If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Image courtesy of John Kasawa/Free Digital Photos.
Being that I’m in the throws of potty training for a 4th time I figured now might be as good a time as any to give my pointers. Every parent is desperate to get her child potty trained, but we don’t always know just how to go about doing it. We turn to books and friends and family and even our pediatrician for guidance in this area. Maybe there doesn’t really need to be one more thing out there about it, but I’m throwing my two cents into the ring anyways. Because you see if nothing else the most important thing I think anyone can ever tell you with potty training is that what works for one child will not work for all children.
Every time I have begun the process of potty training a child it has been like I’m starting all over again. I’m constantly looking for new tricks to make the entire process easier. It’s important to know that those stories of children who trained in a day are just not that common though. And quite frankly I don’t think they are all that true. So don’t give up. And here are the top ten tips I have amassed over the years for potty training.
10 Tips To Make Potty Training Work
- Do NOT use pull ups. This just prolongs things. It’s too similar to a diaper and it will just be a nightmare. A child who can feel the pee dripping down his legs is more likely to grasp the need to get to the bathroom.
- Remain consistent. Going back and forth from underwear to diapers is just confusing. So keep her in those underwear even when you go out.
- Have a potty chair in your car and a lot of changes of clothing. You’re going to need it when you first start and you go out.
- Listen to your child. Starting when your child is not ready is just going to set you back. If it’s becoming far too frustrating, then lay off for a little while. Don’t completely ignore it, but don’t push it either. Invite her to use the bathroom when you do or talk about how nice it is to wear underwear.
- Do NOT get frustrated and yell. I know this is hard, but punishments don’t work. So if it’s getting frustrating for you, then it might be time to take a step back from the process.
- Find the right incentive. Stickers work for some kids, but not for all. A good trick is the prize on top of the fridge. You start out small with a big box on top of the fridge with a surprise in it and lots of ribbon flowing off of it. You snip off a piece of ribbon for each person in the family to tie to themselves for the day as a reminder that your child is going to stay dry. When she stays dry all day she gets the surprise in the box. The next day you have another prize, but this time it has to be dry for 2 days. You keep expanding on this with a new box on top of the fridge.
- Let your child pick out his own underwear. If it’s something he chooses he’ll be more likely to want to wear it.
- Get your child use to the big potty, he’s going to have to use it eventually. Also, be prepared for him to be afraid of public toilets, especially ones that automatically flush.
- Don’t worry about night training. Get day training down first, then worry about the night. It takes longer for a child to stay dry at night and he needs to have a bladder that has developed enough.
- Wine. You’ll probably be enjoying a few adult beverages when the day comes to an end when you are potty training. Truth be told, I don’t drink much though, but I do reward myself at the end of the day.
These are the ten things I have found are constant no matter what when it comes to potty training. Just remember, your child will not go off to college in diapers. He’ll get it when he’s ready and you just can’t push it.
What are your potty training tips?