It’s scary
It’s messy
It’s a big step in life for both parents and children.
Potty training is just as much about training parents as the kids. And just like everything else it’s all about consistency. Let me give you a few tricks I’ve acquired after working in a toddler preschool room for over 10 years potty training hundreds of two-year-olds plus three of my own at home.
1)Make a commitment. Either you are potty training or you are not. You cannot potty train on Tuesdays but not on Saturdays and Sundays.
2) Pull-ups are a tool old to be used only when needed. Bedtime, napping, car seats, and extra busy days out of the house are good days to use them, but to use them everyday is not helpful to the overall process. Really they feel no different then a diaper to the kiddos.
3) Potty training goes fastest when they can really see the cause and effect. This means that either as close to naked as comfortable or jeans. You want them to notice that they are going and it to be different from when they went in the diaper.
4) Talk about it and adopt an open door policy. Tell them when you’re going. Talk to them about the potty dance. Remind them to go and keep the bathroom a comfortable place for them to be.
6) Don’t get discouraged when it doesn’t go perfect. Just a few more small things
- set a timer and have them try every time it goes off
- keep things light. If it becomes stressful, a chore, a fight, or a negative situation they will not want to do it and you will regress in potty training.
- Try tricks like singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, counting to 10, or listing the colors of the rainbow while they are sitting on the toilet so they relax.
- Make sure they are comfortable sitting on the toilet seat. Flat feet and knees at a 90 degree angle.
5) Make it a habit to go during transitions. Before and after you eat, before leaving, after cleaning up Etc.
As a final note there are some things to avoid
- Don’t give it weird names, pee poop and if you must number one and number two are perfect. There is no need to make a game out of the situation or confuse them.
- Don’t use candy or toys as a reward when they go. Your rewards for going potty in the toilet are no more diapers and being a big kid. Sing a song, cheer, clap, and shout hooray but avoid giving a physical reward.
- Do not punish for accidents. Fear is not your friend when it comes to potty training and you do not want to turn potty training into a battle for control.
Above everything else be consistent!
Good luck and just think of life with no diapers 🙂 you can do this!
~Tara