Posted On: 10/24/2008Simplify potty training with these helpful tips and toilet training suggestions.
Do you think your child is ready for potty training? If you notice your child doing any of the following, it's a great time to start potty training:
- Pulling or tugging at the diaper and expressing discomfort
- Mimicking parents’ behavior by trying to sit on the toilet
- Repeating key words such as “pee-pee” and “poo-poo”
- Asking to wear grown-up underwear
- Keeping dry for a couple of hours at a time during the day
- Waking frequently from naps with dry diapers
Potty training is different for boys and girls. Keep these things in mind when potty training your toddler.
Potty Training Advice For BoysSome parents say boys are more difficult to potty train than. While you should acknowledge that every child develops at his or her own pace, it is true that boys often physically mature a little later than girls. They also feel less discomfort than girls when they wet themselves. Since boys experience less discomfort than girls, they may be less motivated to begin potty training.
Potty Training Advice For GirlsGirls may experience increased risk of bladder or other infection during potty training. Remember to teach them to wipe from front to back to reduce the risk of infection. If she experiences abdominal pain, frequent or painful urination, or frequent urges during potty training, contact your family physician.
Potty Training: Step By Step
- Establish a potty training rewards system. Toddlers respond well to positive reinforcement.
- Remember that potty training requires patience. It may take weeks or months before your toddler is fully potty trained.
- Potty training is much easier if you child is wearing loose-fitting clothing.
- Turn potty training into a simple game. There are some great products available which are designed to make potty training fun, like the Flush & Cheer Potty Chair from Varsity Baby.
- Keep the potty chair in the bathroom instead of the child’s play area. This helps your toddler associate the job with the place.
- Establish a routine. Take your child to the potty chair before or after meals, first thing in the morning, before leaving the house, and at bed time.
- If your toddler has an accident, take her to the potty chair to try again before cleaning up and changing her clothes.
- Stop using disposable diapers or other undergarments that are designed to keep your toddler clean and dry. The more discomfort a child feels after an accident, the more motivation to get potty training right.
- Remember to emphasize the behavior you want to see. Instead of saying, “Don’t go potty in your diaper,” remind your toddler to “pee-pee or poo-poo in the potty chair.”