Time flies! You probably have vivid memories of changing your baby's first diapers, and now your child is learning — or ready to learn — how to use the potty like a big kid. Here are some common stumbling blocks you may run into, along with products that can help this important growing-up step go smoothly.
How do I get started?
If this is your first child, potty training is probably a bit of a mystery. Everyone masters it eventually — but right now it may be hard to imagine your little one doing something so grown up.
What helps:
Potty training videos. Fun videos and DVDs can help your child get familiar and comfortable with the idea of potty training. They usually feature animated characters singing songs and showing how to use the potty. (You can even find different versions for boys and girls.)
Potty training books. Since kids love hearing the same stories over and over (and over) again, try adding a potty training book to your home library. A story with kid-friendly characters who are learning to master the potty just might just inspire your child to give the toilet a try.
Tip: Once potty training has begun, let your child pick out "big kid" underpants in a favorite color or with a familiar character on them. Some well-chosen underwear can inspire kids to say goodbye to diapers.
How do I motivate my child to use the toilet?
Your child may not be as eager to be potty trained as you are to make it happen. In fact, as your child grows up and learns new skills ranging from reading to riding a bike, you'll probably find this is often the case.
What helps:
Staying positive. Avoid punishments, pressuring your child to give up diapers, or getting upset about accidents. Stay calm and supportive, and praise even small improvements.
Potty training incentive chart. Let your child put a sticker on the chart (or calendar) for every visit to the potty. A certain number of stickers (you decide how many) earns a reward. At first, make it easy. For instance, three stickers might earn your child that coveted little toy car. You can gradually increase the goal, and the size of the prize.
Potty "targets." Flushable targets that float in the water, often in animal shapes, can also motivate kids. Targets work especially well for boys because they can "aim," but some girls love them, too. Pieces of O-shaped cereal are also great for target practice, and won't harm plumbing.
Stepping stool. For kids motivated by doing it "myself," a stool can help by letting them use the big potty and wash their hands on their own. Plastic stools are lightweight enough for a child to move from toilet to sink.
Tip: Put a few drops of blue food coloring in the toilet. When your child urinates in the potty, the water will turn green. Children are so amazed by this phenomenon, they'll want to make the water turn green over and over again!
How do I soothe my child's fears about the toilet?
Going from diapers to potty is a big transition, and it's natural that some children will be afraid. The noise of an adult toilet flushing, the whirl of water going down, and even the size of the toilet seat opening can be scary to someone so small.
What helps:
Potty chair. Some children don't feel secure on a regular-size toilet because their feet dangle. A low-to-the-ground potty chair makes it possible for even the smallest toddler to sit on the toilet independently and comfortably, feet on the floor. You can even put it in front of the television and let your child watch a favorite video — preferably one about potty training — while sitting on it.
Potty seat insert. Light plastic or padded mini-toilet seats that sit right on top of the regular adult seat are more suited to small bottoms and help some kids feel safer when they sit down.
Tip: Avoid flushing the toilet while your child is sitting on it or standing in front of it. Some children are frightened by the noise or afraid that they'll accidentally be flushed down. Instead, let your child flush the toilet.
How do I help my child do a better job of wiping?
Many children aren't great at wiping until preschool age, or even older. If you think about it, wiping is a pretty complicated motor skill.
What helps:
Pre-moistened wipes. A child who's having a hard time wiping may find pre-moistened wipes easier to use. They're softer on a child's skin than toilet paper and clean more effectively, too.
Tip: Include hand-washing as part of the potty training incentive chart. Let your child put a sticker on the chart after washing up at the sink.
How do I get my child to use the toilet away from home?
Especially in the early stages of potty training, it may be unrealistic to ask a toddler who's just learning how to use the familiar toilet at home to sit on a seat and go to the bathroom in a strange place.
What helps:
Folding "travel" potty seat. A plastic travel seat that fully covers a standard-size toilet will keep germs from public bathrooms away and make your child feel more at home. These seat can be folded to fit in a diaper bag. Look for a seat that comes in a storage bag, and carry wipes with you so you can clean it before you put it away.
Travel potty. Various types of potties are made especially for carrying with you. So whether you're on the road, at the park, or at the beach, you don't have to worry about finding a bathroom — and your child will have a familiar potty wherever you go. These potties usually have a carrying case, or they fold up to fit in your diaper bag. Plastic bags or liners that you dispose of after use make cleanup easy.
Tip: At first, try to plan your excursions around bathroom trips. Encourage your child to use the bathroom before you leave the house, and don't forget to bring a change of clothes (and paper towels to clean up puddles) with you wherever you go, just in case.
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