You can tell if your child is ready to potty train by looking out for the following signs: Showing an interest in the bathroom and how other people use it. Possessing good motor skills, including the ability to walk to the bathroom, climbing the steps and pulling down their pants. Using language skills, such as being able to understand simple instructions and follow them. Having predictable bowel movements. Understanding—through words or facial expression—of when they need to urinate or have a bowel movement. Wanting to please parents and act like a grown up. Knowing what the words wet and dry, clean and dirty, and up and down mean. Keeping their diaper dry for two hours and waking up dry from a nap occasionally. Wanting to get out of diapers and into underwear or training pants, and asking to get out of dirty diapers. Becoming more interested in being clean and dry. Noticing sticky fingers, dirty feet, dirty diapers, etc. You should never push your child to potty train if they are not ready—they will only resist you and the potty training process will be frustrating and time-consuming. Give your child another month or 2 and you will find it much easier. It has also been proven that one of the most effective ways to potty train is to start the process way before the physical process starts with books, songs, games, and activities to prepare them for the general idea.
Try to be as consistently upbeat and encouraging with your child as possible and deal with any accidents calmly. Remember that no typical child is going to graduate high school in diapers—they will get there! You should also be aware that although your child might be fully potty trained during the day, it is common for children to continue wetting the bed at night until the age of 5. They should be able to stay completely dry by the age of 6, but until that time be prepared to use pull-ups and plastic sheets at night. [4] X Research source
If you decide to use the toilet from the beginning, make sure to get a step stool for your child so their feet feel firm and secure while sitting on it. This will make them feel more stable and help eliminate the fear of falling in. Consider placing the potty in the playroom or living area to begin with. This will help your child to get comfortable with the potty and less intimidated by the prospect of using it. They may also be more inclined to use it if it’s within easy reach. To get your child interested in potty training and motivate them to use the potty, get a few books about potty training and look for songs or shows about the topic. You can also purchase a “drink-and-wet” doll.
Choose a period when you can spend long periods of time with your child at home so they will feel comfortable and secure with their environment and always have you there for encouragement and support. Many parents choose to potty train their children over the summer months—not only because they tend to have more free time to spend with their children, but also because their child will be wearing less layers of clothing, which makes getting to the potty on time much easier for the child.
To encourage your child to go, try to pick times when they are most likely to need the bathroom, like first thing in the morning, after mealtimes, and before bed. You can also give your child extra liquids with their meals if you like, as this will help to get their digestive system going. Make potty time part of your child’s bedtime routine. For instance, they can put their pajamas on, wash their face, brush their teeth, and go to the potty. They’ll soon remember to go all by themselves.
You can also demonstrate how the toilet is used by bringing the child into the bathroom with you when you need to go. Have them sit on the potty as you sit on the toilet and show them how it’s done. With any luck, this will encourage them to use the potty like a “big boy” or “big girl. " If possible, little boys might be better off going to the bathroom with their dad, grandpa, uncle or other male adult. If possible, little girls might be better off going to the bathroom with their mom, grandma, aunt or other female adult. However, you should forget about teaching boys to pee standing up just yet, as this can be confusing for them (not to mention messy). For now, have them sit on the potty for number ones as well as number twos!
If they’re impatient to get off, try reaching into that potty basket for some entertainment. To create a potty basket or box, find a small box or basket that is at least 1 foot (0. 30 m) long, and 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Borrow 2-3 potty books from your local library to place in the potty basket/box. An electronic device with potty apps, movies, videos, and songs on it will also entertain your child, although the use of technology like this should be limited to one hour a day. Make sure that your child’s drink-and-wet doll with a cup and possibly a potty of his/her own is in the basket: your child can make the doll “go” in the toilet and can make them feel proud of “teaching” their doll to use the toilet. A few extra pairs of underwear or training pants is helpful in case of accidents and a pack of flushable wipes is great for your child to wipe better and helps give a better clean after accidents. A sippy cup of water will help your child go and a coloring picture on a clipboard with crayons attached makes for even more entertainment. Of course, paper towels are helpful for cleaning up messes, and potty flashcards can be lifesavers. Never force your child to sit on the potty if they don’t want to—you’ll only cause further resistance which can upset the whole training process.
Never use words like “dirty” or “disgusting” to describe natural bodily processes, as this can cause your child to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their actions, which can negatively impact the potty training process. [2] X Trustworthy Source Michigan Medicine The University of Michigan’s medical center, which provides patient care, supports research, and educates the public on health topics Go to source If a child feels anxious or embarrassed about using the potty, they can start to hold everything in, which can lead to health problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections. For this reason, it is very important that a child feels comfortable with using the potty. [5] X Research source Being open with your child will give them confidence and let them know that they should feel proud of themselves for using the potty correctly.
Smile at your child, give plenty of praise, and use a calm, soothing tone of voice at all times. You can also try singing songs or playing games with your child while they’re on the potty, so they come to see potty-time as a fun activity, rather than something to be feared.
Get your child involved in the reading process by asking questions and getting your child to point out certain items in the pictures. Then once you’ve finished reading, ask your child if they’d like to try using their potty, just like the little boy or girl in the book. Some popular potty-related books include “Once Upon A Potty” by Alona Frankel, “Everyone Poops” by Taro Gomi, and “I Want My Potty” by Tony Ross. [7] X Research source
Common signals that a child needs to use the bathroom include: a change or pause in activity; squatting; clutching at their diaper; grunting; turning red in the face. You can help your child to recognize these signs themselves by asking them “Do you need to go potty?” or “Do you need to pee/poop?” as soon as you notice the warning signs. Encourage your child to tell you whenever they feel like they need to go. Be aware that some children will be reluctant to stop what they’re doing, especially if they are playing and having fun, just to use the potty. You will need to encourage them and give them lots of praise to make it seem worth their while!
Be aware that you will have accidents if you decide to employ this method—but an accident (or 5) may be just what your child needs to realize the importance of using the potty! Don’t act cross or disappointed when your child has an accident—just clean it up calmly and reassure your child that they’ll make it to the potty on time next time. If you scold them, they may become anxious about using the potty and start holding it in. Many parents dislike using pull-up diapers because they are now so absorbent that a child cannot tell if it is wet or not. Without some feeling of discomfort, they will not be able to learn their body’s signals and make it to the bathroom on time. If the child is naked, or wearing cloth underwear however, there will be no mistaking the need to go![9] X Research source
Sit them on the potty after they brush their teeth each morning, or before their nightly bath. Do this every day and night, without fail, and your child will soon be hopping on the potty all by themselves!
They will probably still need help wiping for some time, especially after a number two, but is good to get your child into the habit of trying. Once they are done, let your child do the honors of flushing the toilet and wave goodbye or cheer as everything gets flushed away. Congratulate your child on a job well done!
To encourage hand washing, get your child a step stool so they can easily reach the sink and buy some children’s antibacterial soap in a bright color that they will enjoy using. Teach your child to sing a song while they wash, so they will not be tempted to wash too quickly. Get them to sing the alphabet when they start washing their hands and tell them they can only stop when they get to the letter Z!
Just be careful not to over-encourage your child. Offer praise in a calm voice and don’t get over-excited. Being too over-the-top with your encouragement is its own form of pressure and may cause your child to feel anxious about pleasing you.
Food: Some parents use candy as a reward for successfully using the potty. For instance, you could give your child 3 mini M&M’s or a jelly worm every time they manage to go in the potty. Other parents are wary of offering food as a reward, as they believe it might affect their children’s eating habits in future. [10] X Research source Star Charts: Another common in motivator is for parents to create a star chart, where a child is given an additional gold star for every time they successfully use the potty. Sometimes the gold star is motivation enough in itself, while other times parents offer additional rewards if a child reaches a certain number of stars by the end of the week—such as a trip to the park, an extra story at bedtime, or some ice cream. Other times the reward will be given after the chart is completed. Toys: Another good option is to buy a small set of toys (nothing big—maybe just a collection of toy cars or plastic animals) and let your child choose one every time they use the potty. Another good idea with toys is to have older siblings put small , little toys in a box or bag. This way, every time your child goes potty, they get a different kind of toy! Piggy Bank: Some parents offer their children monetary incentives to use the potty! Put a piggy bank in the bathroom and pop a penny in every time your child uses the potty. Once it’s full your child can cash it in to buy some treats, like an ice cream or a ride on the machines at the mall. This also may get them ready for when they’re older and have an actual allowance! [10] X Research source
Getting positive, encouraging reactions from someone other than you (the potty trainer) will impress upon your child how good it feels to “be a big boy/girl. " Another trick parents use is to rope in a friend or family member to portray their child’s hero or favorite cartoon character over the phone. It could be Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, or Barney the Dinosaur—whoever your child likes. Telling their hero about their potty training successes and getting praised in return will make them feel proud as punch!
As mentioned before, scolding a child for having an accident or failing to use the potty can cause them to develop anxiety around the whole issue. This anxiety may cause them to start trying to hold everything in, which just causes further accidents and may lead to both health and psychological problems down the line. [5] X Research source If your child has an accident reassure them that it’s okay and that they will make it to the potty next time round. Speak in a neutral tone of voice and explain to the child that poop and pee go in the potty. Show them where the potty is and let them know that you’re proud of them for trying and that you’re confident that they will soon be using the potty just like a big boy or girl.
If your child just doesn’t seem to be getting the hang of it, the best thing to do might be to give potty training a break for a month or two and then try again. Remember, some kids don’t become fully potty trained until they’re 3—and that’s perfectly normal!
Cloth underwear will actually help your child with their training, as they will be able to tell when the underwear are wet—something which is not so easy with absorbent diapers. They will also be so pleased with their new underwear that they will be reluctant to get them wet, and therefore more diligent about keeping them dry!
One great method some parents use for training their toddlers how to get their pee in the bowl is to put some Cheerios or Fruit Loops in the toilet bowl and tell their child to aim directly for them. This turns it into a fun game which appeals to most toddlers’ mischievous side![11] X Research source You can also purchase adhesive “targets” that can be stuck to the toilet bowl from online shops.
Tell them about your child’s normal schedule, along with the words you use to refer to any potty-related activities, and ask them to follow the same lines. This will prevent your child from becoming confused and your potty-training routine from being disrupted. Always send a spare change of clothes, some wipes, and a few emergency diapers or training pants with your child whenever they are away from home. This will make things easier on the caregivers and help your child to feel less embarrassed about any accidents.
Leave your child’s bedroom door open and encourage them to call you if they wake up needing to go. If they do, put them quickly on the potty and praise them for doing so well. If they go in the bed, change the pad and don’t make a big deal of it. Deal with it calmly and matter-of-factly and reassure your child that it’s okay. Remember that children may reach the age of 6 before they stop having accidents at night-time.
