How to Potty Train Girls

Potty training can be rewarding, difficult and sometimes just plain messy. However, it is a necessary step in the development and progress of toddlers. Most parents can't wait to be free of diaper changing, especially once those little baby poo-poos are no longer so baby-like! In addition, many schools will not accept children unless they are out of diapers. Here are a few guidlines for preparing your child for becoming a successful diapper-free individual and graduating into officially wearing underwear.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 20-25 cloth diapers or thick cloth pull-up underwear
• 3-4 plastic or waterproof outer covers
• a child's potty or a child's potty seat for the large toilet

1. Upon waking, take your little one into the bathroom and let him or her watch you use the potty. This is part of the learning process. Then sit her/ him on the potty and say "Your turn". Then wait for a few minutes while he or she sits on the potty. While the child sits on the potty it is helpful to run water or make the sound 'psss psss psss' with your mouth. Avoid making a really big deal over the situation. Just try to make it seem like a normal part of everyday life, which it is. If your child does 'something', then give some praise but try to avoid over exaggerated enthusiasm unless it is truly deserved. If your child does not do anything simple let her/ him get up and proceed to step two. Just act normal. Remember the children are watching your reactions.

2. After the first potty attempt for the day, you will now put your child in cloth undergarments. If you have been using disposable diapers, I suggest using cloth diapers or thick cloth pull up underwear now instead(both with waterproof outer covers, sometimes purchased seperately) for the transitional potty training time period. Also, I suggest using the cloth alternatives during the day, in the house only, unless you are the adventurous type. At night and for outings you can still use the disposable diapers. Everything is a step by step process. One aspect at a time. So, you will now keep your child in the cloth during the day.

3. If your child pees or poops while in the cloth diapers, take the child to the bathroom and sit her/ him on the potty- even if (s)he has 'finished'. If there is pooh-pooh in the cloth diaper, then dump the poo into the potty while the child watches you. And say "this is where the poo-poo belongs" and point to the pooh-pooh that is now in the potty. You can also state that this is where the pee-pee belongs too. "Pee- pee in the potty; pooh-pooh in the potty". Saying this to the child normally and happily is very affective. Also, allowing the child to see you use the potty and to see the end results (your pooh-pooh in the potty) is quite effective also. Remember, we are teaching the children that using the potty is a normal part of everyday life, thus we have to treat it so. Do this every time the child goes to the bathroom in her/his cloth diaper/ underwear. (The cloth is effective because is allows the child to truly realize the feeling of the wet pee pee and uncomfortable feeling of the pooh-pooh on the body).

4. If two hours pass and the child still has not soiled his cloth undergarments it is now a good time to take the child to the potty again and sit him/ her on the potty, run the water and make the "pss psss psss psss" sound. See what happens. Be patient. Every child is different and some choose to adapt faster than others. Repeat steps three and four throughout the day when necessary or when they apply. When the child does something in the potty be happy and give praises. Try to avoid overly exaggerated praises unless they are truly warranted; for example, the first time doing something in the potty and it has been days of nothingness.

5. Right before bath time always put the child on the potty. Baths usually make children pee-pee. But if you can get them in the habit of pee-peeing before getting in the tub they will begin to learn the thought process behind using the potty; which is, needing to get there before it happens.

6. Always put your child on the potty before bedtime also. Once it is time to get up, off of the potty, put the disposable diaper on your child. Try to avoid drawing attention to the different diaper types. Let the child figure it out on his/ her own through the way that they feel. However the reality is that while the child sleeps he/ she is not necessarily aware of the way that the diaper feels after it is soiled. Yet during the day your child is awake and aware and will soon realize how uncomfortable it is to be wet or poopy. Thus it is very important to change out of the disposable diaper immidiately upon waking up (after sitting on the potty) and only changing back into the disposable diaper right before bedtime, after sitting on the potty. Continue with this routine until your child realizes what is expected of her/ him.

Tips & Warnings

• it is never too early to start this routine.
• watch your child for signs of readiness to use the potty.
• some early signs of readiness are looking down at the diaper while pee peeing or pooping. No matter how young they are once they do this it shows that they are aware of the bodily function. Once they are aware of the bodily function they are able to do it in a potty. Start the routine.
• If your child is older and you feel you have missed this initial window of opportunity, simply use the routine outlined above. YOu can also choose to explain more depending on the child's level of verbal communication and age. However try to avoid making it an optional discusion topic. Just introduce it and stick to it always treating it as a normal part of everyday life.
• Also, when your baby is really young just introduce her/ him to the potty by simply sitting them on it while you hold them. You can say something like "Oh, look at you" and be normally happy and then take them off. This is just an introductory exercise which gets them comfortable with the potty at an early age.
• Books about the potty or talking about the potty randomly can also help. However be careful not to begin to make the potty an overemphasized issue; especially if you are dealing with an older child (3 or 4 years or more).
• After using the potty it is fun to say "Bye- bye pee pee" or " Bye- bye pooh- pooh" as you flush the toilet and wave goodbye; even if it is your pooh- pooh or pee pee or if it is pooh- pooh that came from the diaper, that you put in the toilet.
• Try to avoid over emphasizing the potty issue, especially if you child is older, 3 or more years.
• Try to avoid scolding your child if he/ she does not use the potty but rathers to use the diaper. If the child is older, simply try to explain the benefits of the potty and say "poo poo belongs in the potty; pee pee belongs in the potty" "pee pee makes you all wet!" "poo poo makes you all sticky". Try to be normal about it. Not overly excited or overly disgusted.
• If the child is still young, less than a year or under two still just keep with the routine, without the use of too many words or verbalization. They are watching your every move.
• Throughout the early childhood years try to avoid making negative comments regarding your child's pooh-pooh (like commenting about how stinky it is or disgusting it is--even if you think so). Also be aware of your actions/ reactions. Children do not disassociate themselves with their pooh- pooh yet. Therefore, early negative reactions to poop, pee or the potty in general can create difficulties for you and them later on in the potty training process. Remember this: "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing" and just hold your breath. And don't forget, everyone's pooh-pooh smells. It's just a part of life. So try not to make your child feel any different from anyone else.
• Remember we are trying to show the children that using the potty is a normal part of everyday life so just start early with your potty training endeavors, don't over push the issue and just be calm about it. They WILL eventually be potty trained.