We have had a few questions recently from parents of children two and up regarding their child’s readiness to begin toilet training. We have shared some of our ideas and routines with some parents but thought it would be easier for you all if we wrote down a few tips regarding training to help you. The most important thing is to remember to have fun in the process, you want it to be a positive experience for your little one and yes, for you too.
Potty training usually starts around the age of two years, two years and a half. If you feel your little one is ready, we would like to share with you some ideas and experiences to help the process.
- Be able to TELL the adult they have to go potty BEFORE they have to go. They must be able to say the words “I have to go potty” BEFORE they have to go.
- Be able to pull down their underwear and pants and get them back up without assistance.
- Be able to wipe themselves after using the toilet.
- Be able to get off the potty by themselves.
- Be able to wash and dry hands.
- Be able to go directly back to the room without directions.
- Be able to postpone going if they must wait for someone who is in the bathroom or if we are outside and away from the house.
- We will supervise them and watch for signs that they have to go or are going and get them off to the potty.
- We practice with them getting their pants up and down on their own and hand washing.
- We have them sit on the potty during natural transition times (before and after meals, before and after naps, and diaper changes)
- We start reading potty books and talking about going potty in the big girl or big boy potty during changing.
Some helpful tips to help you at home
There are some easy daily things you can do at home that will really help your child’s progress. Some of these may sound silly but trust us… they REALLY work.
- Be cheery about the potty. A happy experience each time they are on the potty will translate into quick training at home.
- Praise the child on success for every step of the process but do not overdo it. You don’t want them trying to do the potty thing fifty times a day to get your attention or get rewarded. A “way to go” or a “thumbs up” and big smile will let them know you are proud. We use the phrase “you go potty like the BIG boys/girls do!!!! They love the idea of being BIG. Every person receiving the prize says, “Good job little buddy… you go potty like the big boys do”.
- If there are two adults in the house have each adult “ask” the other adult if he/she can go to the potty at least four or five times a day. Your child seeing and hearing you “ask” if you can go will get the idea in their head that they need to do that too.
- Let the child in the bathroom with you when you are going potty. This is really important for the same sex parent. Let them see how it works and you washing up afterwards.
- No punishment or anxiety for accidents. Just talk to them about them needing to ask to go to the potty next time. We say, “next time you will go potty like the BIG boys do… okay?”
- If you see them mid-way trying to poop or pee rush them off to the potty to finish up.
- Give your child three or four minutes to get the job done. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Don’t let it turn into an attention seeking time where the child gets you to one to one them. It’s only about going potty. If they don’t go in a reasonable time tell them it’s time to get off and we will try again another time.
- Keep attention and interaction during potty time to a bare minimum.
- We train boys sitting down first. We switch them to standing up when they are tall enough to reach over the seat and adept enough to aim.
- Be careful of public automatic flushing toilets. The noise of the flushing will scare them. If you bring a little post it note with you when you go out you can put it over the sensor so the toilet doesn’t automatically flush right when your child gets off of it.
Most importantly, have fun. Stay cool and calmed. Remember it is a process, it takes time but It will all work out.
