Potty training your child doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Learn some tips on this essential skill to assist your child in smoothly transitioning away from diapers.
Your baby becomes more independent as they mature into toddlers and beyond.
These exciting milestones will be fun to watch come and go, but one, in particular, might need a lot of your attention. Your child transitions from wearing diapers to being fully potty-trained.
Because every child learns differently, boys and girls may have different learning styles. Potty training is a complex process, and there is no best way to teach the necessary skills. However, we’ve put together a list of tips to assist you in your young child’s new adventure as you potty train them:
Potty training tips
Make sure your child is ready.
Success with potty training is dependent more on physical, developmental, and psychological growth than on age. Between 18 and 24 months of age, most kids start to show signs that they are ready for potty training. Some individuals, however, might not be prepared until they are 3 years old. There is no hurry. Starting too early could make training your child more difficult.
Your preparedness is crucial as well. Instead of being overly eager, let your child’s motivation guide the process. Don’t try to link your child’s knowledge or obstinacy with whether or not they are successful at potty training. Additionally, remember that mistakes are unavoidable and that punishment has no bearing on the outcome. Plan toilet training for when you have the time and energy to be consistent every day for a few months.
Be patient
Even the most eager toddler may need a few weeks to master potty training. They will often make more mistakes than they succeed. If you have too high expectations, you may lower their self-confidence. Don’t beat, punish, or humiliate. Keep calm, even though no parent enjoys cleaning up a pee puddle. If you respond too strongly, you might deter your child from trying again.
Stick to a routine.
Set up a regular potty schedule. Create a simple schedule for your child when learning to use the toilet. You could, for instance, encourage your infant to use the bathroom after meals or naps. This teaches your child that going to the bathroom happens frequently.
Have your child use the toilet or potty chair for a few minutes every two hours. Boys should ideally first practice urinating while seated before moving on to standing once bowel training is done. Play with a toy or read a book with your child while sitting down. Allow your child to stand up if they request to do so. Even if they sit there, compliment your kid for trying and reassure them that they can try again later.
Dress for potty time success.
Dressing your child in the proper training clothes for the potty should become a routine. Pick elasticized, stretchy pants with pull-up and pull-down capabilities and no ties, buckles, buttons, or zippers. Girls can wear dresses or skirts as frequently as they like, but one-piece clothing, such as rompers, should be avoided.
Practice the crucial pull-down and pull-up moves. Before changing his diaper, ask your toddler to remove his pants; afterward, have him pull them back up.
Show and tell
Toddlers enjoy imitating, and the restroom is no exception. You can show your child how to use the potty, wipe, and flush. It would be simpler and more efficient to take him to the restroom and demonstrate. However, not all parents feel comfortable disclosing their modesty, so don’t feel bad about skipping this step if it’s not your thing.
Place the potty in a convenient place
The bathroom is the most obvious place. By placing it there, you might aid your child in making the connection that using the restroom happens in the restroom. To make it easy to use before and after naps, you might also want to consider putting the potty in your child’s room.
Do not punish mistakes
Even though potty training struggles with your toddler can be frustrating, try to avoid becoming upset or punishing them. Instead, reassure them that it’s fine and that they can try again later. Putting them under more stress won’t make them learn anything faster. Additionally, your child might not be prepared yet; in this case, you should think about delaying potty training for a few days or weeks.
Praise your child after a good job.
Inform your child when they use the potty properly. To maintain their motivation and reaffirm that they are working hard, you could give them a high-five or a hug.
Normal difficulties and smooth transitions to potty training are rare. It’s exciting to think about doing away with diapers but getting there can test your parenting patience. However, keep trying. While teaching your toddler to use the toilet without accidents may seem difficult, eventually your child will outgrow diapers. All the best!