Embarking on the potty training mission is one of the milestones of parenting. Parents are anxious to be proud of their children and to leave the days of diapers, wipes and diaper bags far behind. Teaching children to use the toilet is not always easy, but here are some tips for potty training that should help you to get your child out of diapers once and for all.
- Start when the child is showing signs of being ready to start. If they are showing an interest in you when you go potty, it may be time to think about getting started with toilet teaching. Other signs include long periods of dry diapers, questions about going potty, or letting you know when they have pooped or peed their diaper.
- Remember that no two children are alike. Some will start earlier and others will start later. There is no perfect age to start.
- Get a calendar and mark the start date for potty training. Keep the calendar where the child can easily see it and enthusiastically build the excitement as the day gets closer.
- Talk with the child about all the wonderful things that go hand in hand with being potty trained. Relate how cool it will be to be a big boy or girl. Let them know how many more neat things they will be able to do once they no longer are wearing diapers.
- Have plenty of interesting and fun rewards available. They can be small things, just make sure they are things the child will be happy to receive. You can have them help you shop for these rewards. Keep in mind that some rewards can be things like staying up a little later or being able to watch their favorite movie.
- For the boys, keep a small bag of something like Cheerios available in the potty. They make fun target practice and can be a great incentive.
- Remain patient. There will be setbacks and great leaps forward. If you get frustrated they will be able to sense it and this will often lead back to old habits.
- Most libraries have some great books on potty training. In the days leading up to the start of using the toilet, read these with your child. The books will help to answer questions and they will show your child that all kids learn to use the potty.
- Model appropriate potty behavior. It's okay for them to come in and watch how it works. This curiosity is a great indicator of their readiness to begin their training. Kids always want to be just like mom or dad.
- Remain consistent in your training. If the child knows what to expect, they are much more likely to respond in a positive way. Incorporate as much routine as possible. Structure and routine are valuable to children.
It is possible to have a relatively painless toilet teaching experience. These tips should get you going in the right direction.
Sean Platt offers plenty of potty training help, tips, tricks and advice to assist parents in determining the best time to start potty training their children. Visit PottyTrainingPower.com today!
