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Steps For Potty Training

Potty training can be a very trying time for a child as well as the parent. It means the child is growing up and someday soon will not be a baby anymore. The key to successful potty training is patience, patience and more patience.  When it is thought there is no more patience to give, there will be more patience required. The potty-training process will not be pretty from time to time, but the end result will mean no more dealing with soiled diapers. There is no magic age when the potty princess appears and declares the child worthy of potty training. The time will come when the time will seem right. Of course, mom or dad may have to gently help the time to be right. Kids learn and advance according to their own time line.

A functional potty is the only necessary piece of equipment for potty training. It just has to be something the child can sit on and get up from themselves. If the potty is place in an area the child will see it, they will no doubt investigate it and wonder what it is. They will probably figure out for themselves it is a place to sit and will sit on it from time to time when they give themselves a timeout from play. When potty-training time does arrive, it will not be a mysterious thing to them.

Some kids will find potty training fascinating. They may not fully understand the concept, but they will instinctively know it something they should do. It may take a few tries to get it right, but they will be successful at it. Other kids may be a little reluctant to use the potty for its intended purpose even thought they have seen it before and perhaps even explored it. Do not force a child to use the potty but gently encourage the child to use it. They will soon see it is not a monster they have to escape from or something that will swallow them if they sit on it. Sitting the child on the potty at regular intervals will ease any fear they have and begin to establish a potty routine. A working potty schedule should be established and include using the potty when getting up in the morning, before bed and after meals.

It may take the child a few tries before using the potty for its intended purpose. A few false starts are better than no starts at all. Always acknowledge the successes with applause, a victory dance or even a high five. Do not punish the child for not getting to the potty in time. That will only cause the child to take a giant step backwards. Ask the child from time to time if they need to go to the potty. After a while, they will say yes and soon to follow will be a mad dash to the potty on their own.

Keeping the child on the potty long enough for potty use to occur might be a bit of a challenge. This will be an opportune time to sing a song with the child or read a story. Maybe teach the child a new skill such as whistling or counting to ten will be the ticket to potty-training success.
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Colby is the loving parent of two kids and loves writing about situations parents are usually faced with. Check out his Trend Lab Giggles Sets or this Trend Lab Max Sets and the lovely Glenna Jean Cooper Collections.