Toilet Training
Toilet Training or Potty Training as it is sometimes known is often considered one of the most stressful times in parenting. It is a huge event in a child’s life and can in turn be very difficult to face.
The key to successful training seems to be about waiting until the child is ready. Just because your mum says you were trained by 18 months, and your friends little girl is fully trained by her second birthday, doesn’t necessarily mean your little angel is going to be ready at the same age.
The fact is most children are ready to train around the age of 2 but some just are not ready until gone their 3rd birthdays. This has nothing to do with development; it’s just that all children are different, try not to see it as a competition and let your child lead you. It is noted that boys often take longer to train than girls.
How to tell if your child is ready
Your child might be ready when he:
- Starts to show an interest in the toilet habits of others; for example you, their father or older siblings
- Stays dry for a few hours during the day
- Lets you know when he wants to be changed after soiling his nappy
- Has bowel movements at regular times through the day
- Has the vocabulary to tell you they need to go (even if they aren’t using it yet)
When to wait
It might be best to wait though during stressful times in their lives such as:
- Moving house
- Illness
- New sibling arriving
- Changing from cot to bed
- Change of childcare arrangements
Tips to help with successful potty training
- Involve the child – allow him to pick his own pants, his own potty and his own toilet seat.
- Be positive – show the child that this is an exciting time!
- Give loads of praise and don’t stress about the accidents.
- Be patient. Sometimes waiting until a child is a bit older means they will learn quicker.
- Nighttimes take longer. Tackle daytimes first and wait until your child starts waking occasionally with a dry nappy before you tackle nights.
- Once you do start to tackle nighttimes invest in a waterproof under sheet for their bed. It might be a good idea to cut out the last drink of the evening and to wake the child when you go to bed for a trip to the toilet.
- Never force your child to sit on the toilet or potty. It will only upset the child.
- It can be handy in the early days to use a potty in the same room as sometimes children will only realise they need to go when its nearly too late.
- It’s probably easiest to stay in for the first few days of training. Once you start going out make sure you know where the toilets are and take a couple of changes of trousers and socks.
- Some toddlers don’t like the sound of toilets flushing, or don’t like the idea of their poo being flushed away – if this is the case don’t push it, just wait until they have walked away and are playing before pulling the chain.
- If training boys it is normally recommended to train to do wees sitting down so they don’t get confused between wees and poos. Once the basics have been cracked you can move to standing up wees.
- Once you start training boys to stand up a ping pong ball or similar can help improve aim.
- Remember to wash your toddler’s hands after using the potty. That way they will associate toilet habits with hand washing from the start.
- Sticker charts can help encourage children to use the toilet or potty in the early weeks.
- Ask the child if they want the toilet every 10-15 minutes in the early days to encourage them to think about associating the feeling of needing a wee with going to the toilet rather than just weeing in their nappy.
- Some parents start by letting their children run around bottomless to begin with but many find this can confuse children once pants are put back on. Many actually find it better if the children have an accident while wearing pants and trousers as they don’t like the feeling of the wet clothes and it can put them off doing it again.
- Training pants (like Feel and Learn or See and Learn) can be helpful for first outings after training but can sometimes feel too much a nappy and can confuse the child.
- It can be handy to invest in a travel potty for whilst out and about. It might also be beneficial to get a waterproof mat for the car seat to protect it against accidents.
- Some children find it helpful to read books about potty training – there are many available so have a look around to find one you like or ask other parents for their suggestions.
- If you really don’t think your child is getting it and you feel you have given it a good shot (for example after a week of training you still don’t think your child has got it) then it might be a good idea to leave it for a few weeks and try again.
- The key is consistency. Don’t put your child in pants and then change to a nappy as you are having visitors. All children have to go through potty training and it doesn’t last long so try and put a week aside to concentrate on it.
- Sometimes after your child is trained they may go through a stage where they start having accidents again – try not to worry. Remain calm and try not to get cross, it is only a stage and they will relearn.
- Don’t fret! Your child WILL get there – how many 18 year olds do you know still in nappies? Take your time and try to enjoy this moment with your child – it is a huge step in them growing up and gaining independence.
These are just some tips – all children are different and the trick is to find the techniques that work well for you. Good luck! Once your child is trained you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. If you have any other questions ask in the Madmums potty training forum – our members will be happy to help.
This is a members article written by Madzwalker
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