Beginner’s Guide To Potty Training
Parenting is so rewarding, but it’s also difficult at times. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had one child or 10, it’s normal to feel a little out of your depth sometimes, especially if you’re trying to do something that you have never done before. It’s okay to feel a little bit overwhelmed.
Visiting sites like Infant Empire can be really helpful for learning more about your child and what to do in certain situations. Today, however, we’re going to dive into one of the most difficult things that a parent can try to teach their child – potty training skills. Potty training can be difficult, but here are a few things that you need to do to be successful.
Start At The Right Time
Cleaning diapers is not any parent’s favorite thing to do, but don’t try to potty train your child too early on. You’re not going to have an easy time potty training your child if you try to force it before they’re ready. In most cases, you would need to start potty training your child when they are around 2-2.5 years old, though this will vary depending on your child. It’s best not to start potty training when a lot of things are changing either – for instance, if you are suddenly moving house. You will want to give your child’s potty training your full attention, and your child will need to do the same.
Basically, if your child is staying dry for around 2 hours at a time during the day, they are capable of following basic instructions, or they are at a point where they are aware that they have a wet diaper, it’s a good sign that your child is ready to move onto potty training.
Bring In The Toilet
When you first start potty training, you should ease in gently. Talk to your child about the potty – you can use books about potty training to make this a little bit easier. Make them aware of the fact that when you need to go, you use the toilet!
When you are at a point where you can start actually bringing them to the toilet, you then need to be consistent and take them to the potty on a schedule. For instance, take them to the potty just to sit around every two hours or so a day to get them familiar with it. Make them know that they need to remove their pants and underwear, and let them sit there for just a few minutes at a time. You can also entertain them with games or stories while you do this to ensure that it’s a fun time for them.
Cleaning Up Time
After your child has sat on the potty or even done their business, you then need to encourage proper hygiene. Have them flush and wipe after they are done – you will likely need to help with this at first. Then take them to wash their hands and show them how to do it – you can use fun kids soaps to make this more enticing. You can also use nursery rhymes to help them to understand how long they will need to take washing their hands.
Reward Good Behavior
If your child has successfully stayed on the potty or even used it, make sure that you reward them! Children respond well to positive reinforcement. This could be something as simple as a sticker chart – something small.
Have Some Patience
It’s easy to compare yourself to the mom down the street who claims that their child was fully potty trained within 2 days, but it’s not realistic to expect the same from your child. Potty training can be a difficult thing to do that will take some time. Be patient with your child – they will be fully potty trained when they aren’t having accidents regularly and are going to use the toilet of their own volition. Follow your child’s cues when you are training – they may even want to go back to diapers for a while, in which case you should try to compromise with them while they get used to the adjustment. The key is to be consistent, yet firm. When your child does use the bathroom, make sure that they are praised and rewarded – potty training isn’t just frustrating for you, it can sometimes be a challenge for children too. Eventually your child will be using the toilet all by themselves. All you need to do is facilitate the right behaviors and be patient with your little one.
