How to Make Potty Training Easier
Knowing when to begin potty-training your toddler can be confusing for a parent. While some children display signs of readiness as young as 18 months of age, others can be approaching 3 years old before they signal that they are ready. Careful preparation, observation of your child and several basic common-sense steps can help make the process of potty-training your toddler easier on both of you.
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Instructions
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Preparation
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Ensure your child is ready to be potty-trained by looking for certain signs she may display to indicate this. The signals include indicating when her diaper is soiled, showing an interest in the toilet and feeling uncomfortable when she has soiled her diaper. It is also important that your toddler is able to follow basic directions from you.
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Purchase a potty or potty chair and allow your child to come with you so he can choose one; make it an occasion so he can feel important. Put the potty in a place that is easily accessible and familiar to your child, somewhere he can get to in a rush. Allow him to explore the potty and refer to it in conversations with him. Encourage him to sit on it with his diaper or clothes on.
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Encourage your child to observe same-sex family members when they use the bathroom. Allow your child to flush the toilet and become familiar with the routine. Establish easy-to-understand words she can refer to for urination and bowel movements. Sticking to these words is essential for consistency. Encourage her to use this language to describe what she does in her diaper.
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Inform all caregivers involved with your child, including daycare facilities and babysitters, that you are potty-training him. Explain his schedule and anything else you believe is important that will help keep his potty-training consistent.
Potty Time
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Successful potty training means waiting til your child is ready. Dress your child in easy-to-remove clothing, avoiding zippers and buttons if possible. Tell your child you want her to indicate when she needs the potty or toilet. Also watch for signs that your child needs to go to the bathroom, such as squatting, frowning and decreased activity.
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Sit your child on his potty at regular intervals, about every hour for approximately five minutes. Most children urinate within an hour of drinking and have a bowel movement within an hour of eating. Try giving your child a book to read while sitting on the potty; this gives him something to focus on while increasing the chances of him staying put.
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Avoid scolding your child or displaying frustration if she does not do anything when she visits the potty. Your reaction to her potty visits is crucial, as this can affect her confidence, and negative reactions can cause her to fear the toilet. Instead, praise your child for trying and tell her that she can try again later. Using a reward chart is a good way to keep a note of her successes, as well as giving your toddler some encouragement. Reward each successful visit with a sticker, and after a certain number of stickers, allow her to have a treat.
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Stick to a routine and be consistent when you are not at home by either taking your toddler's potty out with you or making sure the place you are visiting has a toilet. Do not expect your child to pick up potty training right away. Most children take between three and six months before they have full daytime bladder control, according to MayoClinic.com.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage good toilet hygiene with your child; little girls should wipe from front to back. Be sure to teach your child the importance of washing her hands after every potty or toilet visit.
When you have been potty training for a couple of weeks, try your toddler in training pants or cloth underwear.
It is important that you do not force your child to use the potty, as this can scare him and delay training. If your child has not shown improvement within three months, he may not be ready, so consider delaying training for a little while.
If your child is 3 years old and shows no interest in toilet training, seek advice from your pediatrician.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Happy Toddler image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com toddler in the park image by cat from Fotolia.com
