Potty training tips
Potty training is one milestone that parents are probably eagerly awaiting.
Though some toddlers adjust in a few days, bear in mind that it may take your little one several months to get into the potty habit. And there will be setbacks along the way.
* Potty training readiness
There’s no right age to start potty training, as every child is different. Parents usually think about training when their child is between 18 months and three years old. Most children are between two years and two-and-a-half years when they start.
The older your child is the easier and quicker it tends to be.
Don’t feel pushed into toilet training your child too soon due to pressure from other parents or your family. Watch for the signs that your child is ready to start training, and don’t start before then.
Talk to your toddler about what you are going to do.
* Make preparations
Go on a special trip with your child to buy some new pants and a potty. A potty is probably easiest to start with, rather than a toilet. It’s easy to get on and off, and can be moved around the house. However, you may want to buy a training seat to attach to your toilet.
If your child uses a toilet seat, you’ll also need a step, so your child can stabilise himself with his feet and push when he needs to sit.
You could try using training pants for your toddler instead of, or as well as, proper underwear. Cloth training pants are similar to regular pants, but have an absorbent pad inside to cope with small accidents.
Absorbent, disposable pull-up trainer pants are especially easy to pull up and down. Some parents find these convenient, but some don’t find them helpful, as they don’t feel very different from a nappy.
Wearing real underwear may encourage your toddler to use his potty. You could let him choose some pants which have his favourite cartoon character on them.
*Be consistent
Take things slowly to begin with. Encourage your toddler to sit on the potty once a day. This may be after breakfast or before his bath.
Sit your child on the potty after he has just had a wet or dirty nappy. This reinforces what he is meant to do go and encourages him to get used to the potty and accept it as part of his routine.
Never restrain him or force him to sit there. And don’t push the issue if he seems scared. If he’s not interested, just put a nappy back on him and put the potty aside for a few weeks before trying again. At this stage, you just want him to get used to the potty.
If he shows an interest, start explaining that this is what mommy and daddy, and any older siblings do every day.
Wait until he’s ready and demonstrates a clear interest in using the toilet on his own. If you persist when your child is not ready, he’ll get upset and you’ll become increasingly frustrated, turning toilet training into a battle-ground.
You may find that it’s easier to potty train in the summer, when there are fewer clothes to take off and washing dries faster. Make sure the potty is always in a convenient place. Being portable, the potty can be used in the garden or whichever room you’re in.
Let everyone who looks after your child know that you’re going to start potty training. Grandparents, nursery staff or child-minders all need to use the same, consistent approach.
* Demonstrate how it’s done
Children learn by copying. Seeing you use the toilet will help your toddler to understand the purpose of a toilet. If you have a son, try teaching him to urinate sitting down to begin with.
Talk about how you can tell it’s time for you to go to the toilet. Then explain what’s going on as you go yourself.
Seeing you do it, and talking him through it step-by-step, will get him used to the whole process.
If your toddler has older siblings, or friends who are potty-trained, your younger child may see them using the toilet. He’ll then see the skills he’s trying to learn being demonstrated. After you’ve emptied his potty into the big toilet, let him flush it if he wants to, but don’t make him do it if he’s scared. Then encourage him to dress himself and wash his hands when he’s done.
