Is Your Toddler Ready to Ditch His Diapers? The Ins and Outs of Potty Training

Is Your Toddler Ready to Ditch His Diapers? The Ins and Outs of Potty Training

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Rome wasn’t built in a day; and your toddler probably won’t be potty trained in one, either! According to the Mayo Clinic, “potty training success hinges on physical and emotional readiness, not a specific age.”1 The first step for you, as a parent, is to assess your child’s interest in and readiness for potty training. Does he meet most of the following criteria?1,2,3

  • Complains about dirty diapers
  • Is able to stay dry for longer than two hours during the day
  • Knows when he needs to use the bathroom, and lets you know through words or physical signs
  • Is interested in the potty, or in wearing underwear
  • Is able to walk to the potty, remove pants, and sit
  • Understands words related to using a potty

You should also be sure to choose a time when your home life is stable.3 If you are planning to move to a new home, have a new baby arriving soon, have a family trip planned, are transitioning your child from a crib to a bed, etc., it may be best to wait until things have settled down again, so you can focus primarily on potty training.

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When you feel your child is ready to begin the toilet training process, it’s time to decide what type of potty you’ll use.4 Many parents choose a special toilet-training, child-sized potty. This will allow him to be able to use it himself, and you can personalize it with his name and stickers, place it wherever you like, and keep some of his favorite books nearby. However, some children may be more interested in using the same toilet as their parents or siblings. In this case, you’ll need a step stool and a child’s seat to place on the toilet.

Start the process by talking about the potty, or reading a book about it.1 You can also demonstrate the process, talking about all the things you’re doing to have a successful experience (e.g. removing clothes, eliminating, wiping front to back, redressing). Make sure he knows all the words he needs to talk about the potty experience.1 He should also be wearing clothes that are easy for him to remove by himself,3 as tricky clothing will certainly hamper his success. Then, start a regular potty-visiting routine.1,3 This may be just after sleeping, or a set amount of time after a drink or a meal.

A special note for boys: the Mayo Clinic recommends teaching little boys to urinate while sitting down until they’ve mastered using the potty for a bowel movement.1 It will be easier for them, at first, to learn just one way to use the potty, and by the time he is ready to try to pee standing up, his motor muscles may have developed more, making aiming easier (and more accurate)!

Don’t be shy about sharing the process. If your child is interested in going to the bathroom with you, let him.5 It will help him see how it’s done, and understand that it’s something that all big kids and grown-ups do.

Above all else, have patience! No child is perfect, and there will be wet or dirty clothes, furniture, or floors. Never punish a child for having an accident!3 Remember to react calmly, and let your child know that it’s okay to have an accident. Be sure to praise his attempts to use the potty, regardless of whether or not he was successful. Celebrate his success with rewards, such as letting him pick out his own big-boy underwear or by giving family members or friends a call to share the news and show how proud you are.1 Keep the experience positive!

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Play Tips:

Do you want to know how you can support your child’s development of these Safety and Personal Care skills at this age? It’s easy! Read on for some simple tips to incorporate into your daily play time together.

  1. Make the potty environment interesting. Your child may be more willing to spend some time on the potty if there are other things to keep his interest. A favorite toy or a stack of favorite books could be kept there. If he doesn’t think he has to go, try reading him one of his books. By the time you’re done, he may have relaxed or found he’s had the urge to go.
  2. Consider a reward system.3 Some parents find it very helpful to offer small rewards when their child has a successful potty experience. You may want to make a chart tracking positive uses, provide stickers, or have special bonding time, like a walk to a favorite park or a special bedtime story.
  3. Let everyone in on the experience.3 Make sure that everyone involved in caring for your child, including babysitters, teachers, childcare providers, grandparents, etc., know about your new potty training routine. Let them know the words you’re using for the process and different body parts and about any praise or reward routine you have.

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Safety and Personal Care developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) she has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

  • Shows signs of being interested and able to use the potty.

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Sources:

1Mayo Clinic Staff. Potty Training: How to Get the Job Done. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 20, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/potty-training/art-20045230.

2WebMD (2013). Potty Training: When to Start. WebMD. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/potty-training-when-to-start.

3Dowshen, Steven (2011). Toilet Teaching Your Child. Kids Health. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/toilet_teaching.html.

4American Academy of Pediatrics (2003). Choosing a Potty. Healthy Children: Guide to Toilet Training. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/toilet-training/Pages/Choosing-a-Potty.aspx.

5Hatfield, Heather. Potty Training and Your Preschooler: Tips for Helping Your Preschooler Master Potty Training. WebMD. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/potty-training-preschoolers.

Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee
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