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Potty Training Requires Preparation, Patience and Praise
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Potty Training
Be patient with your child when potty training. Credit: Getty Images
Prepare your children for toilet training by providing them with books on the topic and the words your family uses to describe bathroom functions.
Introduce children to the potty slowly. Start by setting them fully clothed on a closed toilet seat. Eventually, let them sit on the potty at times when they are likely to go -- early in the morning, after a meal or about 45 minutes after they've had a drink.
"It's best to do some figuring out of the child's patterns in advance of the situation," says Linda Sonna, a psychologist and author of "Early-Start Potty Training."
Praise children for sitting on the potty -- regardless of whether they go, adds Susan Lipkins, a psychologist in Port Washington, N.Y. "Reinforce any attempt to go and sit on the potty," she says.
It's also OK to use stickers, small candies or reward charts to encourage kids to use the bathroom, experts say.
If your child is having difficulty making bowel movements on the potty, try placing a stool under his feet to help him push.
Expect accidents and let your child know they are not a big deal, says Maryann Bourque, a nurse and community education coordinator for the Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del.
Parents who get upset over accidents are making it harder for children, Lipkins says. She encourages parents to make sure their children are finger painting, using Play Doh and doing other messy crafts around the same time as potty training.
"It lets them know you'll tolerate messes," she says.
Finally, it's crucial to be patient with your child, Bourque says: "It just takes time."
Bourque, Sonna and Lipkins offer the following dos and don'ts to make the process easier:
- Don't punish a child for accidents.
- Do put books by the potty to make it fun.
- Don't dress children in clothes that are difficult to take off.
- Do establish a routine or set times for going to the potty.
- Don't be afraid to make using the potty fun. Consider adding food color to the water in the toilet bowl.
- Do let a child watch you use the toilet.
- Don't force a child to sit on the potty.
- Do allow children to help clean themselves up after accident.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
8-26-2010 @ 1:48PM
Tammy said...The best advice I got? Train them and then let it go! Teach them the ropes and the step back and wait for them to get it. We trained for weeks to no avail and then I just kind of dropped the subject and 6 days later, my daughter walked into my room, diaper in hand, and DECLARED that she would no longer be wearing diapers! That was it. She was potty trained. Good luck.
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10-30-2010 @ 11:19PM
Marsha said...I appreciated the way Http://bit.ly/WashHands explained some fun, easy ways to teach your kids how to wash their hands well. This too is an important potty training step and shouldn't go overlooked.
8-26-2010 @ 2:40PM
CLM said...Every kid is different and responds differently to training. Mine (twin boys) could not have cared less about stickers, treats, or any of that. We got potties around 16 months when they first showed interest, taught them the mechanics of peeing standing up, and let them take the lead. When they lost interest, we didn't push it, but waited. At about 33 months, I told them it was time to wear big boy pants. We got some "cool" underwear, rented "Potty Power" and set a timer for 20 minutes, eventually working up to 45 minutes. All went well so long as we were there to remind them. The game changer for us was the Potette we bought for traveling and parks without potties. The boys, for whatever reason, viewed themselves as being in control when it came to the Potette, and that was that.
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8-30-2010 @ 10:24PM
Marie D'Alessandro said...I forgot how to potty train I am 69 yrs. old raising my great grandchild who just turned 2 1/2 he tells me after he pees and I could tell when he has to poopoo, but he will not even sit on the potty , in fact he won't let me but pull ups on him, which makes it even harder for me. What do you suggest I do, I am at my wits end. Please help me.
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1-13-2011 @ 5:11PM
michelle said...i have a two yr old that i am having trouble potty training, i need some help your tips on what i can do
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