What's the first step? A good first step is to buy a potty; put it in the bathroom or somewhere easily accessible and tell your child what it is for. Suggest your child sits on it to see what it's like. Be prepared to demonstrate this yourself! Then make sitting on the potty a part of your child's daily routine, perhaps when dressing in the morning and before the evening bath. Don't expect your child to sit there for long; at first your child may only stay there for a very short time - you are simply getting your child used to the potty. Start encouraging your child to let you know when they are passing urine or having a bowel motion - and give lots of praise when your child tells you what they are doing.  Awareness that a wee or poo has happened is important, and comes before awareness of the need to go.  You may choose to potty train in the summer when your child can run around without nappies. If your child has a regular time for opening their bowels; perhaps after breakfast, try to 'catch it' by sitting your child on the potty at that time. If and when you do 'catch' something show your pleasure and approval. Let your child know what you want, but above all be consistent, be positive and provide lots of praise and make you child feel clever and special. When do you introduce pants? At some point you will