This article was reviewed by Alicja Pawlowska, Founder of Tinkle Star, the Singapore parents’ partner to potty training
It is our choice to offer disposable diapers to our kids from birth. Yes, they are convenient and help us a lot, especially during the early stages of parenthood. However, we sometimes assume that our child will simply announce one day that they no longer need diapers. It is our responsibility to help them transition and stay motivated to make this change with joy and excitement. These emotions need to come from us as parents—we should be excited about this new milestone that signifies their development. This transition can give them confidence, high self-esteem, and, most importantly, the dignity to manage their crucial body functions by using the potty or toilet.
1. Begin preparations for potty training well in advance (this will make it easier to introduce the potty and ensure a smooth transition)
Potty training is not a one-time event; it is a crucial life skill that takes time to establish. As grown-ups, we don’t pay much attention to it—we simply go when we feel the need. Potty training is a complex task, requiring a child to develop 40 different skills. Therefore, it is not advisable to wait until a child is 100% ready to be potty trained.
Waiting for the child to signal readiness often aligns with the interests of the diaper industry, which benefits from prolonged diaper use. In reality, a child rarely initiates the desire to be potty trained. Being 100% ready pertains more to parents and caregivers. It means being prepared to invest time, patience, and empathy to embark on this journey, starting with small steps.
2. Make sure everyone is on the same page
Make sure that everyone, including domestic helper, in your household knows how you’ll go about potty training your child. Otherwise, they might give your child conflicting ideas about potty training. Also, inform the school about the start of potty training so they can support your child as they gain the confidence to ask for the toilet at school.
3. Going to the park will feel like you’re packing for a day trip
Yep, if you’re going to do something as simple as going to the park, you’ll have to pack accordingly to prevent any emergencies.
Your diaper bag should evolve according to your child’s new stage of transitioning from diapers to potty training. As we teach children to recognize signals from their bodies indicating the urge to pee or poo and to communicate this to us, we should support them in this communication. This support includes providing proper equipment: travel potty on the go, a urinal bottle can be helpful for boys, and a portable toilet reducer and cover can be used in public restrooms. Spare clothes should also be included in case of accidents.
Tip: Avoid having your child put on a diaper while you are out of the house. A common approach used by parents—putting a diaper on the child while out—can be very confusing for the child and can prolong the potty training process, leading to frustration and unnecessary accidents.
4. Nighttime potty training will be very different from daytime potty training
Once your kid has their daytime potty training worked out, doing it at night will be another challenge.
Nighttime potty training, along with naptime training if your child still naps during the day, is another stage in the process of saying farewell to diapers. It is often said that this stage is challenging, but with our support, unconditional love, patience, and understanding, we can be confident that our child can succeed.
Parents and caregivers need to prepare the environment to create the best conditions for practicing time without diapers. It is not recommended to wake up a child during the night to take them to the toilet, as sleep is a crucial time for the brain and body to rest from an overwhelming day, and it should be uninterrupted.
There are some guidelines to follow to help your child sleep through the night and wake up with a dry bed. One important rule is to offer the potty immediately after waking up. Consider bringing the potty into their room and removing the diaper to start the day with the first big pee after a night’s sleep.
5. Always be prepared
It bears repeating, but it really is true that you need to be very prepared.
Be prepared mentally, as the process can be challenging, especially if no preparation has been done (look at point 1 in the article) and the child is older than the recommended window of 18-24 months for starting proper potty training after the preparation period as new walkers.
Being prepared means not blaming them if they can’t reach a public restroom in time while running through a shopping mall or if they have trouble relaxing their muscles for pooping when they are constantly rushed between activities. Potty training requires dedicated time, not only for teaching your child new skills but also for enhancing our empathy and logistical planning for outings and holidays. Being prepared means always having their beloved travel potty on the go with you and spare clothes for changes.
6. Peeing is much easier to achieve success, poop is another story, mostly overlooked
Most of us worry about accidents and wet floors, but taking these moments as learning opportunities helps your child improve their understanding of bodily signals, rush to the potty, practice muscle control, and increase bladder capacity.
However, pooping is more challenging because your child has spent the last 2-4 years using a safe diaper and may have started avoiding and running away during diaper changes. They may feel insecure about why you want to take the diaper off and offer them a cold potty with no familiar features for pooping.
Medical data shows that 1 in 3 kids are constipated, which causes significant struggles for both the child and the parents. To avoid this, do not underestimate the importance of managing poops, especially at the beginning of the transition from diapers to potty independence. It is crucial to pay attention to this aspect of potty training to ensure a smooth and healthy transition.
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