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This article is about some of the mistakes you can make when potty training.

Potty Training Mistakes

Potty training isn't always easy, but some parents make it a little more difficult than it needs to be by making some all too common mistakes, especially starting the whole potty training process before their child is ready.

Other common potty training mistakes include:

• starting potty training during a stressful time in your child's life, such as a move or around the arrival of a new baby in the house quickly moving your child to regular underwear as soon as you begin potty training, even before your child shows signs of staying dry for long periods of time or regularly using the potty
• continuing to push potty training when your child obviously isn't interested
• punishing your child for having accidents while you are potty training expecting potty training to be a quick process and being able to finish in a few days or a weekend
• expecting your child to complete all aspects of potty training at the same time, such as potty training in public, having bowel movements on the potty, or using the potty each and every time he has to go
• relying on the same potty training method for each of your kids, which unfortunately, may not work if your kids have very different temperaments
• not realizing that your child may continue to wet the bed at night, even after he has finished potty training, since bedwetting is not usually related to potty training

The root of most of these mistakes are parents who have unrealistic expectations about potty training, which usually include that they should start at a certain age or that they should be finished by a certain age. Although some people now talk about potty training their infants, most parents will find that their kids aren't ready to begin potty training until they are about 18 to 24 months or older and that the whole potty training process can take a good 6 months or more to complete.

Not surprisingly, the older your child is when he begins potty training, the quicker the training typically is. So while a 2 year old might take 6 or 9 months to finish potty training, a 3 year old might just take 3 or 4 weeks.

And keep in mind that 3 is not a magic age when all kids are potty trained. About 25 percent of kids finish potty training after they are 3 years old.

"Potty Training Mistakes", Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com

Potty Training: Girls vs. Boys

Most moms potty train in hopes of (finally!) being able to walk past the diaper aisle. But the difference between teaching boys and girls can seem like night and day. Both genders begin by sitting, but boys eventually learn how to stand and aim. Girls learn more quickly but have to figure out how to position themselves and wipe correctly.

To train boys and girls in their own special way:

Girls

The equipment
Try using a potty chair -- her feet will touch the floor, which relaxes her pelvic muscles. If she's using an adult toilet, give her a step stool.

Positioning
Limit spray by having her sit all the way back so her bottom and vagina are over the potty opening. Encourage her to sit with her knees apart, which will also hep relax her pelvic muscles.

Toilet tactics
Teach her to wipe (or pat) from front to back by letting her watch you. Keep her entertained and sitting with books, stickers, or music next to the potty.

Boys

The equipment
Let him use a potty chair to pee if he's not ready to stand and aim. For pooping, use a potty chair or toilet-seat insert (plus a step stool).

Positioning
Have him push his penis straight down before he sits on the potty chair to avoid scraping it on the splash guard. If he's standing, be sure to position him, feet slightly apart, directly in front of the potty.

Toilet tactics
Have him watch his dad, or show him how to aim his pee into the bowl. To improve his aim, drop a few Cheerios or goldfish crackers in the toilet, then offer him a fun sticker for hitting a few. If he's making poop, give him a book or play some music to encourage him to sit.

Potty Training: Girls vs. Boys, By Jessica Kowal, Parenting