Potty training a toddler is one of the most exciting milestones. That’s when you realise that your baby who once used to fit in your arm is now a grown toddler who can start going to the toilet just like the rest of the family.
However, potty training a toddler can be a challenging project for both the toddler and the parents. It’s a task that requires a lot of patience and resilience.
And let me get this out of the way, No, you can’t potty train a toddler in 3 days. That’s not realistic, and even if you do, you still have a long way to go before your toddler is fully potty trained.
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What’s the best potty training age?
The best potty training age really depends on your own child. Every child and every family is different. Some children can be ready to be potty trained as early as 6 months old and some toddlers can be ready when they’re 3 years old. Either way, you should never feel the pressure to potty train your child if none of you feels like you’re ready to take this step.
Signs your child is ready for potty training
Your child will start to show you some cues that he’s ready for potty training. Some of these common cues are:
- He lets you know every time he goes on his nappy.
- You start to notice that your toddler goes at certain times of the day.
- Your child can keep his nappies dry for longer periods of time.
- Your child feels uncomfortable when he has a wet/dirty nappy.
- He might also point out when a member of the family goes to use the toilet.
These are some of the obvious signs that your child is ready for potty training.
What’s the best way to start potty training
The best way to start potty is to introduce it gradually. It doesn’t have to be stressful or quick. It’s a learning curve for your child and it has to be a gradual process.
Start by introducing the potty first and make sure the potty you’re using is comfortable. Make your child sit on it first thing in the morning for one minute. If he goes, that’s a plus, if he doesn’t then take him back every 10 minutes until you get something.
Starting right after he wakes up will make your child go because he would already have a full bladder and it’ll make it harder for him to hold it for so long.
Make sure the house is warm, and remove anything that you don’t want any pee on because you’ll be having so many accidents during the first day of potty training.
You must also read:
10 Must-have potty training supplies
Now let’s talk about accidents,
You should actually allow your child to have accidents as an opportunity for him to know how it feels like to pee on himself. It’s better to let him without any pants or pull-ups during the first hours of potty training. Only put a warm long shirt on to keep him cosy. Or if that’s not a possibility for you, then just dress him up in lightweight clothes.
You can make your child pee more by offering him extra water or diluted juice to give him more opportunities to pee.
Potty training tips for boys and girls
- If your toddler is old enough and he can use the big toilet then that’s better than transitioning from potty to toilet. You can buy a toddler toilet seat and ladder steps or a stool to make it accessible and safer for your toddler.
- If your child can speak, explain to him that he needs to tell you when he wants to do a wee or a poo. If your child is non-verbal you can teach him how to sign for a wee/poo. It doesn’t have to be a specific sign, you can invent one yourself and stick to it. Every time you see your child doing a wee or a poo, use that sign. He’ll get used to it fast and it’ll make your potty training journey easier.
- Once you decide to start potty training don’t go back to diapers/nappies unless it’s nighttime/naptime or you’re out and about.
- Consistency is key to success in every situation. Don’t feel hopeless if your child is taking longer than you anticipated. Bear in mind that your child has been using diapers his whole life and now he’s expected all of a sudden to use the toilet. It may seem scary to him but reassure your kid that it’s okay and he’ll be fine.
- Some children get it faster than others but this is not what matters. What matters is that your child will eventually grow out of diapers and he’ll be able to go to the toilet like everyone else.
- teach your child how to pull down his pants by himself. So that when you’re not around, he can go and sit in the toilet while you follow him.
Should I reward my child for going to the potty?
Although going to the potty is not something to be rewarded for. It’ll save you during the training to give your child some kind of reward to show him that he’s doing a great job.
I usually give stickers for every time my toddler sits on the toilet/potty and I give him an extra reward when he does a wee/poo. Just to encourage him and to make the process go smoother.
Potty training chart
What to expect?
Potty training is one of the last milestones a baby will go through before entering a new chapter of his life. it’s the end of toddlerhood, Your baby will not be that small helpless tiny human anymore. he’ll gain more independence and he’ll need you less and less- Which is very sad when you think about it- 😥. try to take it one step at a time and don’t rush things out. your toddler will eventually go to the toilet all on his own before you know it. Because motherhood is an experience and it should be experienced to the fullest. And our babies have only got one childhood so why rush it out?
