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Potty training can be quite the task for parents to accomplish as it can be challenging and messy. By the time your baby is old enough to walk and keep their balance, they are at a place where they want to run around and won’t stay still. This can make the potty training process complicated. But it is necessary and honestly, the earlier the better! Would you believe it that by now your baby must have used up to 4,000 diapers! As a parent you may be looking forward to this milestone with dread and anticipation. But it doesn’t have to be messy and impossible. In this article we’ll discuss everything about potty training. Tips on how to get your little one to sit still and if pull ups are even necessary to make the shift from diapers to underwear. Read on to learn more!
When To Start Potty Training
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Potty training is a big change for your baby and there is no point in forcing them to start the process if they are not ready for this big step. Readiness is an important factor for your baby’s potty training success and the age at which your baby may be ready is completely subjective. Some little ones are ready at around 18 to 24 months whereas others get past 3 years of age before they are ready to take on potty training. But how can you tell when your toddler is ready to put on their big kid pants? One obvious sign is that they are able to pull down and pull up their own pants, that is, their diapers. If they can stay dry for more than 2 hours at a time and are expressing interest in using the potty and can openly communicate their wishes to you. Or if they have the ability to indicate when they have a wet or dry diaper, these are all signs that they are ready to be potty trained. Another important factor to note is that boys do take a bit longer to potty train than girls and that this is completely normal.
Pull Ups Vs. Underwear
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Many experts suggest that your child skip the pullup phase and switch directly to underwear while potty training and there are good reasons for this. In addition to the gray areas that using pull ups can create, overcomplicating the process for your baby, underwear is favored more also because it is more uncomfortable while wet whereas pull ups are more absorbent which may demotivate your baby from potty training.
Potty Training Tips
1. Demonstrate How To Use The Potty To Your Child
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Your child is a visual learner as all kids learn through observation. So the best way to teach your childs how to do something is to show them, and yes this extends to potty training as well. If your son is having a hard time learning how to aim or using the washroom maybe dad could show him the ropes. Another good idea is to get a little potty for your child’s doll or teddy as well. Show them how teddy sits on the potty and how he washes his hands after he’s done. All of this will make a huge difference. You can even have their doll sit on their own potty while your child sits on theirs, even if it’s just to practice. This will also help them feel less lonely or isolated in learning this new skill.
2. Ditch The Clothes And Ignore The Mess
You didn’t expect potty training to go on smoothly from the get-go, did you? Accidents are bound to take place and your child might create a mess. But don’t make a big deal out of this as it may embarrass them and keep them from trying again. Instead, when you’re first starting out with potty training, you may want your child to go sans clothes for a few days, so they’re acutely aware of their bodily functions and avoid making a huge mess.
3. Be Patient With Your Child
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Your little one is trying to learn something new and is doing their best. Potty training takes time and patience so don’t rush them. If they want to stop and are not ready for this big leap, that’s completely okay. You can always try pull ups and get back to potty training at a later date.
Potty training your child is no joke. It takes time, energy and patience. So be sure to take on this task only when you and your child are up for it. No need to hurry them along. Happy parenting!
