Potty training can be one of the most dreaded and frustrating tasks for many parents as their child grows. It can be met with a lot of emotion and easily overwhelm your child, and you as a parent. It is a huge step in your child’s development and they will be incredibly proud of themselves once they have accomplished using the potty. By following this guide, potty training can be much easier and have you on your way to diaper-free days in no time.
How Do You Know When It’s Time To Start Potty Training?
Timing is everything when it comes to potty training. Often parents want to know when the right time is to start potty training. Many children show signs early on that they want to be like their parents and sit on the toilet. Other children show little interest and it may seem like they never want to use the toilet or are even afraid to.
To begin your child’s potty training journey, first take a look at how they act in the bathroom. Do they try to sit on the toilet? Can they pull their own pants and diaper down? Do they imitate you in the bathroom? When they are using a diaper, do they go for long periods when they are dry? Do they tell you that they need to go to the bathroom? Do they seem interested at all in using the toilet? If you have seen them doing any of these things, it is probably the right time to have them try to use the potty on their own. If you know that some major changes are coming their way, it may be best to wait to potty train until they have adjusted. Most children who are starting school or have welcomed a new sibling have shown that using the bathroom can be problematic and emotional for them.
Potty training can generally begin around 18 to 24 months, although it is not strange if your child waits until they are 3 years old. Some parents start their children from birth, with a method called elimination communication, where parents follow their baby’s instinctual cues that help them know when their child needs to go to the toilet. Wherever your child falls on this timeline of potty training, it is all normal, so don’t stress!
For more information about the best time to start potty training read this article:
When Is The Best Time To Start Potty Training
Preparing Your Child For Potty Training
One of the best ways for you to prepare your child for potty training is by getting them a potty chair. This potty could be the type that sits freely on the floor or on top of the toilet in your bathroom. Many children prefer having their own potty rather than sitting on a big toilet, as sitting higher off the ground may make them uncomfortable and make pottying more challenging. The less nervous your child is, the easier it will be to toilet-train them.
The potty chair does not even need to be in the bathroom. In fact, it can be placed anywhere that is comfortable for your child. Generally, a child will use it if they like the area it is in and feel safe using it there. Many parents will place it in the playroom because that is where their child spends the most time. Let your child know that this is their special seat and no one else can use it. They are more than likely to use it frequently if they are told it is there for them and no one else.
Potty Training Is All About Learning and Practice
Practice with your child by having them sit on their potty in their clothes a couple of times a day. They can get up and down as many times as they want. This will help them to feel more comfortable sitting down on the potty. Praising your child is the biggest part of toilet training. Even the smallest steps should be praised. This is a huge accomplishment for your child and they need to know that they are doing well. Every step should be celebrated!
When your child has gotten good at sitting on their potty with their clothes on, ask them if they are ready to try it with their clothes off. This will help them to get into the habit of taking their bottoms on and off. It will also make them aware of how the toilet feels. This is something that they need to feel comfortable with too. Look out for the signs that your child is pottying in their diaper. Usually, they make facial expressions or sounds when doing so. If you start to see this more often, ask them if they want to try and use the potty.
Invite your child to watch you use the toilet. Have them try to sit down to go too. If they can imitate your actions, they may start to feel much more comfortable using the toilet. Remember that when your child is toilet training it is helpful to dress them in clothing that is easy to remove. Snaps found on onesies and rompers are usually difficult to take off, and you want to eventually reach a point your child can undress themselves to potty. This is a great way for them to practice.
Make sure that everyone in your family or at your child’s school knows that they are in the process of potty training. This will get everyone on the same page and be able to help them train easier. Lastly, never leave your child in a dirty diaper as this is not a good way to train them. It can cause diaper rash, and it could deter them from using the toilet if they get too comfortable with sitting in a soiled diaper for long periods of time.
Making Potty Training Work For You And Your Child
Be sure to continue to praise your child each time they use the potty successfully, as this will help them realize that they can do it! There will be mistakes and accidents when toilet training begins, but these are very common at the beginning. If things are not progressing and you feel that you are struggling, it may be useful to back off for a few days so that your child doesn’t feel pressured or insecure. If your child gets scared by the sound of the toilet flushing, do not make them do it. This is a common fear when toilet training starts and it will soon go away after they realize nothing will hurt them. Try practicing letting them flush the toilet by themselves to make it fun and not scary!
If your child has been successful for a few days in a row, it may be time to make the switch to underwear. Many children become very happy when they get to wear “big kid” undies. This is an exciting time for you and your little one, as it is another big milestone on the way to growing up!
If potty training your child isn’t working out as planned read this article:
What To Do If Potty Training Is Not Very Effective
Top Potty Training Tips For Parents
- Look to see if your child is showing potty readiness, or an interest in using the potty
- Choose the right time to begin potty training- not during a big life shift
- Get a potty chair and place it strategically in an area your child will easily access
- Watch your child for potty cues, such as a scrunched face, sounds, or squatting
- Practice sitting on the potty and removing clothing with your child
- Praise your child for their accomplishments and try not to pressure them
- Switch from diapers to underwear when your child has successfully gone a few days in the potty without accidents
Potty training can be tough and often frustrating, but if you follow these tips, your little one will be using the toilet in no time at all!
For more essential potty training tips read this article:
10 Potty Training Tips That Really Work
