Potty training tips
Potty training tips
This brief guide helps you to know when your child is ready for potty-training, and how to survive the process.
By the YeahBaby.com editorial staff
Most children today are potty-trained between the ages of 2 and 3, although it is common for children to wear diapers even after they turn 3. When should you start?
Rather than picking out a day, say the child's second birthday, pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues the child displays to help determine when they might be ready to start. Some of these cues include: saying the words they associate with the event, such as poo-poo or pee-pee; showing an interest in the bathroom and wanting to sit on the seat; asking questions about the bathroom; showing discomfort when wearing a dirty or wet diaper; and exhibiting some control by staying dry for two or more hours.
When you think your child is ready to start potty-training, obtain a kiddie toilet seat, and see if it is the right time to buy pull-up diapers. Also, you may want to consider clothing the child in sweatpants rather than bib overalls, so when they recognize that it is time to go, it doesn't take too long to get undressed.
Educate your child of the advantages of being able to go to the bathroom like a grown-up. Explain that it is a process of growing up, and how handy it is to not have to wear diapers. Be careful, however, not to make your child feel embarassed or ashamed.
Positive reinforcement will help make the event a fun one for the child, and they will work to gain your positive response. Stickers and treats can be fun, but there is a potential downside. Friends of ours rewarded their son with a treat when he successfully went to the bathroom like a big boy. Soon, however, he would retreat the bathroom often, sometimes straining for 20 minutes to work out a small pebble of poop so he could get his treat.
Other positive reinforcement can come in the form of a hug and a glad expression from the parents, or perhaps a happy song or special video. Even letting the child flush the toilet can be a positive response for a successful event, although they might want to flush repeatedly, as no doubt flushing a toilet is a fascinating thing for a child.
Potty training is also a great time to teach your child the value of cleanliness. Get them in the habit of washing their hands when they are finished with their "duty".
Be prepared for accidents and setbacks. In the inevitable case of an accident, dwell on the positive, not the negative. They may want to take a repreive for awhile. If this is the case, shelve the process and bring it up again in a couple weeks or so.
Be sure to consult your physician about other tips for potty training, and knowing when is the right time to start. There are also a number of other resources out there that work well for parents and children. "Everyone Poops" by Taro Gomi is a great resource for children to learn about the potty training process and about other animals.
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