(CNN) — It's the milestone in a child's development that most parents dread — toilet training.

Emily Stow has reached a milestone. At the age of 2, she's learning how to use the potty. Her mother admits they've had limited success.

“She showed interest two weeks before her second birthday so we thought, ‘Wooo she's going to be trained by the time she's 2’ but then reality set in and she stopped using it,” said Stow.

It's a familiar story for many parents who want their toddlers out of diapers.

Dr. Alison Schonwald runs a toilet training school at the children's hospital in Boston. She tells moms and dads to stop the power struggle and relax.

“No one goes to college in diapers, right? So everyone will get through this time, as awful as it might feel if you're struggling,” said Dr. Schonwald.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says children usually show signs they're ready for toilet training between 18 and 24 months.

“They should be able to follow simple instructions, stay dry at least two hours at a time, ask for a diaper change and ask to use the potty,” explained Dr. Schonwald.

“We're trying to take it real easy, stress free and hopefully, soon, diaper free,” said Stow.