Potty training – There are no rules about how long it will take to potty train your child. All children are different and the result will depend as much on your child as on the way you handle their potty training.
So don’t be upset if your toddler is not out of nappies as quickly as your friend’s toddler. It will happen, sometimes it just takes a little longer…
Toddler potty training is best approached with a relaxed attitude. If you appear stressed with the whole thing, your child will think potty training is something unpleasant. Yes, it can be frustrating, but it’s all part of growing up!
Potty training girls can be easier than boys, simply because girls learn faster as a general rule.
When to start potty training? Don’t start too early, before your child is physically or emotionally ready. 18 months onwards is quite early enough, otherwise, you’ll set yourself up for failure.
Would you like to potty train your child easily and with less stress?
Let me show you how.
When you first start thinking about starting to potty train your child you may feel very daunted. Parents often put off toilet training because they assume it will be complicated and difficult. This is a misconception.
Potty training does not have to be a painful or bewildering experience for either of you if you approach it with the right mindset.
I have included some little tips below that I have found to be useful and hope they might help you too. I want to help any parent to make the process of potty training as easy and as quick as possible. Some of these tips will of more use to you than others depending on your situation and what you already know.
If you do what I suggest in number one and introduce your child to a potty earlier then getting your child to actually use their potty at whatever age you decide to potty train can often make the whole process a lot easier.
- Have a potty around the house from the time your child is one year old. Sit your child on it once or twice a day so he gets used to it, you are expecting him to do anything at this stage. This makes it a known object and not something new being introduced into your child’s life just when you want to start the potty training routine.
- When first starting potty training have some books handy for your child to look at while sitting on the potty.
- Take your child with you to the mall before you start potty training and let them choose their own pant or knickers. Let your child have them even if you don’t like their choice.
- Take an extra set of clothes for your child with you when you go out as accidents may happen. Have a spare set in the car as well.
- When you arrive at a shopping mall with your child the first thing to do is to check where the bathroom is situated. If your child needs to go to the bathroom urgently and you first have to find out where it is situated, it may take too long and your child will have an accident. Being prepared is best.
- Let your child see other children using their potties. This will encourage most children to want to copy and do the same.
- It is easier to potty train your child in the summer. At this time of year, your child usually wears less clothing and can if needs are run around with nothing on their bottoms.
- A toilet training reward chart can work well. If you sign up for my free potty training course or buy the book you will receive one free to print out for your child.
- When you go out for the evening to check your pockets for spare pants or knickers and leave them at home. Pulling them out of your pocket in a restaurant may be a good talking point but may not leave people with the impression you want. I know I’ve done this.
- Collapsible potties are helpful to carry around with you. Try and find a friend who has finished with theirs and get them to loan it to you. I have never needed to use one for long.
- Keep some antibacterial spray and wipes for cleaning your potty and toilet. Keep them in the bathroom and toilet but remember to keep the spray out of reach of your child
- Look at the short version of my book or listen to the mp3 several times to remind you what you need to do next.
Here are nine tips that will help you as you approach potty training. These toilet training tips should help you to get your toddler out of diapers or nappies as quickly as possible.
Know when your child is ready for toilet training.
When children start their toilet training too early, the whole process will take much longer and both you and your child will end up frustrated and upset.
It can take up to 3 months to teach toddlers to use the potty, so it’s best to wait until your child is ready.
When your child becomes aware of urinating or passing a bowel movement, that’s the optimal time to start.
Make it a game!
The key to teaching your child to use the toilet is to keep the whole process fun! This will prevent any resistance to toilet training and ensure the co-operation of your toddler.
Always use positive reinforcement and praise her when she gets it right.
Communicate
Learning how to communicate with your young child about potty training is one of the most important things one needs to learn how to accomplish.
Explain to your child in a relaxed manner what is going to happen in potty training, what is expected of her and how this is going to accomplished.
Expectations
Don’t go into the whole toilet training process with negative expectations. Life gives you what you expect or are afraid of.
Go into any experience, including potty training in a calm and positive manner full of expectations and that is what you will create in your life.
Be patient
Having patience is an important part of toilet training as the complete process may take from a few days to a few months to complete totally.
Do not get frustrated or despondent when potty training does not happen as quickly or as easily as you expected. You will only increase the perceived problem and end up more frustrated.
Stay relaxed
It’s important that you and your child stay relaxed during the whole process of toilet training.
She will sense when you are anxious and this will affect her and cause her to approach potty training with apprehension.
If you would like the whole process to be as painless as possible then remain calm and confident. Eliminating waste is also much easier if the person is relaxed.
Show Her
It can help if you sit your child on her potty while you use the toilet yourself.
Children learn more by example than what you say so set the best example possible.
Children learn from other children’s actions so let her mix with those are in the process of potty training or have learnt the skill already.
Potty training can be quicker and easy than you expect if you are well prepared.
Don’t hide in the bathroom
Let your child become familiar with the bathroom. Don’t shut her out when you use the toilet.
Children are great imitators and she’ll soon be wanting to use the potty at the same time. Keep her potty in the bathroom so she can use it at the same time as you do.
If you have a little boy, Dad may want to be a role model for him. Toilet training for boys will be no more difficult than toilet training girls as long as they have someone to show them how.
Just let it happen
A lot of parents have toilet training targets. If you set a target of, say, 10 weeks and your child still hasn’t got a handle on it, you may become frustrated and start feeling like a failure.
Your child is an individual and will eventually become toilet trained. Don’t get impatient with her, or yourself if this doesn’t happen within the time you have allotted. This may further delay the process.
Also don’t become impatient with the odd toilet training accident which will happen from time to time. Just clean it up and flush it down the toilet.
If your child watches you do this, she will remember where to go next time.
