Potty Training

Potty Training: How to Know He's Ready

2008-05-29T03:26:00.000-07:00

Teaching a child to use the toilet is a huge challenge and it is not a skill that parents can be expected to teach without a little trial and error. While you can't just toss your youngster into underwear and expect him to figure it out, you will find that even the best planned toilet training routines will have you making mistakes. Not to worry, all kids eventually use to use the toilet and if things go badly you can always put toilet training on hold until you and your child are ready to try again.

For any potty training routine it is important that all other caregivers are in on the plan. Consistency is key to successful learning so if both parents, siblings and any other people who care for your child know what you plan they can help with the process.

Potty training is far more likely to be successful if your child is physically and mentally ready to begin. While it might seem that sooner is better, many children are not ready to use a toilet until they are closer to 3 years old.

Before starting you should make sure that your child is able to understand and follow 1-2 directions at a time. For example, he should be able to finish his drink and bring the glass to the kitchen when he is done. If he isn't able to listen well enough to do as you ask and cannot hold more than one direction in his mind at a time he will not be able to manage the necessary steps to using the toilet.

Your child should also be able to tell when he needs to go to the bathroom, or at the very least be able to tell you that he has soiled his diaper when he is done. Without the ability to be aware of his bowel and bladder movements he will not be able to tell you before he needs to go and his efforts to get to the toilet on time are doomed to fail.

Another important thing is that your child should be able to remain dry for at least 2 hours at a time. It will be far too difficult for him to learn to use the toilet if he constantly needs to pee.

If all of these things are in place it is time to begin teaching your child the basics. You can start by getting him to practice pulling his pants on and off when you get him dressed each morning and night. It is very important that he is able to pull his own pants up by himself, but it may take a while for him to develop the necessary coordination.

In the meantime build up some excitement. Whatever method you decide to use your child needs to be enthusiastic about the process. Research different methods and decide which one fits. Before you know it he will be well on the way to a dry future.

Potty Training can be Fun!

2008-05-29T03:24:00.000-07:00

Most people think of potty training and immediately have nightmare images of struggling with strong willed toddlers who are determined to do things their own way, which does not necessarily mean using the potty. But it doesn't have to be this way. Instead by using a few creative strategies teaching your child to use the toilet can be fun!

Before you even get started you can get your child interested in using the potty with a variety of methods. With many books, videos and DVDs about toilet training you can gently encourage your child's interest without forcing the subject on them. If using the toilet is their idea the entire process becomes far easier and more fun.

When you child shows interest in learning, take him with you to the store to find the perfect potty or child-sized seat to learn with. There are a wide variety of potties and seats available from one with popular cartoon characters to potties that actually sing when the child makes a successful deposit. If you child is involved in the choice he will be far more likely to be interested in using the potty.

In addition to choosing a kid-friendly potty, let you child help choose some training pants that suit his interests. You can also pick up some �big kid� underwear to give him something to work towards.

So, now that you have the supplies, it is time to start the process. Some kids will enjoy teaching a doll how to use the toilet as a part of their own learning process. If you find an anatomically correct doll that wets itself you add another dimension of fun to the learning process. Corolle and Aquini both make excellent dolls of this variety.

If you add some blue food colouring or a blue toilet freshener to the water your child will love learning how to turn the water green. Another fun game for boys is to add floating targets, Cheerios work beautifully, and encourage your child to aim for the targets.

Once your child is making an effort to use the toilet, use reward strategies to encourage him to continue his good work. Sticker charts are a great incentive where a child earns stickers for successful toileting attempts. This can be enforced with larger prizes for accident free days and weeks. Another fun reward is to have your child's favorite Superhero, a friend or neighbour who is willing to act the part, call him to let him know what a good job he is doing.

For kids who tend to forget, try a reminder system such as a watch that goes off every half hour. If this is child-centered it encourages him to be more aware of when he needs to go. The VibraLite Toilet Training Watch is especially designed for the purpose.

By being creative and not being afraid to try new things toilet training can be a fun experience for everyone involved.

Potty Training Time

2008-05-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

It seems that in this fast-paced world of ours parents are always in a rush to get their kids out of diapers. Unfortunately it is not the parent who decides when a child is ready to potty train, it is the child himself. If you rush the process it generally tends to backfire and take a lot longer to succeed.

Generally kids are physically and mentally ready to potty train around 18-24 months old. You will begin to see signs that your child is ready. They will start to be interested in the toilet and will want to know what you are doing on it. Some kids will sit on the seat and pretend to use the toilet just like an adult.

At some point your child will begin to tell you when his diaper is wet or dirty. Not long afterwards they might even begin to tell you while they are going or maybe even just before they go. Generally at this time your child will be irritated when his diaper is soiled and will tend to stay dry for a few hours at a time. These are excellent signs of a child being ready to begin toilet training.

Another important sign is when your child can pull his own pants up and down. This is made easier with pants that are a little on the large side. He may also show interest in big kid's underwear and ask to get some.

At this point introduce your child to using the potty. Take him out and select a potty seat that catches his interest. Find some books or DVDs about potty training and share them with your child. Make the process interesting and build some excitement.

You can also start to teach him the basic steps of using the toilet including taking off his pants and underwear, sitting on the toilet, going to the bathroom, wiping, pulling up his clothes, flushing and washing his hands.

When you are ready to begin, start giving your child extra fluids during the day. Begin taking your child to the bathroom every half hour to get him to practice using the toilet, and hopefully have a successful effort. Take your time while he is on the seat possibly reading a short story or singing a song. When he finally goes be sure to praise him thoroughly and make a big deal about it.

By making sure your child is ready to begin toilet training and taking your time with the process you will increase the chances that your efforts will be successful. Remember that your child is the one who must put the effort into the actual toileting, so make sure that he is enthusiastic about the process. Keep things positive and in the long run your will have a child who uses the toilet and no more diapers to change.

Potty Training: Staying Dry at Night

2008-05-29T03:22:00.002-07:00

So, your child is now doing well at using the toilet during the day, but you want to get her to lose the diapers at night. For some kids this next logical step follows easily from the first, but for others it is a more difficult proposal.

There should be no rush in teaching your child to stay dry at night. Some kids are not developmentally ready until they are quite a bit older. Some children still have night-wetting issues until they are 10 years old. Don't get discouraged and don't condemn your child. It will come with time and she is far from the only child with these issues.

To begin with you will probably want to keep you child in pull-ups or other night-time diapers. This prevents having to change the bedding in the middle of the night and reduces the fear of failure. If they do stay dry at night, or if they wake to use the toilet be sure to praise them for their night-time potty training success. If instead they are not yet ready to stay dry be sure to not ridicule them for still wearing diapers at night. Be supportive of their daytime efforts and don't make a big deal about night-time accidents.

To help you child stay dry at night limit how much she drinks close to bedtime. Before tucking her in make sure that she has just used the toilet. When you are ready for bed, wake your child and get her to use the toilet again. She may not want to get up and may say she doesn't need to go, but by teaching her to make an effort you are teaching her body to wake up and go to the bathroom when her bladder fills at night.

If your child begins to have nightmares it may be a sign that she needs to use the bathroom. Teach her to get up after waking from a bad dream and use the toilet before trying to go back to sleep. If nothing else this will empty her bladder and may even succeed in getting her mind off the bad dream that woke her in the first place.

No matter how long it takes to teach your child to stay dry at night it is essential to stand by her throughout the process. Keep encouraging her in her efforts and never belittle her for her failures. Your older child can become involved in the care of her bedding washing the sheets and remaking the bed. Night wetting is a common problem and she should be made aware that she isn't the only one who has accidents at night.

If the problem persists or if there are additional issues such as burning or bladder issues in the day be sure to consult a doctor for advice. There may be an issue that requires medical attention and even if there isn't the doctor may have some good advice to help your child.

The ABC's Of Potty Training

2008-05-29T03:22:00.001-07:00

he best way to speed up the process of potty training is to get your child as involved in the process as possible. Unfortunately, not all kids are interested in learning to use the toilet. When this happens we need to rethink our strategies and find new ways to motivate our children.

Before starting it is important to carefully consider our current strategy. Are we making the process more difficult without realizing it? For example, is your child easily able to pull her own pants up and down? If not it would be a good idea to get pants that are a bit larger so your child find the job easier. Consider all aspects of toilet training from the child's perspective from the clothes she wears to the routine she goes through to use the toilet.

As you continue teaching your child it is important to stay consistent. Each time she needs to use the toilet she should be offered the same amount of support and should follow the same basic routine. Being inconsistent will confuse your child and she will have a difficult time knowing what to expect.

Your child should be encouraged to tell you when she needs to use the potty. The long-term goal is that she will be able to take care of using the facilities on her own, so constantly telling her when to go is counter-productive. While reminders can be helpful try not to overdo them.

A reward system can be very useful. While giving treat may seem like an easy solution you may find that a sticker chart that shows the child how well she has progressed might be a more effective solution. Another idea is to offer a special prize for staying dry for a full day or even a week. By keeping things consistent and varied your child will maintain their interest and make a better effort to improve.

Of course, sometimes things go wrong and an accident will happen. A good way to avoid this is to add practices to your child's routine. Whenever you see that your child looks like she needs to go, or even after she has forgotten and made a mess encourage her to have a practice run to the toilet. Help her to run as fast as she can to the bathroom, pull down her pants and sit on the toilet. Don't fret about whether she actually goes or not, instead congratulate her and make a big deal of her. Practices should not be punishment; they should be fun, a game that involves your child as much as possible in the potty training process.

Toilet training does not need to be a chore. Indeed the best results happen when kids are having fun. By working with your child and offering her tons of praise and encouragement soon you and she will enjoy a diaper-free life.

Potty Training: How to Know He's Ready

2008-05-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

Potty Training with Dr. Phil

2008-05-29T01:29:00.000-07:00

As our children grow from helpless babies to active toddlers, parents soon begin to consider the pleasure of not having any more diapers to change. While there are many methods for potty training, one that might be worth considering is Dr. Phil's method.

Begin by getting a doll for your child that you can use to teach her to use the toilet. Get your child to give the doll a name. Once the doll is named offer it a drink. Shortly after drinking have the doll �walk� to the potty chair, pull down its big kid underwear, and have it go potty. By showing your child the routine in a fun way she will be interested in learning more about the whole process.

With your child's help throw the doll a huge party once it �succeeds� at using the potty. Make the party a big deal by blowing up balloons, serving cake and wearing party hats. Praise the doll and make a big deal about its success. While holding the party let your little one know that she too will get a special potty party once she successfully goes to the bathroom in her potty.

On the day you plan to start toilet training toss out all the diapers. By doing this you remove the temptation to go back to diapers and you also show your child that there are no diapers to fall back to. Then take out some new big kid underwear and put them on your child. Make sure that she has her potty training doll set up with big kid underwear too.

Because you want to maximize the chance that your child will succeed at using the potty you should offer her plenty of fluids. This will fill her bladder and make her need to go more often. Continue offering her a drink on a regular basis to help give her the best chance possible to be successful.

Every half hour ask if your child needs to use the potty. If she should happen to forget and wets herself, don't punish her, but instead encourage her to practice by walking to the potty and sitting on it ten times. This will give her body a chance to build muscle memory so that when she is ready to go both she and her body knows what to do.

When your child does succeed it is time for that promised potty party. Bring out the cake and balloons. Wear party hats and get her to call her favorite cartoon character or superhero to announce her success. Make a really big deal out of her success. Keep up the regular offers to use the potty and praise each attempt.

By following his guidelines Dr. Phil believes that any child can learn to use the potty in a day. Of course you will need to be consistent and continue to praise your child's efforts, but with a successful beginning you are one more step on the way to a diaper free child.

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