Try to stop using diapers after a couple of weeks of successful potty breaks and staying dry during the day. You can start dressing your child in training pants or pull-on diapers instead.

After your child urinates into the potty without your prompting for a full day, you can then switch to regular underwear.

Once your child wears underwear, use diapers or pull-on diapers only during sleep and long trips away from home. Let your child chose underwear to buy.

Teach girls to spread their legs and wipe carefully from front to back. This helps prevent bringing germs from the rectum to the vagina or bladder. Also make sure your child washes hands afterward.

You can teach your child some bathroom basics months before you start the actual potty training. These lessons help your child get ready to potty train. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following timeline of steps to take.

By the time your child is 18 months old:

• Use and explain basic bathroom words. Start teaching your child simple words like "pee," "poop" and "potty." Say these words often. You can tell your child that every person pees and poops. You also can explain that pee and poop are like garbage that the body makes. But don't use words such as dirty or yucky when you talk about stool.
• Point out when your child needs to go to the bathroom. Some clues that your child needs to pass urine or stool include pacing, dancing, crossing the legs and tugging at clothes. When you see one of these clues, tell your child what it means. You could say that "poop is ready to come out" or "it's time to pee."
• Ask your child to come to you for diaper changes. Teach your child to let you know when your child soils a diaper. Try to make diaper changes pleasant too. Don't show any frustration or anger. Never yell at, scold or punish your child for soiling a diaper or urinating during a diaper change.

By the time your child is 21 months old:

• Explain what the toilet is used for. Can your child walk to and sit on a toilet?
• Point out other toilets. If you pass by toilets in a friend's home or a store, mention the toilets to your child. This helps your child remember what they are.

After your child understands what the toilet is used for:

• Teach what a potty chair is. Tell your child that the potty chair is like a small toilet for children.
• Prepare the potty chair. You don't need to put the potty chair in the bathroom right away. At first, place it wherever your child spends the most time. Let your child play with the chair for a few days. You could even put your child's name or picture on it.
• Show examples of toilet use. Can your child walk to and sit on a toilet?
• Teach not to sit on the potty chair in a diaper. Can your child walk to and sit on a toilet?
• Use make-believe. Ask your child to pretend to potty train a toy such as a stuffed animal or a doll.

If you answered mostly yes, your child might be ready. If you answered mostly no, you might want to wait — especially if your child is about to face a major change, such as a move or the arrival of a new sibling.

Your readiness is important, too. Let your child's motivation, instead of your eagerness, lead the process. Try not to equate potty training success or difficulty with your child's intelligence or stubbornness. Also, keep in mind that accidents are inevitable and punishment has no role in the process. Plan toilet training for when you or a caregiver can devote the time and energy to be consistent on a daily basis for a few months.

Potty training success hinges on various milestones rather than age. These milestones include how your child moves, acts, talks and controls the urge to urinate or pass stool.

Certain clues can help you figure out whether your child is ready to start potty training. Ask yourself if your child:

• Signals a need to use the bathroom, such as hopping up and down or tugging the pants.
• Can walk to the toilet and sit on the potty chair.
• Can pull clothes up and down.
• Can wait two or more hours at a time before urinating.
• Passes stool three or fewer times a day.
• Comes to you when a diaper needs to be changed.
• Knows that the toilet and potty chair are used for passing urine and stool.
• Enjoys sitting on the potty chair.
• Usually follows your directions.
• Can ask questions with one word: Here? Where? Now? What? When? How?

If your child does most of these things, your child might be ready. If you answered mostly no, you might want to wait. Waiting makes sense especially if your child is about to face a major change. For instance, your family may be in the middle of moving or getting ready for the birth of another child.

Your readiness is important too. Let your child's motivation and skills lead the process rather than your eagerness. Try not to equate potty training success with your child's intelligence or equate potty training trouble with stubbornness.

Potty training is a big step for kids — and their parents. The secret to success? Timing and patience.

Potty training success hinges on physical, developmental and behavioral milestones, not age. Many children show signs of being ready for potty training between ages 18 and 24 months. However, others might not be ready until they're 3 years old. There's no rush. If you start too early, it might take longer to train your child.

Is your child ready? Ask yourself:

• Can your child walk to and sit on a toilet?
• Can your child pull down his or her pants and pull them up again?
• Can your child stay dry for up to two hours?
• Can your child understand and follow basic directions?
• Can your child communicate when he or she needs to go?
• Does your child seem interested in using the toilet or wearing "big-kid" underwear?

If you answered mostly yes, your child might be ready. If you answered mostly no, you might want to wait — especially if your child is about to face a major change, such as a move or the arrival of a new sibling.

Your readiness is important, too. Let your child's motivation, instead of your eagerness, lead the process. Try not to equate potty training success or difficulty with your child's intelligence or stubbornness. Also, keep in mind that accidents are inevitable and punishment has no role in the process. Plan toilet training for when you or a caregiver can devote the time and energy to be consistent on a daily basis for a few months.

When it's time to begin potty training:

• Choose your words. Decide which words you're going to use for your child's bodily fluids. Avoid negative words, such as dirty or stinky.
• Prepare the equipment. Place a potty chair in the bathroom or, initially, wherever your child is spending most of his or her time. Encourage your child to sit on the potty chair in clothes to start out. Make sure your child's feet rest on the floor or a stool. Use simple, positive terms to talk about the toilet. You might dump the contents of a dirty diaper into the potty chair and toilet to show their purpose. Have your child flush the toilet.
• Schedule potty breaks. Have your child sit on the potty chair or toilet without a diaper for a few minutes at two-hour intervals, as well as first thing in the morning and right after naps. For boys, it's often best to master urination sitting down, and then move to standing up after bowel training is complete. Stay with your child and read a book together or play with a toy while he or she sits. Allow your child to get up if he or she wants. Even if your child simply sits there, offer praise for trying — and remind your child that he or she can try again later. Bring the potty chair with you when you're away from home with your child.
• Get there — Fast! When you notice signs that your child might need to use the toilet — such as squirming, squatting or holding the genital area — respond quickly. Help your child become familiar with these signals, stop what he or she is doing, and head to the toilet. Praise your child for telling you when he or she has to go. Keep your child in loose, easy-to-remove clothing.
• Explain hygiene. Teach girls to spread their legs and wipe carefully from front to back to prevent bringing germs from the rectum to the vagina or bladder. Make sure your child washes his or her hands afterward.
• Ditch the diapers. After a couple of weeks of successful potty breaks and remaining dry during the day, your child might be ready to trade diapers for training pants or underwear. Celebrate the transition. Let your child return to diapers if he or she is unable to remain dry. Consider using a sticker or star chart for positive reinforcement.

If your child resists using the potty chair or toilet or isn't getting the hang of it within a few weeks, take a break. Chances are he or she isn't ready yet. Pushing your child when he or she isn't ready can lead to a frustrating power struggle. Try again in a few months.

Nap time and nighttime training typically takes longer to achieve. Most children can stay dry at night between ages 5 and 7. In the meantime, use disposable training pants and mattress covers when your child sleeps.

To handle accidents:

• Stay calm. Don't scold, discipline or shame your child. You might say, "You forgot this time. Next time you'll get to the bathroom sooner."
• Be prepared. Keep a change of underwear and clothing handy, especially at school or in child care.

Let your child go back to wearing diapers if your child isn't able to stay dry. Also, try to encourage your child to use the potty chair more. Think about using a sticker or star chart along with rewards such as playtime or reading a book together.

When your child masters using the potty chair, you can slowly phase out the chair. For instance, you could have your child use the regular toilet with an over-the-toilet seat and step stool.

If your child resists using the potty chair or struggles to learn to use it for weeks, take a break. Chances are your child isn't ready yet. Pushing your child when your child isn't ready can lead to a frustrating power struggle. Try again in a few weeks or months. In the meantime, keep talking with your child about toilet training. It may help for you to read books or watch videos on the topic.

If your child seems ready for potty training but is having difficulties, talk to your child's doctor. He or she can give you guidance and check to see if there's an underlying problem.