You may be one of the many parents frustrated because your three and a half year old still isn’t potty trained. He may not seem to have any interest in getting rid of his diapers whatsoever. Don’t worry - I guarantee that he’ll be potty trained by his wedding! Seriously though, for most every toddler, potty training is a problem that seems insurmountable now, but in no time at all it will be resolved.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says there is no set age when toilet training should start. They suggest that the right time depends on a child's psychological and physical development. Children between 18 and 24 months often start showing signs of being ready, but there are some children who may not be ready until 30 months or older. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises parents that if their child resists strongly, they will be better off waiting for a while.

If you have a head-strong 3 1/2 year old, there are some things you can try. First, have your child accompany you to the local store that sells underwear with characters on it. Let him help you find the underwear aisle and tell him that he is a big boy now, and big boys are very lucky because only they can wear big boy underwear. Explain that Target, or whatever the store is that you chose, is the perfect place to find lots of underwear to choose from. Let him pick whatever special character he wants Thomas, Power Rangers, Spiderman, Bob the Builder, etc.

As soon as you get home, he can try on his new undies. If he can go a whole hour and stay dry, he can wear them all day. He needs to use the potty first, to help him stay dry for a whole hour. At the end of that hour, you'll remind him to use the toilet again, and try for another hour.

Have your child help you create a sticker chart and hang it in a prominent place. Every time he successfully uses the toilet, he can help you place a sticker on his chart. When he reaches ten stickers, tell him that he has earned a special treat, maybe a trip to the ice cream parlor or movies, a small toy, a lunch out, etc

If he isn’t successful at first, try to figure out what went wrong. Was he so involved in a TV show or other activity that he just forgot? Is he just really not ready, in spite of his new cool underwear? If it's the former and he really wants to try again, encourage him to, and give him more reminders to use the bathroom. Shorten the time frame to a half hour. If you sense that he just isn't ready, don't push him. Tell him, as patiently as you can, that you'll wash the underwear and put it in his drawer, and you'll try again in a week.

Odds are that some of his friends are already trained. Try to encourage a play date where he'll see them use the toilet. That alone might be enough to spark his interest. By 3 1/2, when he decides he's ready he will probably catch on very quickly. He most likely does not have a bladder control issue, it’s just that he needs to decide for himself when he's ready.

If your climate is warm, that’s the best time to train, because you can spend a lot of time outdoors where it's easier to clean up accidents. Potty training is hard work but you have to be consistent.