I see many parents in a mad rush to get their child out of nappies and to complete potty training as fast as they can. I am amazed when I see mothers bragging that their child is fully potty trained by the age of two, as lets face it that’s a pretty unrealistic goal to aim for.
Potty training masters skill, time and lots of accidents.
Potty training will have a higher success rate if done between the ages of two and a half and three years.
If you get the timing right you can potty train your child within a week or two and this is a welcomed thought for many parents. As many fear this stage.
While I advise not to start toilet training early, you can prepare your child.
Many parents fear the thought that they have to start to potty train their child, it does not have to be difficult, there are steps you can to help make the time you potty train a more positive and less stressful time, for both you and your child.
Can you potty train your child within a week ? You can if you get the right week to do it.
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Getting ready to potty train
Preparing your child before you begin toilet training can and will make the experience more relaxed and your child will feel more comfortable with this new coming change.
You can have a potty in the living room, but resist the age to make your child sit on it. Allow it to become just another object in the room, your child will be interested in this new item and will no doubt make use out of it, for any reason but what its there for. Potties make great hats.
Allow your child to go to the toilet when you do, they learn so much by copying you. Let them pass you the loo roll and flush the chain. This makes the thought of the toilet more fun.
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Spotting the signs that your child is ready to potty train
Around the age of two your child will learn to recognise, that something is about to happen when they need to wee or poo. Your child may be able to tell you that he/she needs to wee/poo. This is a great sign and the one that makes potty training easier.
Recognising that they need to poo often comes later than knowing they are about to wee. It is also easier for them to hold in a poo, when you are toilet training and using a toilet you find you don’t quite make it there in time and they will wee while you are rushing them to the toilet, simply because holding in wee is difficult for them to do.
Your child also needs to be able to communicate with you, they need to be able to tell you they need to go. Potty training should not be started when your child has no idea what you are talking about, as that will only confuse them.
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My Top Toilet Training Tips
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Potty or Toilet?
I have used both methods and both work well. The potty however seems to be comfortable for many children, the toilet can look big and scary.
A stepping stool and child a toilet seat designed for little bums can make the transition from potty to toilet much easier.
This is also a great time to teach your child the importance of washing their hands. Kaiden my two year old, although he is not being potty trained as yet as showing no signs of being ready, he will wee on the potty just so he can wash his hands.
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Accidents will happen
All children will have accidents, its part of potty training and should not be seen as naughty, deal with the mess quickly and move on. Never shout at your child if they have an accident.
If your child says they need to go, then get up and run for the potty.
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Toilet training at bed time
Expecting your child to stay dry right through the night is not a reasonable expectation, this takes extra time. My advise is to master the day time training before starting bed time training.
Happy Potty Training x
