Potty training is the process of teaching somesone, especially young kids, how to properly use toilet for urinating and defecating. Now if you think that your baby is showing signs that he is finally ready for potty training, go ahead, read on and know everything about potty training. Guide your baby throughout this new milestone to tick out on your list.
•Best age for potty training
Potty training is best to try on babies aged 2 years old and above (though there are 18 months old who are already showing signs of readiness). Put in mind though that potty training is a milestone and it is all about the child’s readiness for it. So no matter what age he is, whether a bit younger than 2 years or older already, if he shows signs, give it a go then!
•Signs that your baby is ready for potty training
-Babies give signals when nappy is wet or dirty already.
-Child is already independent and can follow simple instructions like “Give me the toy.”
-Newborn babies and infants automatically empties their bladder. If your baby has dry nappy for longer times than the usual, especially when sleeping, that is a sign that he knows how to hold his wee in the bladder already.
-Dislikes wearing nappy and constantly tries to take it off.
-Shows interest and curiousity on using toilet and wants to try it for himself.
-Bowel movements become regular part of his daily routine.
-Generally shows independence and eagerness in completing tasks.
-Can pull his pants up and down.
-Gives gestures and says something like “poo” or “pee” before he actually does in his nappy.
•What are right equipments to use?
If your baby wants to use the toilet that everyone uses in the house, you can buy a little toilet seat that he can sit on. When he is comfortable of not falling into the toilet, then he can concentrate on the training. If the baby wants to have his own little potty, then he can sure use that. Babies likes to mimic the older ones, so using a little potty of their own would make them feel much more comfortable and less scared of toilet. But of course, iwill be more fun and exciting for him if he would use the equipment he likes best.
•How to start the training?
Your help would be a great thing to consider in this training since your child doesn’t know much on how to do it just yet on their own. Here are some tips that could get you both ready for the transition.
-When you go and use the toilet, take your child with you so he can sit on his own potty and observe what’s going on. That would be great help to introduce potty training, fill his curiousity.
-Use proper traininag pants, like a trouser or pants with elastic waistband that he can easily pull down when he’s ready.
-Lessen the usage of diapers. Put your baby on pants without nappy or you can bare their bottom so they could get familiar with the wet and dirty feeling once they do the deed. Let them sit on potty train or toilet seat a couple of times a day to help them identify the connection and make them more comfortable with it.
-Start the training on days when you don’t have any errands to run about. Make the training be part of the daily routine to make it more established for the child. As they say, consistency is the key!
-Give your child a lot of food that contains fiber to help him avoid constipation and have a better chance for regular bowel movements. Give him plenty of water too so he can have lots of chances to practice urinating as well.
•How to motivate and encourage child in potty training?
You can show your support by giving him appreciation everytime he tries potty training. Example, when he gives signals that he is about to urinate or he pulled down his pants on time before the deed, praise him for it. It gives him encouragements too if you tell him that soon enough, he can be like mommy and daddy already, big enough to use the toilet and flush on his own. Do not critisize though if he wets or pooped on his pants. It will take time to master everything so wait for it.
•Best timing to do the training.
Observe your child as to when is the usual time he would poop. Example, you noticed that every 30 minutes after breakfast or after bath time, he would defecate. Then that would be the best time to let him sit on his potty. If he doesn’t have a regular routine for bowel movement, try to look for signs and signals that he does before pooping, like not moving much and staying in one corner while concentrating, passing gas, moving to a different room or pointing at his nappy. Remember though that don’t have your baby sit in the potty train for a very long time. Let him move out after about 5 minutes of unsuccessful try. Don’t pressure him that much. He will learn it eventually.
•Be patient. Don’t nag about the training.
Potty training is never easy especially for the little one. Your toddler needs you to be patient enough and keep your cool. Be casual about it because if you keep on nagging and battling about it, it will prolong the process. It could make them feel like the training is a punishment and they would become even more resistant for it. Don’t lose your temper or get frustrated at every unsuccessful attempt. Make things easy for him so it would become easy for you too.
•Constipation and Child’s diet.
A lot of parents haven’t realized that a child’s diet is a very essential factor to consider in order to succesfully attain a good result in potty training. If a child takes in food that is hard to eliminate, it might cause constipation. Constipation is when there is hardship to empty the bowels. It is usually because of hardened faeces. This could be very uncomfortable and sometimes painful for your toddler. If your child is constipated, he might become resistant to do the training. He might get scared and attempt to hold it back in when he feels he is about to defecate, which could lead to even more problems and delay the training. To avoid constipation, give your child food that has high fiber content such as apples, pears, beans, green peas, banana, brown rice, berries, almonds, oranges, brocoli and oat meals.
•Proper hygiene when potty training
If hygiene is properly taught from the beginning of the training, your child will be able to practice it for a lifetime. When the child is still young, you can wash their bottom for them until they get old enough to do it on their own. Always remind to wash from front area of genitals to the back in order to avoid urinary track infection especially the girls.
Each time after urinating, remind your boy toddler to shake off his penis a bit to eliminate the droplets.
Everytime they use the toilet, teach them to properly was their hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds. You can sing the Birthday Song or any song they like until they finish and rinse with water. Make it more fun and exciting thing to do so they would remember it as a fun part of the routine.
•Potty training accidents
Potty training is a long and tiring process. Expect to have some setbacks and accidents along the way before you and your child could successfully acheive the goal. To somehow avoid these, pay attention to your child especially when he says he needs the toilet already. Give him easy and comfortable access to his potty to make sure he won’t fall out. If the child accidentally poops or wets on his pants, don’t get frustrated. It is all part of the training process. What you can do is assure your child that it is alright. Comfort him and make him understand that sometimes, accidents really do happen and it’s ok. Start over again and be patient.
Potty training could be a stressful and tiring milestone for you and your child but always remember that he needs to learn that and he needs you to be the best trainor you can be. Stay focused on the positive sides. Make everything fun and exciting for him so he won’t lose his eagerness to cooperate. Give him praises and rewards if possible once he successfully accomplish a new step. As a trainor, your patience and effort is very much required for this. Always be consistent and plan things ahead of time. The success in potty training relies on you and your child’s cooperation and eagerness to have a possitive result. But keep in mind that it all takes time. It won’t hurt if you do some research and readings if there is something you are unsure about. Above all, see to it that your child is having fun while doing the training because fun learnings ensures positive results. Now call your baby, Go Momma and let them butts out!
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