Are you a Mom wondering about the right time to start potty training your toddler? Or have you been trying to potty train your child for a while but not getting any success? Read on to get some great potty training tips.
The Right Time
When is the right time to start potty training? This is perhaps, the most important question when it comes to potty training. Because, if your child is not ready for it, no matter what you do, you will fail and it’s going to bring you lots of frustration and exhaustion.
So when Is the right time to start?
The truth is it’s different for every child. Every child has a different growth rate, milestones, and temperament. So, you should never compare. It’s okay if your child is not potty trained yet when your neighbor’s kid already is, even though they are of the same age.
Ask yourself the following questions to find whether it’s the right time or not:
- Can your child walk to and sit on a toilet?
- Can your child pull down his or her pants and pull them up again?
- Can your child stay dry for up to at least two hours?
- Can your child understand and follow basic directions?
- Can your child communicate when he or she needs to go?
- Does your child show or tell you about discomfort when his diaper is soiled?
If your answer to most of these questions is yes, then your child might be ready to be potty trained.
How to Start
So now that you have decided your baby is ready to be potty trained, it’s time to know how to start potty training that can actually achieve the desired results. Here are a few tips to help you with it:
- Potty Seat
There are various types of potty seats available these days, and you can choose the one you think is best suitable for your baby. Just make sure it’s comfortable for your baby to sit on and easy to use.
- Frequent Potty Breaks
Have your child sit on the potty seat every 2 hours or so. Get him/her comfortable with sitting on the potty seat, even if he or she just sit and do nothing else. Praise them for trying.
- Praises and Rewards
Whenever your child pee or poop in the potty seat, praise them for being such a good boy or girl, reward them. It motivates them like nothing else. Positive words have a great impact on children’s minds.
- Don’t expect fast results
Yes, some kids get potty trained in a few days and some can takes weeks or even months. It took 6 almost 6 months for my toddler to be completely potty trained. You have to be patient. Even then accidents do happen once in a while where your child will have wet or soiled underwear. It’s okay, do not fret over them.
- Get there fast!
When you notice signs that your child might need to pee or poop — such as squirming, squatting, or making certain faces, — respond quickly. Take him or her to the toilet fast. Help your child become familiar with these signals, stop what he or she is doing, and head to the toilet.
- It’s okay to stop and take a break
If your child is showing a great deal of resistance in going to the toilet or using a potty seat even after a few weeks, maybe he/she is not ready yet. Take a break and try again in a month or two. Forcing your child will not help.
Potty training is a big milestone for kids, and it will test your patience to its limits. You need to be calm and relax about it. If you are still having doubts and concerns, talk to your pediatrician. It may take a few weeks or months, but you will succeed, Mommy.
Also Read: 10 Must-Have Baby Products for New Moms