How to Use Dolls to Potty Train a Toddler
Potty training a toddler does not have to be a long battle of wills. Your toddler can enjoy potty training and learn quickly if you make the process fun. Studies have shown that toddlers respond better to playful potty training techniques. Dolls are a fun and effective tool for playful potty training and here are some ideas to use dolls for potty training success.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Dolls
- Potty chair for doll or extra child potty chair
- Potty chair or potty seat
- Books
- Potty rewards (stickers, coloring books, new crayons, small toys, or anything that your child views as an incentive to go to the bathroom)
Instructions
-
-
1
Use your child's favorite doll to introduce the concept of potty training. Once you decide to start potty training, your child's favorite doll can assist as an example and companion. Sit down with your toddler and talk about the fun new game you will teach her. Your attitude must be upbeat so that she will view the training as a game. Next, take her doll and talk in the doll's voice about how the two of them are going to learn to use the potty together. Toddlers love it when adults animate their toys. Conversations about potty training are the first initial steps of the process. A child must be ready physically, mentally and emotionally to start training. Signs of readiness include:* She can stay dry for at least an hour. * She feels the urge to go to the bathroom and has the ability to wait to potty in the bathroom. * She understands that using the potty means the end of diapers. * She is curious and interested in learning to use the potty.
-
2
Have your child and her doll select her potty chair or seat. Training may be easier if your toddler chooses her own potty chair or seat. Both chairs and seats come in a variety of designs that should appeal to your child. She needs to be comfortable with the potty in order to cooperate. Just make sure she does not view the potty as a toy because this will make the training challenging. Be sure to pick out a potty chair for the doll. You can find doll potty chairs in many toy stores and online. You can also use an extra child potty chair for the doll. For some children, a child seat that fits on the adult toilet works better because the toddler prefers to potty just like her parents. If you get a seat, make certain it is secure before each use to prevent falls. These seats usually self-lock onto the adult seat. Some have safety rails. Your child will also need a stepstool to reach the toilet. Many parents like the potty seats because there is less clean-up. A stand-alone potty chair is handy because it is the right size for most toddlers and self-contained. Some parents are not comfortable with their young child sitting on an adult toilet because of potential germs. The potty chairs may seem more sanitary since only the child will use it. These chairs are generally made of a sturdy plastic with a small toilet bowel in the seat and easy to clean.
-
-
3
Decorate both the child's and doll's potty chair or seat together. Gather some special stickers for your child to decorate her potty and the doll's potty. Stickers can be applied to most potty seats and chairs. Personalizing the potty chair will help your child enjoy the training process.
-
4
Make the bathroom child friendly. Before you start actual training sessions, make sure that your bathroom is safe and comfortable for a toddler. The bathroom should be clean and free of any hazards such as unprotected outlets and cleaning products. You may want soap and flushable wipes designed for toddlers. You will need a step stool for the child to reach the sink or climb onto an adult toilet. Potty comforts such as books and pictures of cartoon characters should also have a place in the bathroom.
-
5
Buy a special potty training doll as a companion for your child's favorite doll. There are dolls designed to be fed water and pee into a potty. These dolls often come with a potty chair. The dolls can be helpful to teach your child the connection between drinking liquid and peeing. Once your child understand how her body functions, she will recognize the urge to pee and poop, and successfully go to the bathroom. The potty training dolls are sold in toys stores, catalogs, and on-line.
-
6
Use the dolls to have a conversation about potty training with your toddler. Use your child's dolls to discuss potty training ideas with your child. Animate the doll with your voice so that the doll is a true participant. Keep a dialog going between doll and child throughout training so that the child can relate to the doll. This will also make it easier to address any anxieties in a light-hearted manner.
-
7
Let your child role play with the dolls. During play, children often mimic real life. Role play can reveal any anxieties or questions your child may have about potty training. Between training sessions, encourage your child to role play potty training with her dolls. She may act as the parent and train her doll. She might have a doll act as the mom and train another toy. Look for any sign of potty training concerns so that you can address them.
-
8
Have the doll sit on the potty each time the child sits on the potty. The doll is good visual learning tool and companion for your toddler. Have the doll practice good bathroom habits with your child. Your child will mimic the doll's actions. Together they will potty, wipe clean and wash their hands.
-
9
Reward your toddler and her doll. Potty awards are a great incentive to keep a child motivated. Remember to reward her doll, too. Award ideas include stickers, coloring books, new crayons, or a small toy. Reward small and big achievements.
-
10
Praise your child and her doll. Praise your toddler during the entire training process. Praise is important because she wants your approval. Give praise to both the child and the doll. She views the doll as her companion during the potty training journey. This camaraderie will give her confidence and make the process fun.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Create a potty training theme. Themes make training more fun. Have a your child pick a theme. If her doll is a character from a book or a show, you can decorate the bathroom in the corresponding theme.
Play potty games to pass time while the child and doll sit on the toilet. "I Spy" is a good one. You can also make up potty songs.
Always supervise your child during potty training.
