Relationships Matter 

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I had six children in eight years, and was so busy that I waited until one brought me a dry diaper, and said, in a polite, complete sentence, “Would you please change my diaper?  I’m wet.” 

Most people want to begin this process sooner than that.  With my second husband, we adopted a daughter, and our Polynesian nanny, Sanni, taught me some strategies I had never considered with the first batch of children.  Sanni announced one day that it was time to train Kathryn, and she would not be wearing diapers for a few days.  Sure enough, eight hours diaper-free was sufficient - Kat was trained. Both night and day trained.  Wow!

As it turns out, most European and Asian parents potty-train their children much earlier than parents in the U.S. and from all accounts, generally faster and with less stress.   Interestingly, less developed countries do it earlier than the more modernized ones.    When I began researching this subject,  I discovered that all the experts agreed that  somewhere around the age of two is the proper time. Three pediatricians confirmed that two years is “about right”.    

The reason for the "when" is easy to understand:  two is when most children develop the muscle control necessary for potty training.  But what about the "how"? 

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