How to Implement Potty Training

Some parents equate potty training with a nightmare, and for some it is rightfully so. There is one important factor that may put some parental minds at ease which is there is really no set time to begin potty training. The biggest mistake a parent can make, when it comes to potty training, is pushing their child to train when their little bodies are not ready or developed enough to be successful at it. Typically, a child does not have the physical ability to control their bladder and bowel movements during the first 12 months of life, and they have very little control over their bladder and bowels for approximately the next 6 months after that. So, encouraging a child to potty train during that stage is fighting against nature. In order to make potty training a positive and successful experience for both child and parent, it is always helpful to know how to implement potty training.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Potty chair or potty seat that fits on toilet with steps attached or step stool
• Potty training book for children
• Poster paper
• Star stickers
• Stickers with characters the child likes
• Training pants or actual underwear
• Plastic sheet liners

1. Do not force a child that is not age appropriately ready to potty train. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, on average, a child 18 to 24 months might begin to shows signs that they are ready to attempt potty training, while other children may show signs of readiness by 30 months. Also, by the time a child reaches 3 or 4, their bladder and bowels should be developed enough to have control. However, it still may take a little more time for a child to gain full control and stay dry during the night.
2. Look for signs that the child is in fact ready to potty train. The child should be staying dry for at least 2 hours straight during the day, and wake from naps dry. Bowel movements need to be consistently regular and even predictable. Their facial expressions and body language will indicate when they are going to urinate or have a bowel movement. Does the child follow instructions well and do they actively take part in undressing? A child that is showing signs of readiness will also begin to express discomfort from soiled diapers, they may actually ask to use the potty or show an interest in wanting to wear “big-kid” underwear.
3. Help the child become excited about potty training. This can be done by letting them help pick out their new and very own potty chair or potty seat, training underwear or even decorating the stool they may use when going with a potty seat that fits over the actual toilet. Helping the child feel excited and positively part of the process will help build their interest and engage them to continue on with the process.
4. Orient the child to the potty. Take them in the bathroom a few times a day before starting the training process and talk to them about the potty, what it is used for and read them a “potty training book”. There are many kid friendly potty training books that can be bought that can compliment the potty training process.
5. Let the child sit on the potty either clothed or without. Praise them just for sitting their. This will make them feel proud of that simple accomplishment and encourage them to want to take on more progressive steps.
6. Start changing the child’s diaper when they are sitting on the potty. When the diaper is messy, empty the contents into the potty or directly into the toilet when using a potty seat. It will allow the child to form an association between what they do in their diapers and where it needs to really go—the potty.
7. Create a potty calendar. This is a project that will, again, excite the child and draw them into the potty training process. The calendar should have the days of week and numbers of days in that specific month. As you and the child are creating this fun project, you can explain to them what the calendar will be used for and how they will earn 1 star each time they try to use the potty and 1 special sticker each time they are successful. You have to praise and reward the efforts made along with the successes. Tell them that their goal is to get more special stickers than stars each week, and when they are able to do that decide on a special reward. The calendar should be hung in the bathroom in a spot easy for the child to see. Also, the calendar can be a good way to occupy their time and keep them sitting on the potty longer, because you can teach them the days of the week or numbers.
8. Switch to training pants or underwear during the daytime. Again, this will allow the child to form an association with the expectation of potty training.
9. Develop a potty schedule. This is done by identifying common predictable times that the parent is aware the child generally has bowel movements. The parent can use those predictable times to get the child into a habit of going and sitting on the potty. Also, learn to encourage potty time at least 15 to 30 minutes after each meal or each drink. Remember what goes in generally comes out.
10. Take the time to read the “potty training book” to the child. This will reinforce the process and keep the child understanding what they are expected to do.
11. Allow the child to watch other family members of the same sex use the toilet. Children identify with family members of the same sex, and can learn easily from them.
12. Ask the child through out the day whether they need to use the potty. It is important to help the child learn to become aware of that urge to go to the toilet.
13. Remember to praise every success and not make a fuss or bring attention to mistakes. Making the child feel guilty or bad for accidents and potty mistakes will not get them to success any faster, and it is usually the parent reacting out of their own frustration. Potty training has to be a calm and consistent process. An accident can be cleaned up, but hurt feelings can linger longer. Also, repeat accidents may be an indication that the child is not ready to fully potty train.
14. Prepare the child’s bed with plastic sheet liners. Using plastic sheets can lessen the mess from accidental bedwetting.
15. Use training pants during naps and bedtime. Again, this will protect the bed against damage due to possible bedwetting while the child sleeps. Sometimes, bladder and bowel control during hours of sleep take a bit longer to develop.
16. Encourage the child to use the potty before they take a nap or go to bed for the night. Also, make sure to encourage the child to use the potty as soon as they wake up.
17. Remind the child that they can use the potty at night and that they can do it all by themselves or get you. It may help to leave the bathroom light on during the training process.
18. Be patient and consistent. Losing your temper and allowing frustration to get to you will not make the process go any smoother. Keep in mind that a resistant child may not be ready to potty train. In that case, it may be necessary to back away from persistent training, while continuing to enlighten and educate the child about using the potty. Giving in to frustration will be sensed by the child and might help them to develop even more resistance due to fear of letting the parent down.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, what worked well with one parent and child for potty training may not work for all. Also, every child develops at a different rate when it comes to potty training readiness. So do not allow other parents or family members to convince you to push potty training even though your child shows no signs of readiness. Forcing a child that is not ready can lead to potty problems.
• Avoid negotiating and bribing the child to use the potty. This can encourage your little cutie into becoming the world’s greatest manipulator. It may work the first time, but then the next time your child will expect something bigger or better or decide that they really do not want anything and therefore do not need to use the potty. This will add to your frustration, and it will not make the child any more successful. Stick to the consistent process and reward and praise successes verbally as much as possible.
• A child that has been successfully potty trained during the day for a year, but still has bedwetting problems at night might indicate a problem. It is encouraged to discuss this with the pediatrician.