Start the New Year With Potty Training

Start the New Year With Potty Training

(This was an article Hehe wrote originally for Family Education, you can view the full article HERE.

Sometimes we make potty training much harder than it needs to be. Don't set your family up for potty training failure, make the resolution of successful potty training this year. Here are the top tips you will need to potty train your child in as little as two weeks.

Here are some tips for successful potty training this year:

Introducing the Potty
Be intentional about introducing the potty consistently. It’s helpful to set a time to specifically offer the potty such as waking up in the morning or going down for a nap. 

Go Slow
Do not force your child to sit if they are scared. You will make them more afraid or cause them to refuse. When they are ready, you can place them on top and help them sit.

Model
You can (and should) model using the toilet for your child. You can show them that you are safe. Throw in some language development by narrating what you are doing like, “I’m sitting on the toilet so I can put my pee in there,” and “Time to flush!” After washing your hands, you can offer to your child by saying, “You do” or “Your turn” for younger children or “Do you want to try?” for older toddlers.

Normalizing the Potty
Fill your home with books about using the potty. There are plenty out there. The more your child hears “bathroom words” and sees toilets, the easier they will begin to accept the idea of using the toilet.

Be Cautious
If you are potty training your child for any reason other than they are ready, you are risking your child’s success. Remember, your job is to be their cheerleader and their safety net. You are there to reassure them that they are safe and to cheer them on with each thing they try.

Teach Boundaries
It’s your responsibility to teach your child healthy body boundaries. This includes safe people and who they can trust with their body. It is always best to use anatomically correct terms so that children are never confused and are always able to identify if there is a problem.

Nap Time
Children still need diapers at nap time. Anytime their body is asleep, they are more likely to have an accident since they are relaxed. If you notice that they are consistently having dry diapers when waking up from nap, you can have a conversation with your child about napping in underwear.

Self Work
Keep yourself in check during this process. Just like everything else, potty training will look different from child to child and from family to family. Let your child lead and be receptive to their cues, body language, and words. You are your child’s best cheerleader and you get to decide if this is a pleasant or stressful journey for your child.

Check out the FULL article with breakdowns for each tip, here.

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