So you?re ready to start potty training, but you?re not sure if you want to try a three-day method or something more gradual" We asked Janice Heard, a community paediatrician in Calgary, about common missteps parents make when they try accelerated toilet training for their toddler. (Hint: A few of her ?don?ts? are actually listed as ?must-dos? in some three-day methods.)
1. Starting too early 
?I have parents who swear their 18-month-old child is toilet trained, and it?s true there are exceptions, just like we occasionally see eight-month-old babies walking?it?s very early, but it does happen,? says Heard. In most cases, however, she says the parents are simply training themselves. ?The caregiver is just catching on to the child?s rhythms and cues, and helping them get to the toilet on time,? she says. That?s OK if your little one can hold their bladder fairly well and you?re OK with being very hands-on about potty time for a while, but it can be a problem if you, say, leave them with the grandparents for a day or a babysitter for an evening. Other caregivers might not be able to keep up with your system, and this can be frustrating for everyone, says Heard. The majority of kids are two to four years of age before they can be reliably toilet trained, she says. 2. Pushing potty training for number 2, before age 2
?It?s not uncommon for kids to have bladder control for months before they can have full control of their bowels,? says Heard. ?One of the dangers is that a c...