Parents: Beginning Potty Training
How to begin the process of potty training your toddler.
Transitioning your toddler out of diapers is no easy task. But knowing when to start the process is critical to success. If you start too early, you’re only going to frustrate your child, and drag out the process.
Recently, my 2-year-old has started the very disgusting habit of taking off his messy diapers. This is all fine and good if I’m in the same room, but it’s horrible when I notice he’s naked 10 minutes later, and then have to clean up the mess. This behavior has clued me in that he is quite ready to start potty training.
While many developmental milestones are clear cut, the ability to go diaper-free is not one of them. There is no magic age at which a child is ready to potty train. Some children are ready as early as 15 months, while others won’t master it until after they turn 3.
Plenty of research has been done to determine whether your child is ready to ditch the diapers. But ultimately, only moms know if the child is ready.
This time, I researched websites and products to try to make this process fun and easier. I found Huggies and the Pull-Ups program, which has a great website and even a free DVD. It’s full of tips, tricks, and of course, the Potty Dance video. My son has been doing the potty dance for weeks, but I’m just now brave enough to start employing the tactics to get this kid diaper-free.
I think the most important piece of advice I have ever received about potty training was to make sure that you wait until your child is really ready. And to wait until you are ready, too! Let’s face it, diapers are convenient. Once you start potty training, you start memorizing where every bathroom is. Then you start remembering which ones are clean.
The toilet training process requires parents to be consistent. You can’t decide to be hard core potty training one day, and laid back about it the next. You have to make the decision to do this, and go for it.
And while I’m looking forward to kissing my diaper bag good bye, the process of getting there is daunting.
Despite having been through the potty training process before, I feel like a novice again. My toddler is such a free-spirited, head-strong child, so different from my older boy. I think the biggest thing I have in my advantage this time around is that little brother wants to be just like big brother.
I am following some other good advice this time as well—get your plan together before you begin. Know how you’re going to tackle this milestone. How will you use as rewards, how will you handle your first few outings and what happens when your child has an accident? It’s also important that everyone is on the same page. Everyone who is responsible for caring for your child should follow the same procedures.
So, our journey begins. Soon, I’ll update you on how successful we were, as well as tips and strategies to help your toddler ease through this transition. And feel free to share your potty training stories, I could sure use the advice!
Any advice you’d like to share with me and other potty training mom’s? What do you think is the most important thing to being successful? Tell us in the comments.
Angelica DeVries
3:21 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
It is essential that the parents and anyone else caring for the child is on the same page when potty training! I learned a little to late that consistency is the key. My now almost three year old has been training on and off for over a year. When he originally began showing signs he was ready I believe wee would have had the ticket then if we had been consistent. However between work and transferring him from grandma to day care to grandma each week it proved to be a difficult task. Like you said it only makes it harder in them if you are strict about it one day and not the next. Now that he is aware he holds the cards its a matter of waiting until he decides to use the toilet. Remember, it is a stressful time for the trainer and the trainee alike so finding new ways to make it easier on both of you is important. Also it may mean waiting until a better time, its not a race!
Stacey Schantz
11:05 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Thanks Angelica! I think the hardest part is the consistency. My boy is in daycare three days/week, so getting the day care to do exactly what I'm doing is a bit of a challenge. But we had a talk today, and I think we're all on the same page. Hey, the sooner we get him trained, the fewer diapers they have to change!!!
Audrey B
4:22 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I think every kid is different, but I think there are a couple of things to remember - before disposable diapers, kids were trained a lot earlier... I believe (and many other moms have told me) that pull-ups lengthen the process (the diaper companies promote them because if your kid is potty trained, obviously they don't get your money anymore!) - let's face it, they're basically diapers and when there's an "accident" there really aren't any consequences—no mess on the floor, no getting the favorite character on the underpants wet. We used them a briefly when we first started when we left the house when we had no idea what would happen out in public, as well as at night (and we still use them at night at age 3, I think we missed the window and I regret using them for so long now). I love the Gerber training pants that are real underwear with a little padding, so the kid still has to change his underwear and knows he had an accident, but you might not have to change his pants and hopefully don't have to clean your carpet ;-) I generally believe in starting on the early side, and we did have accidents, but that was way better than changing diapers all day. And I totally agree that you and your child both need to be ready and consistent to have success!
Stacey Schantz
11:08 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Thanks Audrey for your comment. I'm going to look into those Gerber training pants, perhaps using them on our days at home and weekends will speed things up. We're required to use pull-ups for daycare/school until they are more consistent. It's the consistency of training that is the hardest part. Everything takes longer, we had 3 potty breaks yesterday mornign on a trip to Walmart. Should have been out, shopped and home in 45 minute, instead it was over an hour and a half... We'll get there, but the journey isn't a fun one! Thanks again for your comment.