Health Tip: Preparing for Potty Training

Preparing for the challenges of potty training can make achieving the milestone easier.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions to prepare for potty training:

• Offer plenty of praise and be very positive, even for the smallest progress.
• Create consistent expectations and communicate them clearly to your child.
• Understand that you may need to change tactics as your child's needs, skills and behaviors change. Stay involved and pay attention to techniques that are no longer working.
• Enjoy moments with your child that are funny and sweet, rather than feeling frustrated. Take heart knowing that your child will eventually learn to use the potty.