OccupationalTherapy.com Phone: 866-782-9924


Time to Start Potty Training

Britt Collins-Feist, MS, OTR/L

August 22, 2013

Question

When should you start potty training?

Answer

Sometimes children really let us know when they are ready.  If you read developmental books or parenting books, people will say around 18 months they are ready, and sometimes they may not be ready until they are two and half or three years old.  They also may be ready if they are showing you signs.  It really depends on the child. 

Some signs are: they are waking up dry, they let you know when they are wet or dirty and ask to be changed, they show interest in the toilet or if you have gotten a little potty chair, they are really interested in wanting to sit on it.  They start to mimic an older sister or brother.  All of these things could lead you to believe that they are ready to start potty training.  Sometimes parents think, “Oh they have to be two before they are ready,” or “They have to be three before they are ready.”  You actually have to listen to what the child is telling you, either verbally or by observation.

Continued and its subsidiaries provide professional education authored by qualified Subject Matter Experts for continuing education purposes. These materials are intended for educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice or a substitute for individual clinical judgment. Continued is not a clinical healthcare provider; the licensed professional is solely responsible for ensuring that the application of any techniques or information presented is within their legal scope of practice and jurisdictional requirements.


britt collins feist

Britt Collins-Feist, MS, OTR/L

Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Britt Collins, graduated from Colorado State University. She has worked tirelessly on OT and Sensory Integration awareness, research, and application.  Britt has worked in a variety of settings, including pediatric hospital inpatient units, ICUs, rehabilitation, outpatient clinics, homes, schools, and skilled nursing facilities.  With her award-winning OT book series, Sensory Parenting: Newborns to Toddlers, Sensory Parenting: The Elementary Years, and her latest book, Sensory Yoga for Kids: Therapeutic Movement for Children of all Abilities, she's among the cutting-edge leaders in the field.  Britt's first children's book, My Special Brother Bo released on 2/14/19. Currently, Britt resides outside of Memphis, TN.  For more information on Britt, please visit www.sensoryparenting.com and www.sensoryyogaforkids.com


Related Courses

A Sensory Approach to Home
Presented by Britt Collins-Feist, MS, OTR/L
Video

Presenter

Britt Collins-Feist, MS, OTR/L
Course: #5064Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'The presenter was clear, organized and gave good examples and techniques that would work well to use in the home'   Read Reviews
This course provides the participants with sensory strategies including yoga and mindfulness activities to help create home-based therapy ideas for their families. You will learn about sensory regulation and modulation and how to build sensory strategies into a child’s everyday life.

Joint Hypermobility Syndromes: Assessment and Intervention
Presented by Valeri Calhoun, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Video

Presenter

Valeri Calhoun, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Course: #5376Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Good background information'   Read Reviews
This course will cover upper extremity assessment and treatment strategies for the pediatric/young adult population affected by joint hypermobility syndromes. The treatment focuses on both orthopedic strategies along with adaptive methods for these individuals.

Assessment and Intervention for Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) in Feeding Therapy
Presented by Samantha Heidenreich, OTD, MOT
Video

Presenter

Samantha Heidenreich, OTD, MOT
Course: #5377Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'The content and the instructor!'   Read Reviews
This course will provide foundational review of information about anatomy and physiology of Tethered Oral Tissues and the functional implications that can impact feeding. Additionally, the course will prepare clinicians to support feeding goals and outcomes by improving their ability to assess and provide intervention for Tethered Oral Tissues.

OT And Dyslexia
Presented by Magan Gramling, OTR/L, CLT, CTP, CFNIP
Video

Presenter

Magan Gramling, OTR/L, CLT, CTP, CFNIP
Course: #6661Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'Excellent examples and resources for oractice'   Read Reviews
Identifying the common childhood disorder of dyslexia and the role of occupational therapy practitioners will be explored in this course.

Early Detection Of Cerebral Palsy: Best Practices And The Role Of Therapy Providers
Presented by Maria Baldino, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP, Lindsay Moore, PT, DPT, PCS
Video

Presenters

Maria Baldino, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPLindsay Moore, PT, DPT, PCS
Course: #6917Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'Very professional knowledgeable and good use of handouts and examples'   Read Reviews
This course will introduce the current best practices in the early detection, diagnosis, and intervention of cerebral palsy. Participants will explore therapists' critical role in identifying early signs, supporting clinical pathways, and guiding families through the process.