Your little one can say such big words now! Can walk without support! Yes, your baby isn’t a baby anymore and is growing up. No need to be their constant beck and call now. Their appetite is getting better and bigger and it is time when you should figure out when to start potty training. Potty training is a necessary virtue given to a growing up child. Undoubtedly though it is hard, that’s how growing up is, hard on the child, and harder on the parents. However, your child will not learn to use the toilet all by themselves. You have to teach them, aid them at each point. It can be exhausting and you may lose patience. But worry no more, here, we have listed out some suggestions to make this process a little easier for you.
6 Important Signs That Your Child Is Ready For Potty Training
You must understand when to start potty training. Potty training for kids is a partly natural and partly prompted process. Like everything else, there is the right time and if you start before that, your chance of success increases. So, look for these pointers before you undertake this short wound-up road.
1. Fewer Diaper Changes
The gap between changing diapers has increased more than before. Now, your toddler is gaining bladder and bowel control. They can hold themselves when in a setting or a situation where there is no access to the washroom.
2. Communication
They can now communicate with you when they need to visit the bathroom, be it not verbally. They will walk to a corner or make faces. Some start fidgeting or pressing their thighs together to contain themselves.
3. Dislike Towards Soiled Diapers
Your child is now more aware of the soiled diapers. They don’t want to walk around in dirty nappies anymore. They urge a change from you instantly.
4. Maturing
Your kid can sit at stretch, follow simple instructions, and comprehend what you say.
5. Pretending To Be Adults
Your child has started showing interest in what grownups do. They want to eat at the big table, stay up late to watch television with you. Some children especially girls start following their mommies into the bathroom and express a desire to use the stuff they do.
6. Significant Interactions
When your child starts expressing their needs it is then when you should start thinking of when to start potty training. If you don’t already have it, establish interaction with your kid. It will go a long way.
Usually, potty training for kids can be a little tricky, kids don’t start revealing the signs mentioned above before they are 2, sometimes, even 3. You must know that every child learns at his or her own pace so don’t be fussed if your child hasn’t shown any interest in potty training or doesn’t respond to it well even when they are into their 3s.
How To Potty Train Your Child?
1. Get The Right Equipment
You can get your child a small easy to move around kind of a potty pot or a smaller seat and stool. Some children like their potty pots to be designer, more colourful, or with the prints of their favourite animated character while some don’t even like the idea of sitting on a potty pot. They want to use the toilet as grownups do. This is when you need a smaller seat and a stool. You must understand how to use a baby potty seat properly. Make sure that it fits into the toilet and that your child is comfortable sitting on it only then they will learn how to use the baby potty seat. Also, get a stool for them to rest their feet on. Take them out shopping with you and get them attractive goodies to make this process more fun. You can also get training pants and pull-ups or even underwear and perk them by gift wrapping them.
2. Being Vocal
Another most important thing is to generalize the toilet talks in your house. Be candid with your child. Normalizing this will help you with toddler potty training. Explain to them that this is a natural process. Some parents prefer using technical terms with their kids (for instance, urinate, defecate, etc.). However, if the words are too big for your child, go with their lingo.
3. Training Pants & Pull-ups
These are absorbent underwears. Once your child is not wearing a nappy, it might be easier for them to start with the process. Toddler potty training is more about recognizing the sensations in their body than about educating them on how to use the baby potty seat
Training pants will help her understand the feeling of wetness which might help her recognize the signs given by her body. So, get her dressed in pull-ups, elastic trousers, and be ready for the big toilet training day.
4. Body Signals
Look for signals from your child. They might start fidgeting or looking at you uncomfortably when it’s time to go to the bathroom. When that happens, communicate with them if they want to go. They might want to tell you about it but won’t prefer using a bathroom or may prefer using a bathroom but not the toilet; they would still want to do it in his nappies. Encourage them to go to the bathroom but don’t force. Nagging will do no good. Also, don’t get mad if the deed is already done before you reach the bathroom.
5. Motivate Your Child By Praising
Praises help kids learn the rules of the world faster. Every time, they do something good like sharing toys with a friend, you praise them, right? Then, why deprive them of that now? Say things like “Nice job sitting on the toilet” or “You are growing up fast; keep going.” This will make them realize that they are on the right track.
6. Checking For Dryness
Teach your kid to check her diaper after she wakes up. Pat her each time it is dry.
7. The Key To Everything: Patience
Be patient with your child. If he messes up at times, don’t be angry. Failures are the pillars of success. You don’t want your child to start fearing failures as early as this, right? If he soils that favourite bed sheet of yours, don’t be mad at him. Don’t nag her for doing it wrong or compare her with her peers who learned to use the bathroom before she did. Remember that each child is different.
Deal with the utmost patience. You have to understand how to potty train your child and get on with it. Talk to them about how fast they are growing up or how comfortable the underwear is. However, if they don’t want to learn it, you can do nothing about it. Calm down and wait. They will come around soon.
9 Useful Tips To Potty Train Your Kid
- Don’t cut on drinks. It would be very unhealthy to do so. Instead, add more fibre and liquids to their diet to enable better bowel movement. Don’t forget that constipation makes toilet training or, for that matter, anything difficult.
- Remember that it is already scary for your child to be without a diaper. This is the first time that they are trying to step out of their comfort zone. You have to be supportive; your shows of disappointment will only discourage them.
- Teach your kid how to use a baby potty seat. Any accident may lead to weeks of staying away from the toilet.
- A problem that most parents face is about what to do when the child is sleeping. Well, we would suggest you ask your child about it. When they are already halfway through the process, ask them if they want to sleep without the diaper. Tell them that it’s okay if they mess up. You can roll away the bed covers and use plastic sheets for a while.
- Instil bathroom etiquettes in your kids as early as you teach them to use it. Ask them to wash their hands each time they step out. Show them how to clean themselves properly and explain the importance of maintaining hygiene.
- How to potty train a boy vs a girl: In some ways, it is different for boys and girls. You have to know how to potty train a girl as well as a boy. Teach your daughter to clean her private parts well enough to avoid any infection. Ask her to wash herself every time she urinates. Ask your son to shake wee drops off his penis. Explain to him the importance of personal hygiene.
- When going out, make sure that you carry spare clothes. Look for a toilet in reach. Also, if your child says that they need to go, listen to them. A few minutes wasted in a public toilet is better than a public accident any day.
- You should tell fewer people about your child’s potty training. It may be weird for them. However, close relatives (the ones who babysit), daycare providers, and teachers should be given a heads up.
- Again, accidents happen. Try to stay relaxed. Reassure your child that it’s fine.
Potty training is a milestone for kids. You need to give them their time to learn it well and realise its importance. You can learn all about how to potty train your child or teach your child again and gain the toilet decorum and decency, do everything, and still not reap anything if you aren’t patient enough. Stay composed; don’t worry. As said already, potty training for kids is a part natural process. Someday or the other, your toddler would want to learn it herself or himself.