No one ever said being a parent was easy. One of the hardest things you will face as a young parent is potty training. Don't worry, this article will show you how to do it. It may seem like a big task now, but when you look back on it you will realize it really isn't that hard to do.

The first step in potty training is to determine if your child is ready. Most children are ready between 18 and 24 months. How do you know your child is ready? Here are some ways to make sure.

1 Make sure you have a routine and there are no big life changes going on. Like moving, having a baby, divorce, etc.

2 Does your child's diaper stay dry for at least 2 hours before each changing? This usually means that the child's bladder is mature enough to begin training.

3 Is your child's diaper dry after a nap? Again, this is showing a mature enough bladder for potty training.

4 Can your child understand and follow simple instructions? If your child will not be able to understand what your telling them to do their not ready and you will only get frustrated.

5 Does your child usually cooperate or are they in a "no" phase. If they tend to say no to everything, wait until this stage passes, there's no point in fighting with them.

6 Can your child say one-word phrases like poop, pee, or potty? The child needs to be able to tell you when they need to go.

7 Does your child tell you, or request to be changed when their diaper is either wet or soiled? This is a huge factor, when your child reaches this point, potty training is usually very easy to accomplish.

8 Does your child ask to use the potty? You may have waited a little longer than you needed to but you should have a fairly simple task ahead of you.

9 If the child shows curiosity about the potty teach them about it. Show them how it works. The more comfortable they are with the potty the more likely it is that they will be ready to train.

10 Is your child able to sit for a few minutes quietly? They may have to sit for 4-5 minutes before they go.

Now that we have determined if your child is ready to potty train, you just have to lean how to train them. Don't fret, its not going to take you very long.

Step 1- Make sure you have potty friendly clothing on your child. They need clothing that is easy for them to pull up and down. Some people prefer to just allow their children to stay in only their underwear while potty training. If it is warm where you are or if you will be inside a warm home that is fine, and it is usually the easiest way for the child.

Step 2- Have enough underwear to last the entire day. It may take 10-12 pair. You need to have enough on hand so you don't run out and have to resort back to diapers, this would only confuse the child.

Step 3- Designate a specific place for the potty. If your using a small potty made just for training, you want it to be accessible to the child. You also want the seat to be placed in one spot so the child can easily find it when they need to go.

Step 4- Sit, wait, repeat. This step is the longest part of the potty training process, be patient though, it will pay off.

1 Tell you child that you are going to start potty training. Make it fun, tell them that they are a big kid now, make it seem like a privilege to use the potty.

2 Give the child a lot of liquids. This will make them have to go more often therefore giving you more opportunities to teach them.

3 About every 10-15 minutes ask the child if they have to go. Even if they say no, place the child on the potty. Be silly or read a book, entertain them. Don't make them feel as if you are punishing them.

4 If the child doesn't go after a few minutes, that's ok. Let them off of the potty and repeat #3 routinely.

5 When the child goes (every time) clap your hands, dance around, make a big deal out of it. The child will want to receive that kind of praise again and will quickly learn to go on the potty.

You should continue this training for the entire day. The next day, the child may begin telling you when they have to go to the potty. Within a few days your child will be using the potty on their own.

There are many people out there offering advice about potty training but you have to choose what style of training fits you and your child. Other things that you should consider before beginning to potty train are:

1 Your childcare provider. Will they support you in training your child or will they simply put, a diaper on your child once your gone.

2 Do you have enough time allotted to potty train the child? Sometimes its hard, we have work, out household duties, we are wives, and we have other children but you need to make sure that just for one day, you can focus on the child you're potty training. You may have to send your other children to grandmas for the day, turn your phones off, or take the day off of work. Whatever it is that you have to do, just remember what the pay off is.

Most importantly, when you are potty training your child, you should always reward your child's efforts and be patient. Before you know it, they'll be off to college so enjoy today even if it seems hard.