Life with your baby will bring many unexpected challenges. During the first years of her life, she will survive many exciting developmental milestones, from eating her first meal, to saying her first word. However, of all the new skills your baby will acquire, toilet training is amongst the most challenging - as much for her as for you!

To help prepare yourself for this turning point in your child's development, it's a good idea to be aware of what's ahead. Read on for potty training tips, including how to identify signs of readiness in both a boy and a girl.

How do I know my child is ready to begin potty training?

According to most experts, boys and girls are ready to learn how to potty train between 18 and 24 months, assuming they fulfill certain readiness requirements. Boys tend to be ready a little later than a girl. One of the best ways to know if your son or daughter is ready is by judging her level of willingness. In other words, if she shows an interest in the potty, that is a very good indicator that she's ready to give it a try.

Some other typical signs of readiness include your child being able to:

stand on her feet
sit on a toilet/potty chair/potty seat
go to bed without a bottle/cup

Since children learn best by example, the best way to prepare your child for potty training is by taking the time to show her how to use the toilet. While you're there, explain to her what exactly is involved. For example, you can show her how you sit (or stand when potty training boys) on the toilet, how to wipe properly, pull up your underwear, flush, and then wash your hands.

How long will it take to potty train my child?

For many parents, this is the all-important question. The truth is the amount of time it will take depends greatly on the readiness of both yourself and your child to dedicate to this process.

If, however, time is of particularly concern, you may be relieved to hear many parents are able to get their children fully toilet trained in less than a week. One particularly effective potty training technique is the one supported by Easy Potty Training, a method that advocates for parents to adopt consistency as their primary principle. This has proven to be very effective in making toilet training easier for everyone involved. Potty Training Basics offers a similar technique that is especially successful when potty training boys.

Do your research

First, read WebMDs take on potty training. This informative article explains the history of potty training and describes the two opposite theories of toilet training: the child-oriented approach and the parent-oriented approach. Learn who's right, what works for you and then look for those signs of readiness in your child.

Yo can also read up on potty training techniques and success stories from parents who've been there by visiting www.easypottytraining.com. And while you are potty training, consider using special toilet paper for training. This new clever product was designed with parents and clogged toilets in mind. The toilet paper has cute visuals that teach your child just how much toilet paper is needed so you can keep the plumber away!