Look at potty training as an opportunity to bond with your child as you work toward this goal together. Devote some time to preparing yourself and your child before starting. Clear your schedule so that you can really take the time to be with your child and help them learn this new skill. Here are my tips on potty training. I have used these to successfully potty train 6 children. They were all potty trained by 2 1/2 even the boys!!
- Buy a potty chair so that your child can sit and his feet will touch the floor. It helps them feel more secure. Have the potty chair sitting out a couple weeks so that your child can get used to the sight of it. They can even practice sitting on it with their clothes on.
- Check out some books from the library about using the potty. I like the one by Mr. Rogers. Read these to your child daily and talk about how soon they will be learning to do this too.
- Buy some pretty underwear for little girls or superhero fun ones for boys. Buy some treats.
- When you start be ready to work on this consistently for 2 weeks. It may take longer but if you are really consistent the first two weeks then you will have established a routine and it will be much easier as you continue the training.
- Set a timer for every 15 min and put them on the potty each time it goes off. Also during this time really push the liquids as this will improve your chance for them to accidently go in the potty. When they do you can make a big deal out of this.
- Have treats ready for them when they go potty. This can be stickers, their favorite snack, or whatever you choose.
- I like using a potty chart with stickers so they can see their progress. Plus kids love putting their own stickers on the chart.
- Don't use pull-ups during the day instead use the new underwear. I know what your thinking but your just going to have to deal with the mess as this really helps them learn faster. Most kids don't like the feeling of pee running down their leg so it will encourage them to use the potty. During this time I just put kids in their underwear and let them run around. There is no use having to wash pants every time they have an accident. I have wood floors on my main floors so the clean up is easy. I know some moms try to keep their kids in the kitchen with them reading books or coloring etc... just so they don't have to clean up the carpet.
- Do use pull-ups at nap time and at night since it will be a while before they are able to wake up dry.
- Keep it positive! When they have an accident don't belittle them or make them feel bad in any way just tell them it's OK and that they can try again next time. Be prepared for lots of accidents in the beginning. This is the way they learn. When they do go on the potty give them a lot of praise. Our family loves to clap and yell hurray each time they go to the potty. Let them call daddy at work or grandma or a loved one and tell them how they've gone on the potty.
- Once they have learned to go pee you can start trying to work on going poop in the potty. Be ready to sit and read with them while they sit there or let them listen to some kids tunes on your ipod. At first I give them a treat just for sitting for a designated amount of time.
- Be watchful and try and catch them going poop so that you can then sit them on the potty.
- I give bigger treats for going poop. In the beginning you could even have some little toys for them.
- Make sure they are eating plenty of fiber, fruits, etc... so they aren't constipated.
- Be Consistent, Be Positive, Be Patient!
