A few months ago we purchased a potty seat for my son, he was starting to show interest in potty training. He has been watching other kids and following us to the restroom for a few months now. After I purchased the potty seat a few months ago, I tried putting my son on the potty. I knew that it was still a bit early and didn’t quite show all of the signs that he was ready to potty train but he was getting closer. In fact, he started telling us when his diapers were soiled but he wouldn’t tell us that he needed to go potty. Over the last few weeks, he started showing more signs that he is ready to start potty training. In fact, your child has to be completely ready before they will successfully potty train. Never pressure your child to start potty training too early.
Disclosure: This post is for information purposes only. All opinions reflected in this post are my own and are based upon my own potty training experiences.
Allow Your Child to Pick Out Their Own Potty Seat or Chair
If your child shows signs that he or she is ready to start potty training, you should go to the store or search online to purchase a potty chair if you haven’t already done so. Allow your child to go with you to the store to pick out a potty seat or chair. Don’t worry, you don’t have to pick out anything fancy or expensive.
Wait Until Your Toddler Shows Signs That They Are Ready to Start Potty Training
Many children will let you know that they are ready to start potty training when they talk about going “pee-pee” or “poo-poo” in the potty. My child loves to follow me to the potty and watch what I am doing. Children who are ready to start potty training will stay dry for longer periods of time before they use the bathroom. This lets you know that they are able to have control over their bladder. If you child does have an accident, never punish or make fun of them.
Implement a Reward System
My son moved up to the two year old room at daycare about a month ago and my son kept talking about gummy bears. So the next day, I decided to ask his teacher about the gummy bears and she told me that they give them gummy bears to the children when use the potty. I let his teacher know that he was showing signs that he is ready to potty train and they were welcome to put him on the potty. His teacher told me that he would get up on the potty and wouldn’t go. Since the daycare is using gummy bears as a reward system, I decided to implement the same reward system at home so that he has some consistency while potty training. Some experts suggest using non-food items for rewards. If you decide to give food or a treat, make sure that you don’t over do it
My Son Used the Potty This Weekend
On Friday evening, I decided to try potty training again. He has started taking off his shorts lately and he actually told me that he needed to go potty. I grabbed his and and we rushed to the bathroom. I set him up on the potty, after a few minutes of sitting on the potty he finally went. Yeah! After he finished going potty, we clapped, I told him that he was a good boy, gave him a hug and kiss. Then I gave him a gummy bear for using the potty and he was so excited. I was hoping that him using the potty was a fluke. However, over the weekend he went several times on the potty.
Create a Plan on How You Want to Handle Potty Training in Public Restroom
At this time, we are still using diapers since we still don’t have a system down yet. It will be a while before we work on potty training in public restrooms. I want him to be successful at home and at daycare before we put him in big boy underwear. I am excited and can’t wait to share his potty training success.
Tips and Tricks to Successfully Potty Train Your Toddler
Use these tips and tricks to successfully potty train your toddler:
- Be Patient, it is natural for your child to have accidents.
- Be Consistent, offer praise immediately after your child goes potty or for attempting to potty.
- Determine if your child is ready to start potty training.
- Allow your child to help you pick out a potty seat or chair before deciding to purchase one.
- Sit your child on the potty chair every few hours.
- Create a reward system.
- Always praise your child when they use the potty.
- Once your child is successfully using the potty at home then work on potty training in public, which is harder since most public places doesn’t have potty seats or potty chairs. Kids often feel like they are going to fall into the toilet.
- Continue to use diapers or pull ups during nap time and at night.
- Allow your child to pick out big boy or girl underwear, when you plan on switching your child from diapers and pull ups.
Tips to Potty Training A Toddler in 3 to 7 Days
If you have a weekend or a week to dedicate to potty training, immediately switch your child to big boy or girl underwear. During this time don’t use any diapers, pull-ups, or plastic pants except during nap time and overnight. Take your child potty every hour while they are awake and offer a reward and praise each time your child uses the potty. Be prepared for accidents and if an accident occurs tell your child that he or she needs to let you know that they need to go potty.
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Do you have any tips or tricks to share with other moms on potty training their toddler?
