The idea of potty training can be daunting for both mother and child. The main thing to consider is whether the child is ready to potty - in this case the process will be much easier and faster. Read on to find out how to teach your child to potty train, with comprehensive advice from how to find out if he is ready, to create a potty routine, to praise his accomplishments by offering him small rewards. Ready, beware … potty!
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Preparation
Step 1. Know when your baby is ready
It is important that your child is behaviorally ready to learn how to potty train, as this will make the process easier and faster. The "when" is subjective and varies between 18 and 36 months of age. In general, girls are a little earlier - the average is 29 months for girls and 31 for boys.
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You can tell if your baby is ready by observing the following signs:
- Interest in the bathroom and how others use it.
- Good motor skills - including walking to the bathroom, taking steps, and pulling pants down.
- Good language skills - being able to understand bathroom-related instructions and words, as well as the ability to communicate her need to go.
- Predictable peristaltic movements and the ability to keep the diaper dry for more than two hours.
- Understanding - through words or facial expressions - of when they need to pee or whatever.
- A desire to please parents or to act together.
- You should never push the baby if he is not ready - he will resist you and the process will become frustrating as well as energy consuming. Give your baby another month or two and it'll be easier.
Step 2. Remember it will take a long time
The only thing you need at this stage is patience! Potty training your child is a phase, it doesn't happen overnight. You and your child must work together and overcome accidents and moments of despair. Even if you hear of parents who did it within two days, it is normal for it to actually take up to six months.
- Try to constantly encourage and support your child and handle each incident calmly. Remember that no child has a degree in this subject: they will just get there!
- You may also find that your child is already used to potty training during the day but continues to wet the bed at night until he is five. Within six years this should resolve, but be prepared and use a plastic sheet.
Step 3. Get what you need
A potty is the simplest and least intimidating thing for a baby who has to learn to detach himself from the diaper. You can find them in all shapes and colors; those that resemble a cartoon or a character loved by your child are perfect, they will make him feel comfortable and happy to use it. You should also consider finding a potty with a removable seat that you can place on the toilet once the baby is ready.
- If you decide to use the toilet from the beginning, make sure you have a raised seat so that the child feels stable and secure once seated. This will eliminate any fear of falling into it.
- First consider bringing the potty to the playroom or living room. This way the child will get used to it and feel less afraid of using it. He might even be tempted to use it if it's handy.
Step 4. Choose the right time
This way you will have a better chance of success. Avoid starting this routine if your child has just undergone another change - for example, if a sibling has arrived or moved or started kindergarten - as he may be stressed and this will increase his condition.
- Choose a time when you will be at home with him, so he will feel comfortable and safe.
- Many parents choose to potty train their child in the summer months, not only because they have more free time to spend with them, but also because the child wears fewer clothes and it is easier to undress.
Step 5. Define a routine
In this way the child will understand that he has a new responsibility and will remember that he has to do it alone. To start, try 2-3 times a day, placing the baby on the potty and leaving him there for a couple of minutes. If he gets used to it, great, otherwise don't worry. He just has to get his hand on it.
- To encourage your child, choose times when you think they may need a bath, such as early in the morning, after meals, and before bed. You can also give him more fluids if you want to help his digestive system.
- Make the potty part of his pre-bed routine: put him in his pajamas, wash his face, wash his teeth, and then place him on the potty. They will soon remember it for themselves.
Method 2 of 5: Getting the Child Used to the Potty
Step 1. Introduce him to the potty
Let me befriend us, understand that potty training is nothing scary or intimidating. Put him in his playroom, where he can sit dressed while reading a book or playing. Once he gets used to or likes the potty, you can move on to the toilet.
Step 2. Show your child how to use it
The child needs to understand what the potty is "for". To explain this, try taking off his dirty diaper and pour the contents into the potty. Tell him that's where "poo" and "pee" go. Alternatively, you can put the contents of the diaper down the toilet and say "bye bye" as you flush.
- You can show him how it works by taking him with you when you need to use the toilet. Have him sit on the potty while you are on the toilet. With any luck, this will encourage him to use the potty as a "big boy" or "big girl".
- If possible, boys better go to the bathroom with dad! But avoid teaching them to pee standing up at the moment: it would confuse them (and they would end up dirtying everything). For now, let them sit on the potty either way!
Step 3. Leave him sitting on the potty at least 15 minutes a day
So he will get used to it gradually - for example 5 minutes three times a day. Encourage him to go, but don't fret if he doesn't. Praise him if he tries and let him know you'll try again later.
- If you are impatient, try to give him a game or book to entertain himself so he won't feel the potty as a punishment.
- Never force the child to sit on the potty if he does not want to: this would only make resistance, making it more difficult.
Step 4. Use the correct words
Try not to confuse it with vague words to describe the act of using the bathroom or body parts. Use straightforward, simple, quiet terms like "pee" or "potty".
- Never use terms such as "dirty" or "disgusting" to describe natural bodily functions, as the child may end up ashamed of their actions, which would have a negative impact on the whole process.
- If a child feels anxious or embarrassed by using the potty, they may begin to hold back, which would cause health problems such as constipation or urinary tract infections. For this reason, it is vital that you feel calm.
- Being spontaneous with the baby will give him confidence and let him know that you are proud of him because he uses the potty correctly.
Step 5. Stay with your child while using the potty
Children can feel a lot of anxiety at these times and for a variety of reasons - if they are on the toilet they may be afraid of falling into it or frightened by the sound of the toilet. Others may consider what comes out of their bottom as part of them that they are losing in the potty. This is why it is important that you are with your child at potty time, at least in the beginning.
Smile, praise him, and use a calm, soothing tone every time. You can also try singing songs to him or playing a game with him, so he'll associate potty training with something fun
Step 6. Read themed books
Many parents have found potty training books to provide valuable advice. They are often entertaining and encouraging books, with pictures that the child can associate with.
- Involve him in the whole process by asking him questions and asking him to highlight certain objects in the drawings. Once you have finished reading, ask him if he would like to try using the potty like the baby in the pictures.
- Some books on the subject are Teddy Bear Drains His Potty by Claude Lebrun, I Want My Potty by Tony Ross and Mo Willems Pee Course for Beginners.
Method 3 of 5: Create Good Habits
Step 1. Learn to recognize the signs that your baby "needs to go"
If you can, you can take him to the bathroom quickly and encourage him to use the potty instead of the diaper.
- Some common signs are: a change or pause in what he is doing; get into a squat position; grab hold of the diaper; vocalize, turn red in the face.
- You can help your child recognize these signs by asking "Do you need a potty?" or "Do you have to poop?" as soon as you realize it. Encourage him to tell you when he needs to go.
- Remember that some children will be reluctant to stop doing what they are doing, especially if they are playing, just to use the potty. You will have to encourage them by praising them for making sure they know how useful it is to go to the bathroom!
Step 2. Leave the baby a couple of hours a day without a diaper
Many parents recommend the nappy removal technique and leaving it naked for some time. Babies will love the feeling and learn to recognize the signs of "need" without the safety net represented by the diaper.
- Remember that if you use this method there are sure to be accidents - but one (or five) may be what your child needs to understand the importance of the potty!
- Don't get angry or disappointed if they happen, clean up calmly and reassure him that he'll be able to get to the potty next time. If you scold him, he may become anxious and start holding back.
- Many parents do not like panty diapers because they are not absorbent enough to let you know if the baby is wet or not. Without that discomfort, the child will not be able to understand the signals to make it arrive in time to the bathroom. If the baby is naked or wearing cotton underwear, there will be no mistake!
Step 3. Make potty training part of your morning or evening routine
It has to become normal for your child, and the best way to teach them is to incorporate the potty into a pre-existing routine.
Sit him on the potty after he brushes his teeth in the morning or before his bath in the evening. If you do this every night without marking a visit, your child will sit on the potty alone
Step 4. Show him how to clean himself properly and how to flush the water
Explain well how important it is to clean up before getting off the potty. Make it easier for them to access toilet paper (better if decorated)! Remember that it is important for girls to clean themselves in a front-to-back motion to avoid carrying fecal bacteria.
- At first, the child will need help cleaning, especially after getting big, but it's best to teach him to do it himself.
- Once that's done, let him do the honors of pulling the water and waving goodbye to the one who leaves. Congratulate him on a great job!
Step 5. Remind your child to wash their hands after using the potty
Children are usually eager to get back to what they were doing before but you need to stress the importance of washing their hands after using the potty.
- To encourage him to wash them, grab a stool that he can easily reach the sink with and buy him some antibacterial soap in a soft color that he can use.
- Teach him a song to use while washing his hands so he won't be tempted to hurry. Make him sing the alphabet when he starts washing and tell him he should only stop at the letter Z!
Method 4 of 5: Coping with Successes and Failures
Step 1. Praise the child for trying
The most important thing in potty training is to offer him endless encouragement, whether he succeeds or not. Praise him for every success, from telling you he has to go to pulling his panties down on his own, from sitting on the potty for a full minute. Even if it doesn't do anything, tell him he was good at trying and that he can try again later.
Just be careful not to over-encourage him. Offer praise in a quiet, not too excited tone. Failure to do so would become pressure and lead him to be anxious to please you
Step 2. Offer a reward for his little successes
Many children respond well to incentives to use the potty. What you choose to give will depend on the parenting style and how the child responds. Here are some ideas.
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Food:
some parents use candy as a reward. For example, you could give him three little M & M's or a jelly every time he gets to the potty in time. Other parents are cautious about using food as a reward because they think it affects the child's future habits too much.
- Table with stars: another motivator known to parents is the table to be filled with the stars that the child will apply. Each success will be given a golden star to attach to the board. Sometimes, the star is enough to motivate the child to use the potty correctly, while other times the parent offers an additional reward for reaching a set number of stars during the week (a ride to the park or an extra story before bed.).
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Toys:
another good option is to buy small toys (nothing big, a collection of pets or toy cars) and let the child choose one each time he uses the potty correctly.
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Piggy bank:
some parents offer their children monetary incentives to use the potty! Put a pig-shaped piggy bank in the bathroom and slip 5 cents in every time your child uses the potty. Once full, the child can buy himself something like ice cream or a toy car.
Step 3. Share the good news
A great way to encourage your child to use the potty proudly is to let other family members know as well. Break the big news to mom or dad when they get home. Or tell it to grandparents or uncles with the little one.
- Staying positive, encouraging positive reactions from others as well as from you, will leave the child with a positive impression about being "big".
- Another trick parents use is to involve a family member or friend playing their child's favorite hero over the phone. Dora the Explorer, Spiderman or Scooby Doo - whoever the little one's favorite character is. Telling their hero about potty training success and being praised as a result will make them feel proud!
Step 4. Don't scold the little one if something goes wrong
Punishing and scolding him is one of the biggest vetoes when it comes to potty training. Remember that your child has recently developed the ability to recognize when he needs to go to the bathroom, so he is still trying to learn. If it escaped him, it wasn't intentional.
- As mentioned earlier, scolding him for failing to use the potty can cause him anxiety. In turn, the little one may begin to withhold needs, which would lead to serious physical and psychological problems.
- If your child has had a problem with this, reassure him by telling him that everything is fine and that he will succeed next time. Let him know that you are proud of him because he tried and sure that soon he will use the potty just like a big child.
Step 5. Be patient
The potty can sometimes be a stressful and frustrating change for parents, but remember that it is temporary and that the little one will "make it" sooner or later. Do not panic if the child develops problems with the course of things. When it's ready, then everything will work out.
- If your baby doesn't seem potty-trained, it's best to stop the routine for a while, a month or two, and then try again.
- Remember, some babies don't get out of their nappies until they're three and that's perfectly normal!
Method 5 of 5: Taking Education to the Next Step
Step 1. Have your son / daughter choose "big baby" underwear
Once the potty routine is established, you can take him shopping with you and have him choose panties when he grows up. This way, he will feel proud of himself because he can wear them and it will put him in a good mood! Let him wear it at home even if you continue to put him in diapers at night or when you are out and about - accidents can always happen.
- The cotton underwear will be useful to the baby because he will feel if he is wet, which is not easy with the diaper.
- Also, the baby will be so happy to have those new panties that he will be reluctant to get them wet and therefore will diligently warn you every time!
Step 2. Bring the potty when you move
Getting used to using the potty or toilet at home is one thing, but unfamiliar bathrooms can be intimidating to children who may refuse to use them. You can avoid this inconvenience and also put the diaper back by taking the potty with you if you travel. Potties with a removable seat are the best solution because the little one can do his business on his seat even if he is in another bathroom!
Step 3. Teach your baby to pee standing up
Once your little man has figured out how to do it, it's time to up the ante and teach him to pee standing up. Dad in this case will be useful, giving him a practical demonstration. Just remember that a child's aim will not be perfect so expect some failed attempts to hit the bull's-eye!
One of the best methods used by parents in this case is to put some Cheerios or round shaped jellies in the toilet and tell the child to aim for those. This transforms the act of standing pee into a game that appeals to the naughty side of most boys
Step 4. Break the news to the teachers and babysitter
If these two figures do not use the potty during your education period, then your efforts may be in vain. Take your time to talk to anyone who cares for the baby when you can't - be it grandparents or kindergarten assistants - and politely explain to them how important it is to keep the routine taught.
- Tell them what the child's hours are and the words you usually use to refer to needs and ask them to do the same. This will prevent the child from getting confused and your routine from being disrupted.
- Always bring a change of clothes, wipes, and some emergency diapers when traveling with the baby. In this way it will be easier for those who take care of the little one to help him feel less embarrassed in case of accidents along the way.
Step 5. When your child is ready, move on to night training
Once you are able to stay dry all day or so, it's time to move on to the night phase. Buy a couple of plasticized baby blankets (at least 3, so you can change them easily) and put one under and one on top. Look for the ones that have cotton in contact with the skin and plastic underneath. Once the bed is made, place the potty nearby when the baby naps or goes to sleep at night.
- Leave the bedroom door open and encourage him to call you if he feels he has to go. If he does, quickly place him on the potty while praising him for being good.
- If he runs away in bed, change the sheet without causing tragedy. Be quiet and reassure him. Remember that children can be as young as six before they stop wearing it.
Advice
- When you have time, think about how you handled the potty - would you have changed something or not? Did you have to have more patience? Spend more time with the child to teach them? Talk more about it? Read more books about it? Keep a progress diary? Avoid rushing yourself and the little one? Use all of this for next time and good luck!
- Praise the virtues of underwear, so your baby will be excited about wearing it to feel "grown-up". Find some playful panties with designs that the baby would like to wear.
- Don't take potty training as personal. While some mothers may make comparisons, remember that all good parents teach each child and that families are different all over the world!
- Make it fun. Sitting on the potty is an opportunity to read books, play with small things or draw. Remember to stay with him in the room and use appropriate items.
- If your child is in full-time kindergarten and there is another method there, then use their method at home as well.
Warnings
- Never speak of "big children against small ones" or "big and small girls"; it could have a negative influence on the child's confidence levels.
- Once the baby no longer uses the diaper, never put it back on.
- If your child has bathroom problems and is over 4, it's best to go to the pediatrician and don't ignore it. It could be a sign of psychological distress or a physical problem.
- Do not compare her ability to use the bathroom with those of other children. Never say things like: "Anna is still small and already wears panties like a big girl, while you have diapers like a baby".
