25 Tips for Successful Potty Training
Tips for potty training from those that have been there and done that are invaluable. Here are 25 random, but useful pieces of advice for the novice potty trainer.
1. Waiting until your child is ready will reduce the time it will take to get to the finishing post.
2. Set your child up for success. There is groundwork and ‘warm up’ exercises you can do before potty training begins in earnest.
3. Taking the time to identify the patterns of your child’s bodily functions will allow you to predict when a potty-sit would be most likely to be successful. More successes equal more enthusiasm.
4. Do not start potty training when there are other major events going on in your family, such as a new baby, a house move or even moving the tot into his ‘big bed’. This will minimize overall stress and allow you to give potty training your full attention.
5. If your child is in daycare, discuss potty training with them so that you can have a consistent approach.
6. Buy lots of pairs of ‘real’ underpants. There will be accidents, accepting this fact will make it easier on everyone. To make pulling them up and down easier, buy them in a bigger size.
7. Put your child in clothes they can realistically remove themselves. Elasticated waists are a better option than zips and buttons.
8. Putting a ping-pong ball or Cheerios in the toilet bowl will help youngsters practice their aim.
9. Carry an emergency kit when out and about – antibacterial wipes for public toilets, portable potty, baby wipes or toilet paper, plastic bags, change of clothes, diapers or pullups (just in case) and maybe even spare clothes for yourself!
10. Do not punish your child for accidents – accidents are accidents! Putting pressure on your potty-training toddler could lead to anxiety and fear.
11. Use a mattress protector on their bed. Dry nights are the last stage of potty training success.
12. Have a potty or toilet adapter in every toilet in the house, especially if there is more than one floor. Buy identical potties to reduce frustration.
13. Let your toilet trainee choose his or her own first underpants – this creates more ‘buy-in’. You could even consider letting him choose his own potty too.
14. Buy a step stool. It will be handy for toddlers getting onto the toilet, being able to push down on when doing a bowel movement, and lastly, it will be necessary for them to reach the hand basin so that they can wash there own hands.
15. Keep your own expectations in check. A relaxed and encouraging approach will result in a more stress-free process.
16. Use a timer to remind you and your toddler that it is time to sit on the potty – consistency is important.
17. Put your child on the potty after each meal. It is common for children to need to go within 20 minutes of eating.
18. Teach boys to point their penises down to reduce mess.
19. Put your child on the potty before you leave the house. This will reduce the chance that they will need to go somewhere unfamiliar.
20. Hold your child while they are sitting on the ‘big’ toilet to ensure that they feel secure.
21. If your toddler is in the resistant and contrary terrible-twos, hold off for a while. Co-operation is a necessity for success.
22. Never let your child go into public toilets alone. There are many associated safety issues.
23. If your toddler is sitting on the potty, but finding it difficult to urinate, run water in the hand basin. The sound of running water usually does the trick.
24. Include potty related stories to your child’s reading time. They will pick up all sorts of useful information as well as understanding that this is something everyone does.
25. Patience, patience, patience!
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If you are looking for easy, inexpensive activity ideas to do with your toddlers and preschoolers, check out my other website Doing Stuff With Kids.
