How Do You Handle Potty Training?

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on Agoura Hills Patch, part of an initiative to reach out to moms and families. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Agoura Hills.

Each week in Moms Talk, our council of smart moms will take your questions, and share stories and solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about the thousands of issues that arise while raising children.

Today's Topic: Potty Training - the Good, the Bad and the Accidents.

This week's question comes from Breann Kline,  columnist:

There are many topics that, until you become a parent, are seemingly off limits. Talking about pregnancy related gas, your labor experience, how to best get puke stains out of clothing... and peeing and pooping. I never thought I'd spend hours learning about our body's excrement.

But alas, here I am the mother of a toddler trying to navigate my way through the wonderful world of teaching him to go on the potty. Admittedly, I've been putting it off, because quite frankly, he just doesn't seem ready. I know the time will be here before I know it, and while I can read dozens of articles and books, it doesn't quite measure up to the human experience.

What are your tried and true potty training tips? What things did you try that were utter failures? How did you know your child was ready?