Guide: How to Potty Train Your Child

Potty training a child is not something that happens overnight, it takes patience. When trying to potty train my autistic son I learn how to be patient and wait until he was interested in potties. Knowing when your child is ready for potty training is another big step. You should just ask yourself a few questions about your child before potty training: Is my child old enough for potty training? Is my child able to express themselves verbally or gestures? Does my child show interest in when I go? When wetting themselves does my child take off the diaper and bring it to you? Does my child grab their crouch or butt when they have to go? If you answer yes to all these question then your child is ready to be potty trained. Most first time parents make their biggest mistake think their child is ready just because they are old enough or you are sick of changing diapers. My autistic son was not potty until he was 4 years old. I know this is embarrassing to say but he is 6 years old and still have the occasional accident at night. I started potty training him at the age of 2 because of his age and because I was tired of changing diapers BIG MISTAKE!

Since you have established your child is ready for potty training, the second step is to head to store with your child to buy a potty, wipes, underwear or pull ups, stickers and other incentives. Let your child pick their own potty, underwear, wipes and stickers when you give them a choice of the potty and accessories they will be more interested in potty training. If you are on a budget and cannot afford expensive items take your child with you to Walmart. Walmart have potties as cheap as $10 to $12 sure these potties are not as elaborate as their $30 or $40 dollar counterparts. You must remember kids are easily distracted and easily entertain at young ages. You might buy a potty today that make sound, flushing lights and other gismos that has nothing to do with potty training then the next day your child is no longer interested in the potty. So do not break the bank on this step.
Now you have the potty and accessories, you are probably thinking it's time to potty train. Another mistake I made when potty training my son was just jumping into it, before potty training can beginning the parent must make time. At the time I was potty training my son I was working a full and part time job and attending college full time. My schedule was horrid (I barely had enough time to take a breathier) Again potty training takes TIME and EFFORT. Clearing your schedule or adjusting your schedule accordingly is must. I know every parent just think their child is the best child in the world will just breeze through potty training. But the reality is your child is going to have accidents, there are going to be bums in the road and other obstacles. Knowing the reality of potty training will relieve frustration, keep you from resenting your child or thinking your child is as smart as other kids.

We know the expectation now it's time to give a little practice run. When changing a dirty diaper instead of putting on a new diaper try sitting your child on the potty. No pressures with the test run just a little test to give your child a feel for the potty. Before getting into the actually routine setting up a support system is an excellent idea. If you are like me and your child goes to a daycare or learning center in the day let the providers know you are trying to potty train your child must often they will join the potty training. Of course their potty training will not be as focus as your potty training system, some support is better than none. Let your relatives know, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa everyone know you are potty training your child. If your visits with these relatives they would know to put them on the potty or let them use the bathroom. Getting a Traveling potty seat will allow potty training on the go. So if you and your child are out shopping and the child start grabbing or saying pee-pee. All you have to do is find the nearest restrooms unfold the traveling potty seat and wait for your child do their business. I would not suggest letting your child walk around with underwear on in public if they are just beginning potty training. Pull ups are a great alternative if you are willing to carry a traveling potty seat. Remember: when potty training we must use positive language and thoughts to build your child confidence.

Dressing your child in easy to undo clothes. No more onesies, just clothes with snaps, zips, elastic band wrist. Along with potty train you want to teach them how to undress to go.

Now that we have established a support system and did our trial run, it's time to setup a reward system. Remember all those stickers, candy or whatever incentive your child picked up now its time to use them. A reward system is giving your child their favorite sticker, candy or toy when they go potty. My son love gummy bears so I use them to give him incentive to use the potty. I used to give him one gummy for going and nothing for not going. If YOU AWARD CHILDREN FOR DOING NOTHING THEY WILL NOT HAVE ANY MOTIVATION TO GO THE NEXT TIME. SO BE CONSISTANT! I know those cute faces are hard to say no to but remember constancy will mold them. Don't just say no to them let them know in a positive way they did not go, that is why they cannot get their gummy bear.

We have established a reward system not it's time to track your child progress. Keep it simple it does not have to be journal entries or track by excel. You can simple make or buy a chart to keep track of your child progress. Hang the chart in a common area a child be in show your child how it works. Believed or not your child is going to be just as interested in the progress as your especially if you use stickers. Look for patterns in your child potty behavior. Does your child always pee hours after drinking? Does your poop before or after naps? Knowing the answer to questions like this takes the guesswork out of potty training.

Remember to always be positive, use only positive words and phrases.

Your kid has a limited vocabulary unless they are some kind of super genius. But if your child was a super genius you would not be reading this guide to potty training. Use words that your kids can easily pronouns and fun for them to use such as tummy, poop, pee, weenie. Once you have establish a potty language let everyone involved in the process know about the potty language.

Show your kids how it's done!! To be honest this step should have already been done before your child was potty training ready. Become a potty model is a very important step in potty training. Your child seeing you go will make them more comfortable with potty training process. Please remember to use the gender rule Moms take daughters to the restroom with them and Dads, grandpa, uncle or other trusted males take sons to the restroom. I am a single mom with a lot of brothers and father. I use to allow my brothers to take my son to the bathroom with them.

Keeping wipes and hand soap on hand is essential. Teacher your little girl to wipe front to back after pee and your little boy to wipe his butt after pooping will take patients but at least you got them using the potty. Teach your kids to wash their hands after using the restroom, its healthy and sanitary.

Following this guide will have your child potty trained. I cannot promise it's going to happen in one day, because like I said potty training takes time and patients. Just remember to be positive and consistent with your reward system. If you are not going to give a reward for nothing today do not give a reward for nothing tomorrow. Be patient, Rome was not build in a day.