Potty Training

Tip sheet

Potty training is quite a milestone in a child’s young life, here are a few suggestions to make it a happy experience.

Signs that your child is ready for potty training include;

•  Starting to say words associated with it such as ‘wee wee or potty’
•  They notice that they are making a bowel movement or wetting their nappy, by telling you or squatting down
•  They are ready to follow easy instructions, such as ‘Pass me the car’
•  They are showing signs of not liking being wet or having a soiled nappy
•  They are having extended dry periods in their nappy
•  They are showing an interest in what you do in the bathroom or older children using the toilet or potty

 

Think about your timing

There is no time limit as to how long potty training will take so take it nice and slow and at your child’s pace.  Summer is always the easiest time, as children wear fewer clothes and so it makes it easier to get undressed you can easily dry wet clothes.  Summer also means that they may be outside more so your furniture will have less puddles and accidents on them.  If it is winter when your child is ready you can make it easier by making sure that their clothes are easy to get off.  Dressing them in elasticated waists and dresses will empower them to manage to go to the potty themselves

 

Be prepared

Before you start potty training get well prepared with equipment that you need so that you set your child up for success.  Equipment that you may use includes;

 

• A potty, potties are less daunting than a toilet seat but it is your decision.  Potties are easily portable and can be placed in the room that your child is in to prevent accidents, as children have little warning about when they need to go.

 

• Star chart and or stickers, follow the guidelines in the book. Use star charts to reward attempts such as sitting on the potty at first then when they have used it.  If you have some special stickers handy, children this age love to have them for good behaviour so you could reward them with a sticker for themselves as well that they can wear to show to other people.

 

• Children’s story books about potty training.  There are some really good children’s books about potty training which can spark a child’s interest and explain what it’s all about.

 

• Pull up pants or real pants.  These again are your choice, pull ups may make it harder for your child to notice when they have had an accident but may be the best solution in winter.  If you want to explain to your child and ask them which they would like to use when they start too use the potty as some children may think pull ups are for babies, especially if they have older brothers and sisters who wear pants.

 

• Toilet seat and a step are useful to have by the toilet and can be used at the same time as a potty and your child may show a preference so take that into consideration.

 

 Be positive and encouraging

 

Praise any attempt that your child shows in participating such as pulling up their own pants, sitting on the potty even if they don’t produce anything.  Remember the importance of praising exactly what they have done for example,

‘Good girl you sat on the potty’, or

‘What a good boy, you pulled up your own pants’.

Try not to be too over the top with jumping up and down and squeals of excitement because this may put a sensitive soul off and make them self conscious.

Remember not to say negative things that will not help the situation such as, ‘You didn’t do anything so you can’t have a sticker’,  and either ignore the fact that they didn’t perform or if they get upset about not having a sticker when they sat on the potty give them one for actually sitting on it.  Avoid confrontation when you can because it has such a negative effect on their progress.

 

Having problems

 

If you are having problems with potty training and after maybe a good initial start you have a set back, if for instance your child has been unwell they may have a relapse and want their nappy back.  If you are all getting stressed out just stop the training and leave it for a couple of weeks or until you think that you are both are ready for a fresh start. 

 

Problems may occur because;

• You misjudged the time that they are ready and so there is no point in trying to force the issue, so start again when you next get the signals that they are ready.
• You may also have problems if you are telling them off if they have an accident because if you make them feel bad they are more likely to be uncooperative for fear of failing.  If they do have an accident it is best to just say, never mind, or ask them if they would like to go onto the potty.
• Bad timing such as starting a new nursery, childminder or having a new baby in the family can make the process of potty training very difficult.  This is because it may be a stressful time for them and they may regress in their behaviour a little.
• Anxiety about potty training means that you are going to pass this on to your child through your actions and words and this will only make your child anxious and prolong the process. So remember that all children will eventually be potty trained….. at least before they start work!!
• Forcing the issue can have very negative results; if you force a child on the potty they will very likely be confused and frightened. 
• Negative comments such as belittling them by telling them that they are a baby to use a nappy will make children feel bad which will have the opposite affect to what you want; non co-operation.  So be mindful to keep your frustrated thoughts to yourself.

Remember not to take potty training too seriously and judge your child by what others are doing, after all they WIL want to be out of nappies some time.