How To Potty Train Your Child (The Best Tips)

You will have to ditch the diapers at one point in your child’s life. This is when you start thinking of potty or toilet training. Some toddlers are easier to potty train. Others are cool with diapers and it will become trouble when you want to potty in train them.

Like different stages in a child’s life, potty training is another new stage, parents have to work hard to achieve. However, with consistency and using the necessary tips your child can be successfully potty trained.

This article: How to potty train your child (best tips) addresses all the essential areas on how to Potty train your child and other frequently asked questions about potty training.

When To Start Potty Training

There is no spelled out or recommended age on when to start potty training for boys or girls. Some parents start from infancy, some wait till their kid is about 4, and others do not potty train at all. They let their kids watch others and train themselves. Generally, most parents start Potty training within 2 years.

It is expected that parents should begin Potty training preparations and make plans to potty train their toddlers when they begin to notice the signs of readiness in the child.

Parents are never expected to force or pressure kids to start Potty training when they are not ready. Rather they should encourage and prepare the child for the right time and the right time varies for different kids.

When Not To Start Potty Training

It is better to hold up potty training till you as a parent is ready. Do not start if you are not.
Since consistency is the key principle in potty training, it is pointless starting when you won’t be able to follow through. Your child may lose the skill you are trying to teach and the training will be futile. It is not good to start potty training when you are:

When the family is moving.
Traveling.
When there is a major change in the family( a death, divorce).
When the child is not ready.
When as a mother you have a baby on the way and are almost due.
When the child is sick (diarrhea) related e.tc.

Signs Your Child Is Ready For Potty Training

Your child may show readiness when he or she has established some level of independence. You will know he is ready for potty training when:

The child understands and follows simple instructions, like come, go, sit.
There are fewer diaper changes.
Your child has been able to regulate his bowel movements more.
The child understands the use of the bathroom.
Is uncomfortable when wet.
Can stay in the potty chair and get off on his own.
Recognizes the significance of a toilet or potty.
Pulls down on diaper or training pants on his own.
Understands words like pee, poop, wee, e.tc.

Things To Do To Prepare For Potty Training

When your child displays these signs, begin to actively encourage the child for Potty training.
You can start preparing your home and Child by:

Getting potty seats for your toilets.
Constantly using the words: pee and poop.
Make your child sit on the potty chair regularly.
Do not diaper every time allow some time when they will be bare, before diapering.
Start using undies and underpants a few hours a day before rediapering.
Let your daughter use the bathroom with you her mom and the son, with his father frequently.
Do a lot of research: Just like other developmental stages in kids, you need the right knowledge and skills to be effective at it, so get lots of ideas and information to work with.
Explain to your child the process, how we pee and poop, where they come from the body and how to dispose of them and clean up properly.
When the child pees or poops, do not change with a disgusted face it makes your child associate it with negativity.
Teaching your child to talk when he or she is wet.
Demonstrate: After explaining the whole process takes the child to the toilet and give a demo so he understands.

Things Needed For Potty Training

There are must-haves you must purchase when you intend to potty training your kid.

For the parent, you will need some patience. It will take some time for your toddler to learn and adjust so you need not be frustrated. Consistency is also necessary. When you finally start potty training, do not stop halfway and plan to continue some other time it may hinder the whole effort.

Do the training consistently to let your child master and adopt using the potty. This is why we advise that parents have some free time before they begin potty training. Lastly, your zeal and interest should be there if not it will not be effective. Do not start potty training your kid because you see people doing so.

Done with the things you need as a parent, let’s see essential items to stock in your home before your kid starts potty training:
A step stool to help lift your child when he needs to use the toilet or the sink.

Potty chair: Potty chairs are easier to use before the child graduates to using the toilet. Different sizes are available for different ages of toddlers.
Toilet Seat Reducer: It comes in attractive colors and it’s padded and soft to make it easier for the toddler to sit in the toilet instead of the traditional wide bowl.
Soap: Get a bar or liquid soap in any nice fragrance for hand washing after using the toilet.
Wipes and toilet papers: Of course your kid will need tissues or flushable wipes to clean up after poo time.
Colorful underpants: You can have the child make his/her choice. Get underpants that are soft and made of comfortable materials, colorful, and not too tight.
Potty training pants: Similar to underwear potty training pants are colorful and comfortable and especially suitable for holding leaks and poos. They come as disposable or reusable pants. Use them every other time of the day or at night.
Free clothing: When it’s time to wee or poo, the child will need clothes that can be easily removed. So, stock up on colorful and less restrictive shirts, shorts, and gowns.
Sink extender for the sink faucets to help the kids wash their hands easily.
A portable travel potty: Easy-to-use travel potty that is portable and easy-to-store in the car in times when you need to travel.
Potty liners for travel potty.
A handy bag to store clean and soiled clothes anytime you are out.
Drinks and Snacks help lose the stool and reduce constipation.

Three Days Potty Training (How To Potty Train Your Child)

It seems impossible yet isn’t it, potty training your child for 3 days is a feat that can be achieved.
Here is a technique that can help you how to potty train your child easily in no time.

1. Prep Talk

The first thing to do when you intend to start the training is to start having “potty talks” with your toddler weeks before the scheduled time. Use the words poop, pee, potty anytime you have to talk about the toilet. Let your kid know that he will soon say goodbye to diapers and act as mummy and daddy do.

2. Demonstrate

Demonstrate To the kid how to use the potty and let him use it even when in diapers. Show him the bathroom, talk about why you pee and poo and why you have to use the potty and toilet. Use every chance to make the child understand potty training.

3. Pick A Time In Your Calendar When You’ll Be Free

You will need three full days where you are not at work to give full attention to the training. You have to spend a lot of time with your kid, deal with a lot of messes and be free from distractions. You will need to be indoors most of the time.

A day to the big day you and your kid should take out all the diapers and fix the potty supplies. Also, pack away anything that you feel will be soiled. After doing all this, you are ready to begin.

Day 1– On the scheduled day remove the diaper used for the night, bath your child, dress in loose clothing, and a pant. Some parents would prefer the child naked others wear small underpants.

Give your kids lots of fluids: (water, milk, or juice) frequently at intervals and watch out for signs of pee or poop. When pressed, let the child use the bathroom, flush, and wash hands. After about 20 minutes signal your kid to use the bathroom and if not ready, give an extra 5 minutes.

Remember, do not force your kid to use the bathroom if he doesn’t want to as he may stop the whole process altogether. Continue with this routine (taking fluids and using the toilets after some time interval) throughout the day so that the child establishes this as part of a daily routine. Your child will not be perfect for the first time, so know what to expect and be patient.

Day 2– Same routine no diapers, give fluids, and give intervals to use the bathroom. Watch for progress, give praises, and reward if need be.

Day 3– This day establishes the process more. Let your child use the potty chair and toilet seats in different parts of the house.
When they accidentally poop or pee do not be negative say instead; next time, pee in the potty okay?

On day 3 you may still train indoor or you may choose to go out nearby. You will have to carry a portable potty. Training outdoor makes the kid understands that he also has to use the toilet outside the home.

After the 3rd day, do not go back to diapers again. The child will have established the routine. Make it a consistent practice for a week or two and ensure that at school the child caregivers follow the potty training technique established.

With time your kid would not have to be reminded to use the toilet and you can finally finish the work of potty training your child.

Potty Training Tips For Boys

Potty training boys can be a bit more challenging. It’s no wonder, boys are wired differently than girls.
You need more consistency with boys and a bit of variety as they can be so carried away sometimes.
Here are tips on potty training boys

Ensure your son is ready for potty training, he must have shown a few of the signs.
Father’s, make your boy watch as you use the bathroom. Also, use it as an opportunity to teach him the basics before the actual potty training starts.
Mothers, Use joint forces with other mums. It may be a cool thing for your son if you and his buddies mom plan the potty training for both of them at the same time.
He may see it as something more fun and exciting and look up to it, making him trained better.
Encourage him to be naked sometimes.
Let him use the potty often even when the actual training hasn’t started.
Buy underpants and shirts that are of his favorite cartoon characters to motivate him.
Let him learn how to sit in the potty or toilet seats before learning how to stand. learning it all at once may not be easy for him.
When he impressed you, celebrate him to boost his ego.
Be patient.
Potty training outdoor maybe fun and exploring for your son.

Potty Training Tips For Girls

It seems a lot easier potty training girls. Maybe because girls seem to follow instructions more. Here are some tips on how to potty train your girl: Girls are easier to convince sometimes but only when they believe. Make sure you see the signs of readiness in her.

Involve her in the process: Let her select and choose underpants and other potty training products, let her help in the planning, and let her offer suggestions.
Mums, make her watch as you pee or poop. She will learn more. Also, answer any questions she asks, and know-how she feels about the whole thing before you start
Reward her good efforts.
Make sure you teach her how to clean up correctly (from back to front).
Have different potty stools around the house and potty in all toilets.
Be patient with her.
Sometimes let her go bare around the house.

Potty Training Tips For Special Need Kids

Finding how to potty train a child with a special need maybe a little bit challenging and the training may be a little bit late but it’s ok. You shouldn’t pressure yourself and your kids, do it at your own time. Here are some tips that can help

Help identify your kid’s unique peculiarities and work around them.
Your child should be ready, forcing may make it a difficult process for you both.
Observe the child’s bowel movements for a while, is it a regular pattern or varied?
Be ready to offer a lot of assistance. You may have to support the child in the toilet seat or potty chair so he does not slip off.
Both parents should work as a team.
Make the routine easier and set a shorter goal.
Training time should be longer ( weeks or more).
Demonstrate before the child.
No negative comments during accident instead assist to clean-up and state the necessary corrections
Go visual: Use visual chart aids to help explain potty training better.
Use timers to remind them of the time to use the toilet.
Enlist the aid of your medic if you can’t handle it.
Give rewards to encourage and motivate.
Avoid distractions like the sound of sight especially if your child is easily distracted by them.
Be patient: It will take some time. Pause and start again if you have to.
Be ready for the training yourself.
Get a professional to train the child if you have to.

Tips For Potty Training A Stubborn Child

Potty training can be difficult if your child isn’t cooperative at all and does not seem interested in using the toilet or if he’s ready but resisting the training. Here are some tips on How to potty a stubborn child

Check if you are being too fast. If your child isn’t mature enough to understand independence it may not pay off if you start. So if you are in a rush slow down a bit and prepare until he or she is ready.
Your child may just nervous or worried, and need your encouragement to put him at ease.
Be patient.
Offer Rewards.
Do a lot of research.
Be positive about this. It can only work when you believe it would.
Sometimes, only give the needed information and watch if how he does it.
You may use another trainer maybe your child’s school or a nanny.

Save this for later mama!

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