The time is here. You've made the decision to stop receiving diapers, restock on sweets (buy some for yourself! ), and purchase big kid underwear. Potty training has begun.
But hold on, is your child actually prepared? Have you made a plan yet? Will you need to persuade a rebellious child to cooperate every 20 minutes?
Read on to make sure you've done the preparation to position yourself for a (mostly) pleasant potty training experience before you decide to give away all the diapers and recycle your diaper bag.
Is it now a good time to start potty training?
It's vital to stop and think about whether your child is truly ready to be potty trained before you begin scheduling your toilet training program. The following are signs that your child may be prepared to stop wearing diapers:
- Indicating a desire to use the restroom. (Is your kid requesting to use the restroom with you or talking about going?)
- Wishing to change a dirty diaper. (Does your child let you know when they need to use the restroom while wearing diapers?)
- Being able to hold one's bladder for longer. (Does your child's diaper frequently go from dry to full in a small window after staying dry for a while?)
- Ability to independently pull their pants up and down.
- A capacity for multi-step directions.
Most kids are prepared to work on potty training between the ages of 18 and 24 months, but other kids aren't until they're 3 years old. Potty training typically begins at 27 months of age.
It's crucial that you recognize key readiness signals if you decide to start toilet training your child as soon as possible. If you're certain that it's the proper moment for everyone, including your child, you'll avoid a lot of frustration.
How can a schedule be made?
It's time to choose a method after you're certain that you and your child are prepared, both physically and mentally, to start the potty training process.
The three-day strategy, a time-based method, or a schedule-based method are a few of the most popular approaches. It is advisable to select the approach that complements both your child's needs and your lifestyle because there isn't any evidence to imply that one approach is superior to another.
The Three-day Method
There are several ways to accomplish this, but the three-day method calls for you to completely give up your regular schedule for three days in order to concentrate solely on your child's potty training.
The three days will be spent with your child by your side as you learn to recognize all the signs that they might need to use the restroom. You should always be around if your child starts to urinate, especially if they haven't requested to use the bathroom yet.
Since underwear is substituted for diapers at the start of the three days, it is reasonable to anticipate some accidents during the potty training period.
Time-based Method
Some parents opt to toilet train their kids over a somewhat longer period of time than the recommended three days. This enables the family to keep up a more regular schedule of outings even as the child learns to use the toilet.
Have your child use the toilet for at least a few minutes every hour or so from the time they wake up until they go to bed if you want to potty train them using a time interval-based method. For frequent reminders, think about setting a timer.
You can stop using diapers or choose a middle ground like pull-up training pants.
Schedule-based Method
A schedule-based method of potty training is a third choice made by some parents. A child's restroom trips are dependent on their regular daily schedule rather than being planned around a timer.
Attempts to use the restroom upon waking, before/after meals, before/after being outside, and in between various playing activities are examples of this. When their child frequently urinates or defecates in their diaper, parents can also schedule trips to the restroom during such times.
A child should always be encouraged and taken to the bathroom if they request to do so while using any of these potty training techniques because the objective is for a child to learn to recognize their body's signals.
Getting started
It's time to start toilet training your child once you've determined that he or she is ready and you have a general notion of the procedure that works best for you and your child. To encourage your kid and get potty training off to a good start:
- Pick up a couple potty training books from the library or bookstore to read together.
- Visit the store with your kid to look for a kid-sized potty or some eagerly anticipated underpants.
- Talk with your child about items they might like to try to acquire during the potty training process if you intend to utilize rewards.
Supplies
Make sure you have everything you'll need in order to make things simple for both you and your potty-training child. Think about whether it would be appropriate to use a step stool or a timer, as well as whether you would want to use a toilet ring or a little potty for your child. Purchase a lot of underwear so you'll have enough to cover any mishaps.
You could also wish to spend money on a chart and some stickers or small rewards if you want to employ a reward system.
It could be beneficial to have a visual reminder of their schedule if you're employing one of the long-term techniques. They may be better able to see their objectives and enjoy their successes if they can check off successful potty visits. You can learn how to make a behavior chart by reading some advice.
First days
No matter which toilet training strategy you choose, you should prepare for many restroom breaks in the beginning.
Even though you've determined that your child is ready to stop wearing diapers based on their cues, resistance to the transition may still exist. Back off and try again a few weeks or even months later if the pushback is severe and one of you is becoming upset.
Make potty training fun for your child by remaining composed throughout the process. Baby steps! At initially, any praise or awards should be given for sitting on the toilet rather than actually using it.
If your child does have an accident, they should be praised for trying again rather than being disciplined. The goal is to stay joyful and optimistic.
Leaving the house
Try to start with short outings (with known toilets along your route!) if you plan to travel around town while potty training. Remember that your child might not feel entirely at ease in public facilities, and that some kids may find auto-flush toilets to be frightening.
Maintain a diaper bag that is packed to the brim with extra clothing, wipes, diapers, and, if practical, even spare pairs of shoes.
The following factors
It's critical to take a few more factors into account now that you have a potty training strategy in mind.
First, you might want to hold off on throwing away those overnight diapers. Long after they stop having accidents during the day, many kids will still need to wear diapers at night.
Continued usage of a nighttime diaper might lessen the amount of wet sheets you eventually have to wash and allow your child to sleep soundly without worrying about using the restroom in time.
A good sign that your child might be prepared for this last phase is a string of dry nocturnal diapers. The best chance of success for your child is if you encourage them to use the restroom just before night and to drink as little fluids as possible just before bed.
Even when you believe the potty training process is over, regressions or outright refusals to use the restroom are not uncommon. When this happens, it's crucial to maintain your composure.
Avoid reprimanding or punishing your child during the potty training process. Instead, encourage your youngsters and continue to provide opportunities for restroom use on a regular basis.
Don't forget that teaching children good hygiene practices can be accomplished during the potty training process. Incorporating hand washing into the stages taught and making it a condition for any potty training rewards will help to guarantee that your child develops healthy habits as an adult.