One of the greatest occasions of your child’s life is marked by the mastering of the potty. It is perhaps the most essential milestone of growing up and being self-sufficient. For you, the parent, you may have many questions regarding how to teach your child to use the bathroom on their own and which methods would work well for your little one. In this article, we are going to cover some of the best ways to make bathroom independence an easy step up into the world of being a big kid.
Now, you need to realize foremost that potty training is not something you mark on the calendar for the day when your child is ready to start. Age means little in the world of learning to control bowel movements and it’s just unnatural to expect an age to be the greatest indicator, when it comes to the right time to start this process. So the best preparation you can make is to understand how to look for the signs of when your child is ready.
Most signs occur during bowel movements and as a parent you already know how frequently those are occurring. You may notice you child losing interest in the activity he or she is doing when the bowel movement occurs. Sometimes the child will grab onto their diaper signaling an unnatural feeling of wanting to remove it to use the bathroom. If you spot either of these signs, this is a good indication your child is ready to learn how to use the bathroom.
Tips For Potty Training Your Child
- Ask your child to let you know when the diaper is wet so they can recognize the wetness and will learn this is an unnatural feeling. By doing so you will automatically train them to want to do something about the wetness.
- Identify bowel movement behaviors by asking questions such as “Are you going to poop or pee?” when the child is experiencing discomfort. When you do this you are automatically training your child to recognize when they have to use the bathroom and what for.
- Always choose simple clothing as soon as you remove their diapers and are going through the potting training process. Avoid clothes like overalls, snaps in the crouch, and one piece clothing. When your child is first learning to time their bowel movements, they will not be able to hold them as long; and the faster you can remove the clothes the better!
- Do not put your child in an awkward situation by introducing them to the toilet bare-bottomed for the first time. This is awkward for the child and they will not be adapt to it. Instead, allow them to sit on the toilet fully-clothed.
Always make it fun for your child to learn something new such as potty training by offering them small rewards for correct behavior. Everything from stickers to an ice-cream will allow them to associate bathroom time with an enjoyable experience. The reward chart is also a great idea. As you may already know, a full sized toilet is intimidating to a child since they always have a fear of falling into the water bowl. So make sure you provide them with a child’s seat that easily adapts to your in-house toilet. Alternatively, you can get a potty.
However you decide to play it; be sure to tell all guardians such as grandparents, babysitters and family so that they can follow the same schedule and routine. This consistency prevents the child from being confused and losing track over what’s right or wrong in the process of using the bathroom. Don’t worry if your child regresses temporarily: it’s perfectly natural, especially if they are under high stress. If it persists without improving, then seek a doctor to advise you on what aids may assist you in overcoming this problem. Relax! In no time, your child will feel confident in the bathroom and you will be relieved from diaper duty… until the next one! You can learn more about the facts on potty training.