Potty training is a critical milestone in your parenthood. To begin with, start with the potty training only when your child seems to be ready. Otherwise, he won’t listen to you. Starting the journey way too early will leave you distressed about why nothing is working out for your little one. Some kids are ready as early as 18 months, while some take a little longer. Here are some cues that your child is ready for potty training.
He has dry nappies for 2 hours or longer: This means that he’s started to develop bladder control and can now pee and poop at his will.
He can communicate that he wants to pee or poop: If your child can inform you beforehand, he is ready.
He can pull his pants up and down when asked.
He can walk and sit on his little potty seat without assistance.
Here are some proven tips and tricks to make potty training more manageable for you and the baby.
(Before we start, a special thanks to all the parents who came ahead and shared their success stories with us. It helped us pick out the most effective ideas to share in this article)
Take them shopping: First things first. Kids are more likely to learn new things if they love the equipment. Let them choose the pot of their favorite color or a fancy print of their choice. You can also get some fun soap dispensers for hygiene training.
Set a good example: Monkeys see, monkeys do!! If your child sees you sit on the pot, or maybe their elder siblings do the same, they will automatically try to do it without you having to put in any effort. The imitation methodology is helpful for many other things like washing hands and brushing teeth.
Get them acquainted with the seat: At first, make them sit on it and be there for a while. You can choose times when they’re most likely to poop. Like early in the morning, right after they’re up, or an hour or two after their meals.
Keep the potty seat accessible: When you begin with potty training, there is a possibility your child might forget to go to the other room looking for the pot. In that case, keep the potty chair in the room where they spend most of their time. It will make it easier for them to reach the potty in a pinch when they need to. You can gradually move it closer to the toilet.
Bridge the gap between the diapers and the potty seat: When you transition between diapers and potty seats, dispose of the diapers in the potty seat. That way, kids will get to know where the poop is supposed to go.
Celebrate small victories: In the first week of potty training, some kids are thoroughly trained, whereas some barely manage to pull their pants down or reach the pot. But that is okay; no two kids are the same. Praise them for their little achievements along the way. You’ll be surprised at the progress they’re making.
Give your child a well-balanced diet: Make sure you give your child enough fiber and water during the day. The fiber will aid in the digestion process and ensure they don’t suffer from constipation.
If they’re constipated and cannot poop well, it’ll add a new challenge to this training.
Give him some naked time: Many children are more comfortable sitting on the pot when they do not have any pants on. In their potty hours, make them roam around naked. At the same time, keep the pot handy should they give any signals.
Teach them good hygiene from the beginning: Get the kids used to the whole potty routine. After they sit on the pot for some time, whether they poop or not, get them to wash their hands. Habits developed in this manner go a long way.
Reward them: Positive reinforcement is vital for kids. You can maybe put a sticker on their seat every time they use it or read their favorite story after a successful poop session. It can be anything small, nothing major.
Most Important of all, be patient. Your child is learning a whole new thing about their body. There will be a few accidents during the transition, but do not nag and scold the child for the same. It’ll simply make them averse to learning new things. Yes, parenting is not easy, but your child’s little progress every day will make up for it.
Happy potty training!!
