So have you got all the equipment? Potty, seat, pants etc?

Have you told everyone that you are potty training and more importantly agreed a stratagy with your childs main carers if it's not you?

Why is this important? continuity, this means what words your use, do you have special words for poo and wee? Do you have family words for genitalia? Daft as this seems it is important that everyone uses the same key words, if you say foo foo then everyone else should, if you say Pee and someone else says Number One he will become very confused. This also include underwear, pants, panties, knickers etc

Do you plan to stick to a timetable of sorts? For instance before or after every meal? every 20 minutes, after every tv programe. You and your child's carer must try to stick to the same routine, this helps your child train their bladder and bowel. If necessary draw up a chart to help you keep a record.

Have you discussed it with your child, after all they are the main participants in this big adventure. Making sure that they understand what you want them to do, and making sure they are involved. Get them to help pick a potty or the colour pants they are going to wear.

Most small children are fasinated by toilets, and love to watch (how many times do you actually manage to go to the toilet alone?) so discuss what is happening "Mummy needs a wee now" and explain the process, keep it simple and try to avoid using the toilet as a monster eating Poo and Wee.   Little boys might benifit from watching Daddy, especially if you plan to teach him to stand up to urinate at a later date.

How do we start?

Often parents like to start simply, just introducing the patty at certain times of the day, for instance as soon as you take off the first nappy of the day, or just before getting into the bath. This gives your child a gentle start to the potty.

Keeping the potty close at hand is very important, it's no good keeping it in the toilet for the first few days your child simply wont be able to hang on. Keeping a newspaper or bedwetter pad to put it on will save tears and tantrums from you when accidents do happen on your floor.

Clothing that doesnt have lots of buttons, or buckles will help, you wont get alot of notice when she want to go! You could opt for the near naked appoach for a short time, many parents deliberatly wait until the warmer weather so that he can run around in the garden without clothes on.

Pick a week or two that is quiet and don't make too many plans to be far from a toilet or potty, you can of course take the potty with you and certainly it will help continity when out and about if your child has a familiar place to perform.