Potty Training 101
My daughter, trying out the potty
Every parent with a toddler dreams of the day their child is potty trained. With disposable diapers costing at times over $100 a month and cloth diapers being a bit of a hassle, having a potty trained child is a life altering event for both kids and parents alike. Before you run out and buy big kid underwear, here are some suggestions.
Potty Learning: Children teach themselves to use the bathroom, so it really should not be called “training”. You provide the gear and offer guidance but it’s all up to your child. You might be ready, but your child may not be. Don’t pressure them and don’t try to start too soon. Toddlers love to have control over something and if they feel that you are trying to push them into using the potty, they will push right back and refuse. It’s not worth the battle. As Dr. Sears says, “You can lead a baby to the bathroom, but you can’t make him go.”
Treat your child as an individual: Girls are known for being fully potty trained before boys. You cannot compare your toddler to their siblings, the neighbors, or their friends. Children are potty trained anywhere from approximately two years old all the way to five. If your little one is the last one on the block to still be in diapers, don’t worry. It will happen—do you know anybody who started college wearing diapers?
Watch for the signs: When a child is aware that they are urinating or having a bowel movement it’s a huge developmental leap. You may notice your child hiding behind the couch or even announcing when their diaper is wet. Some will even remove their own diaper and ask for a clean one. These are all signs that they may be getting close to potty time but even then, it can take months.
Baby Bjorn Potty Chair: $27.95
How to start: Buy a potty chair. Put it in the living room and ignore it. You child will check it out, sit on it, put their toys in it, etc. After awhile, move the chair a little at a time towards the bathroom. After a couple of weeks, give the potty chair a place of importance in the bathroom. Encourage your child to sit on it (with their diaper on!) while you use the restroom. Talk about how great it is to potty like a big kid. When your child is accustomed to his, show them that they can sit on the potty without a diaper. If they go to the bathroom, give lots of praise. If they don’t go to the bathroom, do not make an issue out of it. If you are relaxed, your child will be too.
Big Kid Time: Get lots of underpants for your child. (LOTS!) Personally, I do not recommend disposable training diapers as they do not allow the child to feel when they are wet. Let your child go bottomless for a bit every day and when they urinate on the floor, show them where the potty is. Yes, it’s a messy job so make sure you have a good carpet cleaner handy. Offer lots of praise, and as an added bonus: candy. You’d be surprised how far a little sweet bribery goes with toddlers.
Above all, have fun. This is such a short period in the grand scheme of things so you may as well try and find some humor in it!
Find at Smarter.com: Shop for potty training books and potty training seats.
