Is My Son Ready for Potty Training Yet?

Question: Is My Son Ready for Potty Training Yet?

A reader says, "My 19-month-old grabs a diaper from his diaper bag, goes and hides in a corner, and tries to take his own diaper off. I'm wondering if this is a sign that he's ready to be potty trained. Is he ready? Or is something else going on?"

Answer: I always say that age is not as important as readiness when it comes to potty training. This is true of a younger child as well as an older child. Everyone must learn at their own pace and in their own time.

What your son is showing is one of the signs of potty training readiness, which is awareness and understanding. I consider it the most important sign. If a child doesn't understand what urinating or having a bowel movement is, you will run into big problems with potty training and it will be a frustrating event for everyone. It seems to me like your child knows that he has already gone to the bathroom or is about to and it's time for a new diaper. This is wonderful.

But it's just a first step. Look for the other signs of readiness, too. Ask yourself,

• Does my son follow simple directions well?
• Is he interested in the toilet?
• Can he tell me when he wants to go to the bathroom?
• Can he pull his pants up and down and wash his hands himself?
• Is he staying dry for several hours at a time during the day now?

Chances are he's not completely ready now, but he will be soon. Read some of these tips for a family with a 20-month-old who was gearing up for potty training. There are many things that you can do to help the process along even though it won't mean sitting on the potty just yet.

Also, one last note... if your child is hiding in the corner, it may also mean that he desires privacy for a bowel movement. I would not discourage this at all. It's perfectly normal and can also work in your favor. You can offer him the privacy of the bathroom when you start potty training in earnest and he may find he likes that a lot more than the very public nature of the diaper. If he heads to the corner, perhaps you could even suggest that he can head to the bathroom instead because it's quieter in there. Allow him to leave the diaper on for now, though, but he will be one step closer to the toilet.

Best of luck to you.

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