How to Potty Train

No matter what your child eventually achieves in life, you will never be prouder than you are on the day your kid starts using the potty. It's great if he earns a Ph.D. from Harvard, but that's nothing compared to the first time you see the light at the end of the diaper tunnel.

But first, you're going to need supplies:

1. Nifty underpants: Get your kid some undies with a character that he or she loves. Getting to wear "big-kid" underpants is a big motivator for many toddlers, especially if they have older siblings. Until the child is ready for full-time underpants, some parents swear by "pull-up"-style training pants, but for some kids, they feel too much like diapers and don't motivate them to use the potty. If you decide to try them out, don't stock up until you know they work for your child.
2. Elastic waist pants: When your kid is still working on getting to the potty on time, you don't want zippers and snaps to complicate things.
3. Books about pottying: A book or two about a child learning to use the potty can be a fun way to introduce the idea to your child. Popular choices include: The Potty Book for Girls and The Potty Book for Boys (by the author of the "Biscuit" series), A Potty for Me, and Once Upon a Potty (with separate versions for boys or girls).
4. Potty chair: There are now potty chairs that play music, convert into stepstools, and perform all manner of other tricks, but all you really need is a basic model that your kid can sit in easily and that can be dumped out with a minimum of fuss.
5. Flushable wipes: Because toddlers can't really get themselves clean with dry toilet paper.
6. Anti-bacterial wipes: For wiping out the potty chair-and sometimes the surrounding areas.
7. Potty seat and stepstool: Because you don't want to be dumping out the potty chair forever. Once your child has mastered pottying, you can move up to a little seat that fits over the regular toilet seat. You'll also need a stepstool if your child can't climb up to the toilet on his or her own. The stepstool can then be scooted over to the sink for handwashing.
8. Prizes: A system of prizes is crucial for some kids to succeed at potty-training. For these children, get some small prizes, such as stickers, to dole out for each successful potty use. (Avoid using snacks or candy as rewards.) Other children are less motivated by prizes; for them, a few bigger prizes-such as books or small toys-should still be used to mark big accomplishments, such as the first successful diaper-free outing or the first poop in the potty.

Now that you're armed, you're ready to start the process;

1. Pick your moment: Most children are ready to drop the diapers sometime between 18 months and 3 years of age. You need to watch your child to determine the right time to start potty training. Some kids will just tell you they don't want to wear diapers anymore, and some (especially those with older siblings) will just start using the potty. But with most children, the signs are more subtle: They're noticeably uncomfortable in wet diapers, they can "hold it" when not wearing a diaper, or they can perform similarly complicated tasks such as putting on a jacket. Keep an eye on your child for these signs, and don't compare to other kids-every one is different (and girls tend to train a little earlier than boys). But starting too early is fruitless: You'll be disappointed, your child will frustrated, and it may put him or her off potty-training for even longer.
   
   
2. Choose your strategy: This is another case where you just need to know your kid. Some respond to the "boot camp" method, where you just set aside a few days and plow through it, but others need a more gradual approach. If you go with the boot camp method, it can be helpful to have your kid go commando-not wearing any bottoms at all can serve as a constant reminder that the diapers are a thing of the past. Also, have dry and salty snacks on hand, so the child will drink more water and juice than usual and thus increase the number of potty trips. This method tends to work best with older toddlers, but if there's no progress after a few days, drop it and try again in a few weeks. If you go with the more gradual method, be especially patient. Kids who need to take their time usually shouldn't be pushed, or they may refuse to use the potty altogether.
   
   
3. Be prepared when you leave the house: The first few trips out will be nerve-wracking. Bring a change of undies and pants when you go, and make sure your child goes potty before you head out. Don't scold the child if he or she has an accident; instead, say something like, "We'll just do better next time."

Once your child is completely potty-trained, you can breathe a sigh of relief-not only for this child, but also for any future children because younger siblings tend to train earlier in order to emulate the older ones. Now, you just have to get them to stay dry at night...

Other Links:
GreatDad.com has a set of 8 great articles just on potty training!