Potty Training Tips
Once you’ve determined that it’s the right time for your child to learn how to go on the potty, make sure that potty training is your number one priority. Be prepared to drop everything and run as soon as your little one says potty or grabs their diaper.
If this is a time in your life when you can’t do that, such as renovations, new baby, etc., then you should wait until things settle down. If you’re ready to go, then let’s move on to the next stage.
Potty Training Tips
Starting to potty train on weekends has been really successful for parents. They have the whole day to be with their child and are able to watch them for signals that they need to go potty. Long weekends are especially helpful.
Stay consistent. Whatever plan you decide to use, it’s best to stick with it. Potty training can sometimes feel like taking one step forward and two steps back. Even when there are accidents, it’s best not to give up or your child will too.
If you use words like potty and poopy, stick to them. Using the same words consistently will help your child learn what they mean. Encourage your child to use those words while they are learning to potty train.
Don’t ever get upset with your child when they have accidents. Even though it’s frustrating, your child may feel self-conscious and afraid to potty train if you scold them.
Using a doll to show your child how to use the potty can be really successful. You can even dress your child’s doll or bear in diapers and underwear. This will make it more fun for your child and show them that it’s OK to go on the potty.
Using potty training books or videos can also really help your child understand that it’s a part of growing up. Seeing other children going potty will help them want to do the same thing. Toddlers love mimicking others, and when they see other children doing it, they’ll want to as well.
Sing a song while you’re child is sitting on the potty. I sing pooping on the potty, pooping on the potty over and over again. My daughter loves it and it helps her to stay on the potty instead of jumping off right away.
Use some kind of reward system. Stickers are great for this. You can use different colored stickers for different things like letting you know they have to go potty. A different color can be used when they sit on the potty, and another color can be used when they actually go potty. Let your child put the stickers on a chart to help them get more excited about it. Also, clapping and saying yay can also help them feel good about being on the potty.
There are times though when a child will show signs that they may be ready for potty training, but don’t want to sit on the potty. If your child refuses to sit down or wear big kid underpants then it may be best to wait a little longer.
I made the mistake of buying a cheap potty chair from Walmart. Not only was it hard to clean, but it tipped over while my son was sitting on it, and the edges of the seat scratched his poor little legs.
A better alternative is the BabyBjörn Potty Chair
When your child outgrows the potty chair and is big enough to sit on the toilet, the BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer
