Potty Training Tips

There comes a time in every young child's life that they must learn to use the potty. Parents and caregivers have a very important role to encourage the child to use the potty, but not push them too far. Some children will regress if they are pushed too far. Children are ready to learn about the potty training process when they show an interest in what you are doing in the bathroom. There is no magical age for becoming potty trained. All children learn at their own pace and are trained differetnly, but there are some tips that I can share that have worked for us.

Be patient. You can not expect your child to be potty trained in one day. Potty training takes time and you must realize that you have to be patient with your child during the process.

Be consistent. If you have your child in underwear, use them daily. It is very easy to confuse your child if you are bouncing back and forth from diapers to pull-ups to underwear and back. Ask your child often if they need to use the potty-especially in the early stages of training. When out in public, make a point to take your child to the restroom to discourage any accidents. If your child goes to daycare or another caregiver while you are away, have them do the same. Do not allow your child to wear diapers or pull-ups at daycare if you have been using underwear at home.

Be understanding. A child is going to have accidents occasionally. In the beginning, you have to understand that your child is learning something completely new and accept the accidents that come along with learning. Your child will realize that when they do not use the potty they become wet or soiled and most likely this will be an unpleasant feeling.

Be a source of encouragement. Encourage your child to use the potty often. Because your child might not realize right away that they need to actually use the potty, offer your child a book or magazine to read while they are pottying. This will "buy time" and hopefully help to produce results. Try not to nag your child because your child will get tired of hearing this and most likely will rebel.

Realize that some children might be afraid of the potty or the loud sound of flushing. Many children are terrified of the toilet. Some children honestly believe that monsters live down the drain. It is your job to understand their fear and help them cope with it. As for the loud sound of the flushing, eventually they will get used to it. In the beginning, flush it yourself and show them there is nothing to be scared of. Public toilets that flush on their own may also be a fear for young learners.

Praise your child! Even when your child does not actually produce results in the potty, praise them for trying. Tell your child what a big kid they are when they do actually "use" the potty. Your child will enjoy the positive attention they are receiving. Praise your child for staying dry, but try not to criticize for wet pants.

Make it easy for your child to use the potty. Do not dress your child in onesies, overalls or other bulky layers of clothes that take a long time to remove. Zippers, buttons, snaps and suspenders can often take to long to undo, which can cause your child to have an unecessary accident.

Make it fun. Let your child choose their new underwear. Take them to the store with you and explain that they are going to start using the potty because they are abig kid now. Often times, character underwear make potty training fun for children. Let your child help choose a potty chair or potty seat.

Remember that potty training may seem like it is going to last forever. In reality, it will not and before you know it your child will so accustomed to using the potty that it will become as routine as it is for you and I. Enjoy teaching your child this important skill and have fun!