Potty training is one of the most exciting milestones for many parents. Parents are usually ready to ditch the diapers, which can be a huge motivator for getting your child potty trained. There are several signs you’ll want to look for before you dive into potty training. One of the first signs you’ll notice is that your child notices the messy diaper and wants to be changed into a clean diaper. This occurs around the age of 18 months. Another telling sign is when your child “hides” while doing their business in the diaper. Most children are ready to begin the process of potty training around age two. At this point you may want to consider putting your little one on a schedule, such as attempting to use the toilet every two hours. Putting your child on a schedule helps because sooner or later they’ll go potty in the toilet which helps to solidify the concept. At two years of age most children can anticipate the need to go to the bathroom. This comes from the ability to notice and understand the way the body feels when it’s time to use the restroom. Some things to keep in mind during this time… boys tend to potty train a little later than girls. It’s also important to know that your child’s body must reach a certain level of maturity before toilet training is possible. If your child doesn’t have control over the muscles necessary to hold and release, he/she will not be successful at potty training.