Every parent waits for the moment when their child goes to the toilet for the first time without anyone’s help. This is also unique because it is from here that the child takes the first step towards self-reliance.
But did you know that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children are ready for toilet training between the ages of 2 and 3 years? Yet every child is different,
and this is why many parents look for potty training tips for parents that really work and make potty training problems easier. Whether you are wondering how to potty train a girl or a boy, this journey can be made easy only with patience,
correct understanding, and the right strategies. In this article, we will give you practical potty training tips, scientific approach, and psychological tips that will not only help your child in toilet training but will also help you to be a sensible and calm parent.
What is potty training
Potty training is a process in which children are taught to use the toilet and potty on their own so that they can remain clean even without their parents and do not have to be completely dependent on them. This keeps the child clean and also learns to handle his responsibilities. This is a developmental stage in which the child learns to go to the toilet on his own by leaving the diaper and he stops depending on the diaper.
When to Start Potty Training?
It is often advised that potty training should be started when the child is 18 months old, but the development speed of every child is different, so it is very important to know what is the right time to start potty training and when it should be started.
Therefore, it is important that you understand the readiness of the child, and not decide on potty training based only on age.
According to the report of the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children are ready for potty training between 18 and 24 months, but Starting toilet training in a hurry can cause confusion,
fear and stress to the child because children are often afraid of sitting on the toilet seat, so it is better to understand the child and start potty training with patience.
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The child is ready for potty training if he is showing these 10 signs
1. Ability to sit in one place: If the child can sit in one place quietly for a while, then he can also sit on the toilet seat.
2. Removing underwear: When the child tries to pull down the pants or underwear, it is a good sign that he is physically ready.
3. Signs through words or gestures: Like “the potty has come” or the diaper is dirty, this communication shows readiness that the child is now getting ready for potty training.
4. Trouble with dirty clothes: If the child gets irritated after wearing a wet diaper or wants to change it immediately, then he is becoming aware of cleanliness, so this can be a better sign to give him potty training.
5. Doing potty secretly: Many children do potty secretly because they want to experience doing this, through this curiosity of theirs, you can give them potty training.
6. Understanding simple instructions: When the child understands your signals and words completely and is ready to listen to you like “Let’s go to the toilet” or “Sit,” if the child understands this, then he is mentally ready for potty training.
7. Pottying at a specific time: Like, the child pottying as soon as he wakes up in the morning or after eating, this is his habit, so it can be changed into potty training.
8. Staying dry for some time: When the child stays dry for at least 2 hours, bladder control starts coming, in such a situation you can start giving potty training to the child.
9. Imitating elders: When the child sees you or any sibling going to the toilet and imitates the same, then he considers it a fun process, you can give him potty training through this excitement.
Through all these signs, you can find out whether the child is ready for potty training or not. All these signs indicate that now you can consider starting toilet training.
When 4–6 of these signs start appearing regularly, then you can slowly and lovingly start adopting potty training tips. But this process may take time, so be patient.
Step-by-Step Potty Training Guide (Easy and Proven Methods)
Potty training is the most important thing for a child, but patience and the right method are needed to teach this to the child. Every child has different abilities, so the same method does not apply to every child. But there are some steps that prove effective for almost all children and prove useful for them.
Where to start?
- First of all, select a potty chair or toilet training seat for the child. If the child gets scared by seeing a big toilet, then a small potty chair is better.
- Make a regular routine every day like take the child to the toilet as soon as you wake up in the morning, try to make him do potty after eating and before sleeping.
- Make the child comfortable with the potty chair or seat, for this you can make cartoon tattoos and some fun decorations in the toilet, let him touch and use it so that he does not get scared.
- Try not to say anything negative during potty training, so that the child feels fun in it and feels safe, do not interrupt him too much so that he can be comfortable.
- When the child himself tells that he wants to go potty, then immediately take him to the toilet, this increases self-reliance and confidence in the child.
Keep these potty training tips in mind
- Positive reinforcement is very important. If the child does potty at the right place, then praise him “Wow, you did a great job, this will increase the confidence in the child.
- During potty training, the child will have some accidents but this is absolutely normal, so do not get angry, just explain calmly “It doesn’t matter, do it correctly next time. This whole process is new for the child, so motivate him and ignore his mistakes.
- Encourage the child to tell his needs like, “If you feel that you have to go potty, then tell mom or dad”, this will make the child understand his responsibility and he will be aware of it.
- Teach the child to wash hands every time after going to the potty, this is not only important for hygiene but it is also important to form his self-care habit.
- When the child progresses in toilet training, do small celebrations, like give him his favorite chocolate or candy and give him rewards, this will strengthen his morale and he will complete the potty training quickly.
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Some common potty training problems and their solutions
Problem: Some children are afraid of the flushing sound or the toilet seat because it has a hole in it which makes the child uncomfortable.
Solution: First make the child sit on an empty potty seat, then slowly introduce him to the flushing sound. A fun toilet song or toy can help in distraction so that the child does not get scared.
Problem: Constipation or wearing diapers for a long time can cause the child to lag behind in potty training and may have problems.
Solution: Increase the amount of fiber and water in the child’s diet and also try training underwear instead of diapers and motivate the child for potty training.
Problem: Children often wet the bed at night because night wetting is a common problem in children.
Solution: Give less water 1 hour before sleeping and take the child to the washroom before sleeping so that there are less chances of wetting at night and use a waterproof bedsheet.
Problem: When the child is not ready for potty training, he refuses again and again which can become an obstacle in potty training.
Solution: Do not force the child, tell him toilet training stories of other children like elder brother or cousins’ potty training. To motivate the child, give him rewards on potty training so that his confidence increases.
What is the 3-day potty training method
Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that about 40%–60% of children complete potty training by the age of 3, but every child is different. Some children become toilet trained at 18 months,
while others learn potty training at the age of 4. Dr. Katherine Brown, a renowned child psychologist says that “Potty training should be adopted according to the readiness of the child, not a timeline.
Dr. Katherine Brown says that when the child starts showing signs of potty training, then the 3 day potty training method should be tried because children learn potty training quickly with this.
Explanation of 3-Day Potty Training
The 3-Day Potty Training Method was started by an author and parenting expert named Lora Jensen, who published her book “3-Day Potty Training” in 2004 in which she has fully explained the 3-Day Potty Training method.
You should know that the sole goal of the 3-day potty training method is to make children completely dependent on using the toilet by giving up diapers so that they can learn to use the toilet and stay clean.
This method is based on discipline, consistency and positive reinforcement, as a result of which children complete potty training quickly and learn to go to the toilet on their own and also learn to potty.
Fundamentals of 3-Day Potty Training
There are some basic principles of this method due to which the 3-day potty training method is given more importance because with their help the child is able to succeed in the 3-day potty training quickly.
Giving up Diapers
Do not make the child wear diapers during the 3-day potty training method. Try to make him wear underwear most of the time so that he understands that he has to go to the toilet when he needs to potty and does not dirty his underwear.
Giving opportunities to Go to The Toilet
Give the child more water to drink so that he goes to the toilet more times a day, this will give him the opportunity to learn how to use the toilet.
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Positive Motivation
When the child goes to potty on his own, encourage him and praise him so that next time he potties himself to get your praise. Small children love to hear praise from their parents, which makes them feel happy. If you praise the child, he will be motivated to do that work again. You can also give him a gift so that he feels good.
Accepting Mistakes
Potty During training, the child can make some common mistakes like not using the potty at the right place and many such mistakes but you should not scold your child for his mistakes but instead be patient and give him a chance to learn from his mistakes. Explain his mistake to the child lovingly. This way the child will not make that mistake next time and will try to get the praise of his parents.
Be Active
When the child wakes up in the morning and goes to sleep at night, you have to make him potty. During this time, you can tell him the basics of potty training which will make it easier for him to learn potty training and he will learn to correct his mistakes.
Conclusion
Potty training is a journey for every child and parent that is successful only with patience and understanding. Every child has different thinking capacity, therefore it is important that parents understand the child’s signals and start toilet training only when the child is ready.
During this time, loving support and small motivational steps are very important for the child. If you adopt some simple potty training tips right in the beginning, like setting a fixed time, encouraging the child for potty training and creating a positive environment,
then this process can become a lot easier and save the parents from fatigue. Remember, success in potty training will not just become a habit of the child but it is the first step towards him becoming self-reliant.
FAQs About Potty Training For Kids
Q1. What is the right time to start potty training?
Usually, children start getting ready for toilet training at the age of 18 to 24 months, so this time is quite favorable to start potty training.
Q2. What to do if the child is repeatedly having potty training accidents?
Be patient during this time. Potty training is a unique process. It may take time for the child, so do not expect the child to be perfect immediately. Guide the child in a positive way and adopt some easy potty training tips like make a potty training timetable for the child, praise the child so that his confidence increases.
Q3. Is night toilet training the same as day?
No, day and night potty training are different. During the day, the child has fewer potty accidents, whereas at night he sleeps deeply, due to which there may be more chances of accidents. For night toilet training, you should be a little more patient and sensitive.
Q4. Is potty training different for boys and girls?
Some potty training tips work for both such as consistency, praise and it is important to take care of a clean environment but there is no significant difference but girls complete potty training quickly because they use the toilet sitting since childhood while boys use the toilet standing, so there is a difference in the time taken by both to complete potty training. Girls complete potty training quickly.
Q5. What to do if the child is afraid of going to the toilet?
In such a situation, present toilet training as a game, use toys and make the environment light through small stories and put his favorite cartoon stickers so that he does not get scared in the toilet.
Q6. Does the rewards system work for potty training?
Yes, many times small rewards like star stickers, praise, or telling an extra story motivate children, due to which they show interest in potty training.
Q7. Does sending to daycare cause problems in potty training?
No, there is no problem, but you should talk to the daycare staff so that the same toilet training habits that you are following at home are followed there as well.
Q8. How much time does it take to get fully potty trained?
Some children get used to it in just a few weeks, while some may take months.
Q9. Are pull-up diapers right during potty training?
Try to make the child wear underwear so that he can feel wetness and learn to tell himself that he needs to go to the toilet. This can help you a lot in potty training your child.
Q10. What to do if the child backs out, that is, he had learned it earlier but suddenly starts having accidents?
In such a situation, instead of scolding the child, explain to him lovingly and stabilize the routine again. Try the previous potty training tips again and be patient.