Potty Training Girls

Ready for the Potty

How do you know? Well, there are several signs you can watch for. The average age that toddlers begin to potty train is typically around two and a half years old. Some start as early as eighteen months, while others may not begin until they've reached their third birthday.

Your little girl may be ready to begin using the potty if she does at least one of the following:

1. She asks questions when you use the potty.
2. She comes to you as soon as she has soiled her diaper.
3. She is interested in wearing pull-up diapers or even panties.
4. She can stay dry all night long and for several hours during the day.
5. She is curious about bodily functions and talks about what is going on with her body.

If she is demonstrating at least a couple of these signs, then she may be ready to begin potty training.

Easy Access Clothing

One reason that many parents feel potty training girls is easier than boys is the type of clothing they can wear. When babies first begin to potty train, time is of the essence. If they say they have to go...they have to go! You might want to clothe your little girl in cute dresses. You and she won't have to struggle with pulling down shorts or pants, unzipping zippers, and unbuttoning buttons. All she has to do is lift her dress and pull her diaper down!

Seasonal Potty Training

If you do choose to put dresses on your baby girl, you might also want to consider the season that you are beginning the potty training sessions in. Summertime typically works well. Little girls can run around without a lot of cumbersome clothes on. When you are at home, you may want to let your little girl wear only some pull-ups and a t-shirt.

Encourage Her Feminine Side

Little girls typically love pretty things, and clothes are no exception. When your daughter is ready to begin potty training, you and she can take a trip to the local department store and search for the perfect panties. Let your daughter pick out her favorites, and tell her that these are what she can wear once she starts using the potty. She may love them so much that she doesn't want to have an accident in them!

Demonstrate the Technique

The best way for your little girl to learn how to use the potty is to watch you. Keep her potty beside the toilet in the bathroom. Invite her to come into the bathroom with you, and talk to her about what you are doing. She may want to sit on her potty while you are on the toilet. Praise her if she does. You might want to keep a few of her favorite books in the bathroom for her to look at, too. Once she has success using the potty, offer her plenty of praise.

Potty Training Girls

Finally, it is important that you try not to pressure or force your child to use the potty. This should be a pleasant experience that makes her proud of herself. She should want to use the potty for herself, not just to please you. Consider what is going on in her life before you begin the training process. Are there any major changes occurring? Has she been sick, or has your family recently moved? Has her daycare situation changed, or has there been a death in the family? If this is a period of great change, wait until things have settled down. With time and patience, your little girl will be potty trained before you know it!