Potty Training Made Easy: Follow This Method for a More Pleasant Potty Training Experience

Potty training is something that every parent will have to endure at least once. It can be trying and something that might be dreaded by most. There are many mixed messages floating around and everyone has their own ideas and methods. Many doctors will tell mom and dad that a toddler will train themselves when they are "ready." It is my personal belief that this is the biggest mistake that any parent can make. Waiting for your toddler to magically become "ready" can lead to a preschooler who still is not potty trained. Nobody wants that and it makes the child feel badly, as well.

The first thing that you must understand is that it's not the child who needs to be ready, but the parents. Many parents simply do not want to fool with potty training and procrastinate as long as possible on starting. This will do nothing more than cause problems and make the whole process even harder. Having successfully potty trained three children expediently; I feel that if parents approach this obstacle using these simple tips they will be pleasantly surprised.

Resolve yourself to the fact that potty training is going to be messy from time to time and definitely inconvenient. This is a temporary situation and it's best to just deal with these facts and move along. It is going to require a bit of effort on your part and is not something the child will automatically know how to do, so be prepared.

It all begins on the child's second birthday...not a day sooner or a day later. A child at this age is still very receptive to pleasing their parents and has not fully developed a mind and ideas of their own. Catching a child at this malleable age is paramount to a successful potty training experience. When at home during the day put the child in a tee-shirt that is a size too big so that it's like a short gown. Do not put training pants, pull-ups, or diapers on the child. Instead, allow him or her to run about the house freely with nothing to hinder them if they need to go. Be prepared for a mess or two, but remember that it will all be worth it in the end.

Have a potty chair in the child's primary living area (living room, family room, etc). It sometimes is best if you get this potty chair six months in advance and keep it in the bathroom. Take the child when you go and tell them that one day soon they will be using the potty like mommy or daddy. This will make the potty attractive and special to them. Be sure to give your child plenty to drink throughout the day so they need to urinate often.

You will need to have some small, tasty rewards for your child. M&Ms work well or perhaps goldfish crackers will do the trick. Whatever your child enjoys that is small, get a stock of it and keep it handy. These will be the "pee pee" rewards. Each time your child successfully urinates into the potty, offer him or her one or two of these small treats. Since they will be urinating a lot during the day, small is important so they don't get overindulged.

Keep a larger treat handy (like a slice of cheese, a cookie, etc) for the big reward. This will only be given if the child poo poos in the potty. Be sure to never make an exception to this rule! Enforce strict performance for rewards criteria! Pay close attention to the time and every thirty minutes tell the child it's time to try and go potty. You can adjust this time according to your child's personal needs as you see how they do. Boys can sit or stand while urinating; it is just whatever makes them happiest. You should see results within a day or so if you are following this method exactly. The most important aspect of this method is the no pants or diaper trick. Toddlers do not like to feel pee going down their legs and will not want to have accidents. However, they are still small so be prepared for the occasional oopsie.

When the day comes that your child goes #2 in the potty, be sure to make a HUGE deal out of it. Clap, dance, praise, call grandma and grandpa, and tell them how very good they are doing. Once they defecate in the potty that first time and get the party and the big reward, they will generally continue. Some children master this the first day, while others can take a few months. Be patient and you will be pleasantly surprised.

The only time a diaper (never a pull-up) should be put on the child is during a nap, at bedtime, or when going out. I avoid pull-ups because they confuse children. They look like underwear, but work like a diaper. Pull-ups send mixed messages to the toddler and it's best to just stick with diapers. This way the child understands that there is a definite difference between diapers and underwear and how to use each correctly.

When you take your toddler out in public, simply take them to the potty often and they generally will not have a problem. I found it convenient to take a potty with us in the vehicle so we could pull over if they needed to go and let them use it. The potty chamber can be lined with a small plastic bag with a handful of clumping cat litter in the bottom. After your child has relieved himself, simply pull the bag out, tie it off, and discard. It's all very simple!

Your child should be fully daytime potty trained anywhere from days to a couple of months. After mastering this, you can then start putting them down for a nap without a diaper and then at bedtime. Overnight potty training is a whole different story that I will cover in a future article. The main thing to remember is to be patient, consistent, and follow the directions exactly. You and your toddler will be very proud at the results!