Guide on How to Potty Train
Most toddlers are ready for potty training by the time they are 2-years old. Some get to that point sooner and others a lot later. The key to success is knowing when and how to begin so that the transition from diaper to potty is smooth and successful.
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The Signs
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You'll know your child is ready to be potty trained when she makes faces or says the same word when she fills the diaper. She may even try to pull it off or whine to you when she's done. Squatting to fill the diaper is a clear sign that she's ready.
3-Years Old and Showing No Signs
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Some toddlers show no signs of being ready to potty train yet their age suggests they should be. Don't force him, but instead give him incentives to want to be trained like buying underwear with a likeable character on them. Let him wear them a few minutes every day and leave them on top of the potty the rest of the time. Tell him that if he goes in the potty, he can wear them all the time. Repeat this for a few days and watch his interest grow.
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Be Prepared
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Purchase the underwear and the potty before you see the signs, so that you're ready when your child is ready. Some parents may want to use training pants instead of underwear, but according to the Family Doctors' website, "Doctors disagree about whether to use disposable training pants. Some think that training pants may confuse children and make them think it is okay to use them like diapers. This may slow the toilet training process."
First Step
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Keep the potty in the bathroom as a reference point and put her on it just before the time she usually fills a diaper. If she goes in the potty praise her. If the task fails and she fills her diaper right after, dump the diaper into her potty and let her put it into the toilet and flush it away.
Make a big deal of it and repeat this a few times and then stop letting her flush until she fills the potty. For some children, the flushing is a good incentive.
Praise, Don't Punish
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Praise your child for using the potty or for trying to go because it shows that he is pleasing you for doing the right thing. Don't punish him for failing to go or for messing in his diaper. It can scare him and send him into retreat because he knows he's upset you. Remember, he's not being bad, he just hasn't learned yet. Punishing will give the child a negative feeling when it comes to the potty. Keep the experience as positive as possible to encourage learning.
Accidents
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Be patient because accidents will happen until your child's timing gets her to the potty in time. Be persistent, and if possible, stay home for the time it takes your child to complete the training. Be gentle because this is a big lesson for her.
Night Training
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You'll know your child is ready for night training when he can wake up from a nap and still be dry.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit crying baby image by Ivanna Buldakova from Fotolia.com
