Potty training isn’t one of those “one size fits all” kind of things. Every child is unique, they develop at different rates. One child may be ready to be completely potty trained at 18 months and another may still be struggling at 4. You may have to try several different strategies before you find one that works for you and your child. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while, most kids aren’t potty trained in a day.
The first and most important thing when it comes to potty training is knowing when your child is ready. Can she stay dry for more than a couple of hours? Does she tell you when she needs her diaper changed? Does she showing interest in other’s bathroom habits? These are all signs that your child may be ready to start her potty training journey. But where do you begin?
Most parents use some kind of incentive system with their kids. When my son was potty training I made a chart for him. Every time he went potty he got to put a sticker on his chart, when the chart was totally filled up he got to choose a special toy at the store.
Other parents may throw the kids their very own “Potty Party.” The entire day is devoted to celebrating this new adventure in their life. Let them pick out their own underwear and help them get excited about using the potty.
One of the most important things when you are potty training is to stay positive. If they get in trouble every time they have an accident they feel ashamed and will likely fight against the entire potty training idea. Praise is usually much more effective, especially with toddlers. The night we decided to potty train our son he ran to sit on the potty 15 times just to hear Mom and Dad’s excitement. He still had an accident here and there, but that praise was much more important to him than getting a toy or candy.
Having your child run around naked for a few days has also been very effective for many parents. You may have to pay to have your carpet cleaned at the end of the week, but it may be worth a try if your child is struggling with the whole potty training concept.
Remember that just because you are ready to be done with diapers, doesn’t necessarily mean your child is. Watch for signs that they are ready to start that journey with you, and don’t push them before they’re ready. Just because you start potty training earlier, doesn’t mean you will finish earlier, it may just prolong the process. Stay positive and hang in there! Your child won’t be wearing diapers to college! When they are ready, they’ll get the hang of it in no time!