Parenting

Quick Guide On Potty Training

Potty training is one of the most important milestones in one’s life. Yes, while you – the parent – will no longer have to change dirty diapers, teaching your child how to pee and poo in the toilet is imperative for their growth.

But how can you ensure that you’re doing potty training the right way?

Well, while there’s technically no right or wrong way to do potty training (since many families are different), it’s still important to be consistent in your child’s learning. With that said, this quick but essential guide will show you the following:

When it’s time to think about potty training
Potty training preparation, AND
Helpful tips on making potty training wholesome for your child

When It’s Time To Start Potty Training

“It doesn’t take much to spot the signs that your little one is ready to be potty trained,” says Dominique Swan, a parent blogger at Top Essay Writing Services. “While waiting for this day to come may seem challenging, the signs are subtle. Though, it’s imperative that you not rush potty training for your child.”

Look for these tell-tale signs of your child needing to be potty trained:

You’re not changing as many diapers as before.
Your child shows distain for wearing diapers.
Your child has regular bowel movements.
Your child starts asking about going to the bathroom.

Preparing For Potty Training

Now that you’ve seen the signs, it’s time to get ready to teach your child how to effectively use the potty. Here are some ways you can do so:

Be ready to talk the bathroom talk. How you want to address bathroom things to your child is up to you. However, as your child grows older, it would be appropriate to use formal words like “urinate” (pee) and “defecate” (poo), so that they don’t have to be embarrassed in using the babyish terminology.

Invest in potty-training clothes for your child. This is so that when your child slips up – urinates or defecates on their clothes – then (hopefully) only the potty-training clothes can be soiled rather than their actual attire. Ensure that the special clothes aren’t tricky to put on or take off, so that your child can learn to dress and undress themselves with both the potty-training wear and normal wear.
Demonstrate. Your child learns from what they see. So, when you mime going to the bathroom, then they’ll most likely catch on.
Establish diapers and the potty in the same room. In other words, change your child’s diaper in the restroom where the potty is located.

Tips On Good Potty Training

Now that you’ve prepared for potty training your child, it’s time to follow these tips:

As mentioned, the potty and diapers should be in the same room – the bathroom. This has the child equate diapers with the bathroom.
Have your child go to the potty after meals. This creates a routine for your child when it comes to potty training.
Remember that accidents happen. Don’t get upset when they can’t make it to the potty in time. Understand that they’re still learning, and then clean their mess.
Appraisal is something to remember when your child succeeds in their potty training. A little praise can go a long way, when it comes to encouraging your child to do their business on their own and in the toilet. While you can’t always give sweets as rewards, you can create a sticker or star chart to indicate how great your child is doing.
Buy disposable or washable potty-training pants (a.k.a. pull-ups). When they realize that these pants won’t soak up pee as much as their diapers, that will encourage them to keep them dry, and to instead use the potty.
Encourage potty training for the night. This part of potty training starts during the daytime hours. Once they’re trained for the day, you can then teach them how to keep their nappy dry when they go to bed. A waterproof sheet on their bed can be used until they no longer have nighttime accidents.

Conclusion

As you can see, potty training – despite its challenges – can benefit your child, once you start teaching them. By following this quick and essential guide, you’ll be able to train your child to use the potty like “grown-ups.”

Author Bio: Jenny Han is a writer and editor. As a content writer, she writes articles about child care, parenting, and elementary-level education.