll be taking your child to the bathroom every hour and after meals, snacks and sleep. A lot of parents get into the habit of asking their child if they have to go potty. It's better to try telling them and then taking them. Initiating is very often the last step in the entire process.

Remember, potty training is definitely not going to be an overnight process but an ongoing program, so you must be patient with your child and back off if the process doesn't seem to be working.

A reward system is almost always necessary during this important time.

Go To: Giving Rewards and Praise