Put a group of mums in a room and ask them how they go about potty training their children, and you’ll likely get almost as many different answers as there are mums present. Why is that? It’s because there’s more than one way to get to ‘the land of no diapers.’
I have four children — all of whom have distinct personalities and were potty trained in the same way, but with a few tweaks here and there to suit each one’s personality.
My son, Zach, loved to race his trucks and wanted to be the winner. Seeing this winners-spirit in him, I used it to encourage him to ‘win’ prizes for staying dry. By the time he was 28 months, he was diaper-free and had very few accidents.
What Is Potty Training
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Potty training is the process of teaching your child to use the toilet. It’s a big step for your child, and it can be a little scary at first. But with some practice and patience, your child will soon be able to tell you when they need to use the bathroom.
Potty training is different for every child. Some kids are ready to start potty training as early as 18 months old, while others may take longer to learn how to use the toilet.
At What Age Should a Child Start Potty Training
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At what age should a child start potty training? The answer to this question depends on the child, of course. However, some general guidelines apply to most kids.
If your child is under 18 months old and isn’t interested in using the toilet, you may want to hold off on potty training for now. It’s normal for toddlers not to be ready for this kind of thing until they’re closer to 2 years old, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself or your child if he or she doesn’t seem interested in using the bathroom yet!
If your kid is between 18 months and 3 years old, it’s probably time to start thinking about toilet training. This is around when most kids can understand what it means when they go pee-pee or poo-poo on their pants—so you must begin preparing them for what will come next!
You must not rush into anything, though—you’ll want plenty of opportunities for practice before introducing any formal potty training schedule into your routine. Try letting your toddler wear pull-up diapers until he or she can consistently go pee-pee.
How to Tell When to Start Potty Training
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You’ll know when you’re ready to start potty training your child once you see these signs in him or her:
- Interest in the toilet
- Keeping a diaper “dry” for more than two hours
- Interest in wearing big kid undies
- Communicating when they “need to go”
- Following simple instructions like, “Put this toy in the trunk”
- A basic understanding of numbers, letters, and colours
Know Your Child And The Potty Training Method That Would Suit Them
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Do you know what they say about trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? Well, the same holds for your kids. Knowing how to appeal to their sense of accomplishment motivates them to learn to go on the big potty and start potty training.
Types of Potty Training
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There are a few different types of potty training.
- The Cold Turkey method involves taking your kid to the bathroom every 15 minutes and hoping for the best. This can be effective in some cases, but there’s a risk that your kid will never get it.
- Elimination Communication means following your baby around all day and letting them know when they have to go. Consequently, they will learn how to communicate with you about it. This is hard if you have a full-time job, though!
- The Watch-And-Wait method involves giving your kids freedom over how they want to learn and when. Parents wait until the child is ready on his or her terms before starting any formal training process.
Gradual Readiness involves teaching kids when they’re ready and giving them lots of practice at being on the toilet before making them go on their own. It takes time, but it’s proven effective with many families.
Best Practices on Potty Training a Toddler
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- Start at the Right Time: Look for signs of readiness in your toddler, such as showing interest in the bathroom, staying dry for longer periods, or expressing discomfort with wet diapers.
- Prepare the Equipment: You may want to invest in a potty chair or a toilet seat adapter. Let your toddler pick a design they like to make the experience more enjoyable.
- Create a Potty Zone: Designate a potty area in the house, easily accessible to your child. Having a dedicated spot can reinforce the association between the place and the potty routine.
- Dress for Success: Dress your toddler in clothes that are easy to take off quickly, allowing them to access the potty without any obstacles.
- Establish a Routine: Create a consistent potty schedule to help your child recognise when it’s time to go. Encourage them to use the potty at regular intervals, like after meals or before bedtime.
- Get There in a Flash: You also need to stop whatever you’re doing and help your child potty train. Praise your child for communicating with you when they need to go.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate every successful attempt, no matter how small.
- Accidents Happen: Be patient and understanding when accidents occur. Avoid scolding or shaming your child, no matter how frustrated you are.
- Use Books and Videos: Introduce potty training books or videos that depict characters going through the same experience.
- Teach Proper Hygiene: Teach girls to spread their legs and wipe carefully from front to back to prevent bringing germs from the rectum to the vagina or bladder. Also, remind your child about washing hands after using the potty.
Consistency is Key: Stick to the potty training routine consistently. Avoid switching back to diapers after starting the process, as it may confuse your child.
Night Time Potty Training
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It’s important to remember that night-time toilet training may take longer than daytime training, and each child progresses at their own pace. The key is patience and understanding while setting realistic expectations.
Children around three and a half to four years old may begin to consistently have dry nights, indicating they are developmentally ready to start night-time toilet training.
To assist your child, ensure they empty their bladder before bedtime and throughout the night if needed. Keeping the bathroom well-lit with nightlights can help them navigate safely during nighttime bathroom trips. Adjusting fluid intake, providing easy-to-wear pyjamas, and offering rewards for dry nights can all encourage success.
Read More:
The Chinese Potty Training Method
The Essentials of Potty Training
The No-No’s of Potty Training
Reminder for Parents Potty Training Their Toddlers
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Here are a few expert tips that have worked for other mums when it comes to potty training:
- Don’t be embarrassed to allow your toddler to see you use the bathroom. You hopefully don’t leave them waiting outside the door in public restrooms, so making it a natural thing will encourage your child to use the ‘big potty.’
- Go slow. Don’t wake up one day with the idea of succeeding in potty training. Start out by sitting them on the toilet to do their hair or put their clothes on after a bath. Set them on the toilet before they get into the tub, after a nap and before bedtime to see if they can go potty. If not, no big deal. Just tell them, ‘maybe next time.’
- Be observant. Do they have a bowel movement shortly after breakfast every morning? If so, then that would be the time to set them on the potty. The same applies to drinking. Wait 15 to 30 minutes and set them on the potty.
- Be patient and calm. If a child is scratched by a cat or bitten by a dog, they are naturally going to be afraid of all dogs and cats until they learn to differentiate between friendly and not-so-friendly animals. If you yell, force or take a negative attitude, they’re going to view the potty as their enemy.
- Be persistent but not pushy.
How Long Should Potty Training Take
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According to an article from the University of California, most children complete potty training by 36 months. The average length it takes toddlers to learn the process is about six months. But again, every child develops in his own pace.
While I will never be convinced a child needs to wait until they are 3 (or even older) to begin the process of potty training, it is also unreasonable and unfair to put an expiration date on a toddler’s potty training. No two children are alike. Some need a bit more patience and coercion than others. But don’t worry, how many children in kindergarten do you know who are still wearing diapers?
Tell us if these potty training tips were helpful to you!
Check Out This Video On Elmo’s Potty Training:
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
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