Children will potty train at different times. Some may show signs of readiness at a younger age while others may just not be interested. It could even be that some children will potty train willingly but then regress later. Potty training a child with special needs is another thing all together. But there are a few basic principles of potty training that should, in theory, work for all children. For us, we went with a passive potty training method.
Ideal Age to Start Potty Training
When your child is ready to begin potty training, she will show an interest. She will begin to want to observe your toilet habits and will ask questions. Explain that big people go to the potty instead of using a diaper. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, let your child go to the bathroom with you and watch.
There are several good story books on the market about potty training that you can start reading to your child at this stage, to help encourage an interest in going potty.
Potty (Leslie Patricelli board books)P is for Potty! (Sesame Street) (Lift-the-Flap)
Potty Book for Girls, The
The Potty Book: For Boys
Potty Superhero: Get ready for big boy pants! (Potty Book)
The Potty Train
Big Girl Panties
Daniel Goes to the Potty (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
A Potty for Me!
Princess Potty
Once Upon a Potty — Girl
Big Girls Use the Potty!
The New Potty (Little Critter) (Look-Look)
Sesame Street: Let’s Go Potty, Elmo! (1 2 3 Sesame Street)
Big Boy Underpants
Potty Time!
Dinosaur vs. the Potty (Board Book)
Once Upon a Potty — Boy
Pirate Potty
Sesame Street – Elmo’s Potty Time
My Big Girl Undies
Even Firefighters Go to the Potty: A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story
Diapers Are Not Forever (Board Book) (Best Behavior Series)
Too Big for Diapers (Sesame Street) (Too Big Board Books)
&
There are books geared specifically to boys and those geared to girls, which is also helpful.
Another important physical sign of potty training readiness is the frequency with which your child urinates. If she is still wetting her diaper every half and hour or so, she is not ready.
But, if she’s going one to two hours between wet diapers, then she is able to hold her urine, which is critical to being truly potty trained, at any age.
3 Important Questions to Ask Before Potty Training Your Toddler
If you are thinking about starting to potty train your toddler, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin potty training. Being well prepared for this challenging transition from diapers to potty is one of the best things you can do to make this as easy as possible on your child.
1. Is My Child Ready?
You want to start potty training at just the right time. You will know that your child is ready when he or she gets more interested in you going to the potty, tells you right away when the diaper is wet or pulls on it and seems uncomfortable with it.
Give potty training a try, if your child doesn’t seem ready despite the signs, wait a few weeks and try again. In fact, here are 10 signs that your child is ready to use the potty.
2. Am I Ready?
Just as important as your child being ready is that you are ready. Prepare yourself mentally for the transition from diaper to potty for your child. You will need a lot of patience and understanding. There are going to be resentment, tears and the occasional accident.
Make sure you are prepared for this so you can stay calm and supportive for your child.
3. Do We Need A Potty Chair?
A regular toilet is very intimidating for a child. The seat is rather large and your child will have to hold on to avoid falling in. In addition “things” vanish in there when you flash – which can be a pretty scary thought for your child. Many kids are more comfortable with a potty chair at first.
After a few weeks you should be able to move on to a potty seat insert that fits on your regular toilet eliminating the potty cleanup.
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It RightPotty Training in 3 Days: The Step-by-Step Plan for a Clean Break from Dirty DiapersToilet Training in Less Than a DayEasy Peasy Potty Training: The Busy Parents’ Guide to Toilet Training with Less Stress and Less MessPotty Training: 3 Days to Potty Train Any Child Without Driving Everyone CrazyPotty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro [toilet training]Potty Train in a Weekend: Mom of four shares the secret to having your child potty trained in a weekend.Potty Training: Proven Techniques To Effectively Potty Train Even The Most Difficult ChildPotty Training: 50 Tips to Potty Train Your Child!
![Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro [toilet training]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxIDEiIHdpZHRoPSIxIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEiIGRhdGEtdT0iaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZpbWFnZXMtbmEuc3NsLWltYWdlcy1hbWF6b24uY29tJTJGaW1hZ2VzJTJGSSUyRjUxT203clBJRTRMLmpwZyIgZGF0YS13PSIxIiBkYXRhLWg9IjEiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==)
&
Take a few minutes to answer these potty training questions for yourself and go over them with your spouse as well to ensure you are on the same page before you start potty training your child.
It will help you give your child a clear picture of what you are both trying to accomplish and will cut down on any confusion.
The Passive Potty Training Method
We waited until Squeaker was showing signs of interest. She’s gone to the bathroom with me for quite some time now. And she may have also been encouraged by the fact that her cousin was already using the potty.
We never pushed the issue with her and however long it takes, is however long it takes.
I’m not overly concerned and I don’t want to rush her.
So when she’s ready to continue and put more effort into it, we’ll make a potty training reward chart for consistency. And then we’ll hope for the best.
What potty training methods are you using?
Kori
Latest posts by Kori (see all)
- Cultivating A Happier Home Environment In 5 Steps - March 1, 2024
