There are a few classic mistakes that we make when training though, so give yourself a fighting chance by making sure you don't make them.

1. Not being consistent

If you decide to go without the nappy, then unless your little one still naps, go without the nappy ALL the time. We need to try and put ourselves in the shoes of the toddler; that way they are less likely to get wet....

Toddlers are always distracted.

If they are sometimes in a nappy and sometimes not, they find it hard to remember whether they have one on.

If it was you what would you do?

You're two - so you take the path that requires less effort and wee - queue wet shoes!

If the child always KNOWS they don't have a nappy on, then they are much more likely to pop to the potty. Most of the time, they don't like getting wet shoes either.

2. Training for you and not your child

Hands up who hates changing nappies with toddlers?

Right, pretty much everyone. They don't stay still, they sometimes scream, and quite frankly you would rather be relaxing with a cup of tea than fighting with your two year old.

So, let's potty train them and then I won't have to do this again, right?

Wrong.

Unless THEY are ready, you'll just be changing their clothes instead of their nappy. Make sure you are potty training because they are ready to do it, not when YOU are fed up of changing nappies.

I so sympathise with this, but in the long run, it's easier to wait I assure you.

3. They know when they are wet does NOT mean they will know before they are wet

It's hard to spot potty training signs; but that's for another post.

However, a classic mistake is that we think that because they know when they are wet, that means they know before they are going to wee.  The feeling beforehand is very different to the feeling of being slightly soggy.  If I child tells you they have a wet nappy, don't automatically assume they are ready to be trained.

You will need a bit of warning otherwise furniture in our house won't survive, or mum will have to go into training to run their little ones to the toilet, or grab the potty, to get to it in time.

More importantly, when we are out and about while training, we need a bit of time to get to the loo...

4. Not preparing your child

Do children automatically know what the potty and toilet are for?

They might do, but equally they might not.

They are likely to have a better chance of understanding if we read to them about the potty, and introduce it before we train them.

Children with siblings can be easier to train, as they see big sister or brother using the toilet. My little boy didn't really use the potty; he wanted to be like his big sister and sit on the loo.

It's a great idea to introduce the potty or toilet through books beforehand, so that our toddler is comfortable with the whole concept. We did it about 3 months beforehand, but even as much as 6 months before would be fine.

5. Being afraid to give up

"I can't give up once I have started; my child will feel like a failure..."

Potty training needs to be relaxed. And if you really feel like your child doesn't understand, its best to stop and try again six months later when perhaps you and they will be better prepared.

If it doesn't work, you haven't failed. Perhaps they just aren't physically ready? And if that's the case, no matter how many times you say "Do you need a wee?" it won't change.

We tried with our first when she was just older than two. She clearer didn't get it, so we stopped. She was trained within a week about nine months later, and has been fabulous ever since.

6. Starting in the defiant stage

Some children, not all of course, go through a very defiant stage when "no" is pretty much the standard response. If this stage coincides with potty training, you may get a Mexican standoff....

They know they need a wee when asked, but are just determined that whatever you say they ain't gonna do it. So they wee anyway; and it's another change of clothes...

Best avoid trying to train during this stage if at all possible otherwise you are in for a whole world of hurt...

7. Asking if they need a wee too much

It's OK to ask your little one if they need a wee; but toddlers can get mighty fed up of mum if she KEEPS doing it. They start ignoring it, not really listening, and automatically saying "no" even if they really do need a wee. So it becomes in-effective...

Try to keep it to a minimum if you can; though I know from personal experience how tough this is to actually do.

Perhaps you can look for signs they need a wee, or bear in mind when they last went before you ask. That way, you are only gently reminding rather than constantly badgering!

Do you have any other Potty Training Pitfalls you can share with us?  We would love to hear from you below.