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Potty Training Steps
- Mar 27, 2009 at 4:38 PM
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- Comments (56) Total Views (3453) Everyone can see this journal post.
I'm a former nanny and have potty training experience. My mom's a day care/ pre school teacher and is always in charge of potty training. She has trained hundreds of kids over the last 30 yrs (or so). Please note: This method is not the only way, however, it is the BEST that we have found. You get the results that you want with this method.
Just an added note: My mom is starting a potty training business. She's a PT trainer/teacher where she goes into the people's home and trains the kids, or at least gives the parents direction and teaches the parents. I think this is a good idea, since there are so many parents who are lost and need help.
*Please don't let someone tell you that boys are slower. It's so not true! All that is, is pre-labeling your child instead of letting them discover who they are on their own! Children learn at their own pace.
* I also need to add that I think doctors are offering a disservice to parents by telling them that "their kids will train when they get ready". I think that's a cop out and in the grand scheme of things, most times waiting "until the child is ready" makes the whole potty training process a nightmare for the parents and the child. But, how can the child be ready and understand what they need to do until their parent (who is also their teacher) teaches them? So, it is up to the parent when they want to teach them...then, and only then, will the child be ready. Just remember, the older they get, the lazier they become because they know they don't have to stop playing or whatever they're doing to pee/poop. It is still a life lesson, just like feeding themselves, brushing their teeth, getting dressed, etc. You don't expect them to automatically know how to do those things, so you can't expect them to know how to use the toilet unless you teach them. Diapers are for babies, not toddlers, preschoolers, or kids....just babies.
*Kids usually give you the window of readiness between 18-30 months. And, most of the time, they're ready before their 2nd birthday. If they happen to be younger than 18 months, but are ready, then take the bull by the horns and get them trained. If you wait longer than 30 months, they tend to get lazy because they know they don't have to stop playing while they're going and that mom will just change them. Kids are very smart. So, the age, really depends on the child. Just remember, the longer you wait and the older she gets, the lazier she'll become...because she's old enough to put two and two together and she'll think that it's ok to pee in her pants because mommy will just change her, and then she doesn't have to stop playing or whatever she's doing. Make sense? So, of course she's not going to show interest in something that, one- she's not familiar with anyway, and two-she doesn't want to stop playing. She is old enough. All you need to do is get rid of the diapers (pull ups are glorified diapers) and put her in panties. Tell her that this is how it's going to be from now on because she's a big girl now....only babies wear diapers. You're not forcing her, you're introducing her to something new and teaching her. Just like going to school...even though she doesn't show much interest, she still needs to go, right?
Potty training is one of life's mile stones.....she has to do it at some point, and the longer you wait, the harder it will be.
To get her ready, it's very wise to start introducing her now so she's more familiar with everything. She should be watching you go to the bathroom, and on occasion, sit her on the toilet for a minute or so. Let her flush the toilet, wash her hands, etc......whatever it takes to get her familiar with the whole idea.
I can't stress this enough. Please remember that children are not born knowing how to pee/poop in the toilet (don't we all wish! LOL). So don't just assume they'll "train themselves" because, technically speaking, children learn from YOU. You are their first teacher for everything they do. So take initiative and teach them. Don't be lazy. Kee[ in mind, this is not "forcing" them to do anything. In fact, potty training should really be called "potty teaching" because that's what it's actually doing.
As long as you're consistant, stay positive, and give praise, and don't give up, these steps will work and your little one will be potty trained in a week or less. This works for both boys and girls. Please, if you leave a comment, I do not want anything negative, only positive things to say. If I've forgotten anything, please let me know. Thanks!
GOOD LUCK!
*For my own personal experience potty training my 18 month old DD, CLICK HERE
***Please note: I may say "she and her" a lot in this journal, but this method works for all boys AND girls! I, personally, have a daughter, so it's just easier for me to say "she/her" instead of "he/him" or "his/her" and "he/she". I hope I didn't confuse you just now. lol.
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POTTY TRAINING DIRECTIONS
*Have at least 12 pairs of underwear (unless you enjoy doing laundry). Recommended would be character underwear so you can tell her that "Tinker Bell" (for example) does not want to get wet. Trust me you'll go through them.
*Get a smaller seat to sit on top of the regular toilet. Don't use the little potty chairs because she'll get used to that and will be terrified of the regular and public toilets. If you get her used to the little potty chair, you will pretty much need to start all over to get her to use the regular toilet....you'll never be able to go anywhere because you can forget about the public toilets, unless you carry her potty chair everywhere you go. Let's face it, no one wants to do that....not to mention, having to clean it every single time? Yuck, no thanks!
*Use only underwear except during naps and night time - then use pull ups but with underwear on underneath. Refer to the pull ups as "night time underwear". Don't use diapers! The night time underwear needs to go on and off just like underwear. *Also, the thicker "training" underwear is not recommended because it still absorbs the pee. And don't use plastic covers over the underwear. She needs to feel it run down her legs so she's uncomfortable. I know it's gross and messy, but it's very effective! *Please note that Pull-ups and Easy-ups are just glorified diapers. You can't think/expect that Pull-Ups (even with Cool Alert) are going to do the potty training for you. It will never happen because it's showing the kids that you're lazy about training them, so why should they be any different?
*Take her every 5-20 minutes. Time can be flexible, but only if done right. If it's not timed right, it can be your enemy. Set the timer for 20 minutes the first time. Sit her on the toilet for 10-20 minutes. If she doesn't go, take her off. But, you'll want to set the timer for a shorter time next because it's already been a while since she's gone. Don't make the time longer thinking that 20 minutes wasn't long enough because she'll have an accident. Think about it. The first 20 minutes, then another 20 on the toilet....that's already 40 minutes that she hasn't gone. So the nest time that you take her should be 15 minutes . Each time, decrease the time in between bathroom visits (until it gets down to every 5 minutes - then take every 5 minutes until she goes) and increase the amount of time that she sits on the potty. Don't be affraid to increase fluids at this time just to get her to go.
*Limit her fluids after dinner. Take her potty when she goes to bed, then again when you go to bed. If you happen to wake up during the night, take her then too. Then, take her first thing in the morning when she wakes up. The reason of waking her up at night is to train her to get up and go to the bathroom when she has to pee. They will go back to sleep. Technically, you don't need to fully wake her. Just get her out of bed and sit her on the toilet and tell her, "go potty" in a soft voice". Leave her on there for a couple of minutes (unless she goes, then remove her) and then put her back to bed. The night training usually takes longer than a week, so don't get discouraged. You can do the night training separate and after she's done day training to make it easier.
*Only give her potty candy when she goes potty or poo poo in the toilet (1 candy for pee pee and 2 for poo poo). Do not give her these candies any other time! It will become ineffective if not done properly! When she does go in the potty, remember "praise, praise, praise!" Kids love praise and just eat it up. *Stickers are a good alternative to candies. *Examples of potty candies are M&M’s, Skittles, Smarties, jelly beans, etc. **I know people don't like bribing...and believe me, I don't either....but this is one thing that's totally worth it in the end. Potty training is such a headache, so anything that helps ease that headache is way worth it. I would never bribe for good behavior or for chores....those are things that are expected of them. See the difference? So, ya, do what it takes to get it done and over with.
*She does not need any distractions like the TV while she's going because she needs to concentrate on the task at hand! You can read a book to her if you'd like. There are several potty books just for this purpose. Otherwise, talk to her about going potty in the toilet. Stay positive!
*When she has an accident, CHANGE HER IN THE BATHROOM and NOWHERE ELSE! Explain to her that she needs to go pee pee (potty) in the toilet, not her underwear. Stay positive.
*I wouldn't recommend going anywhere until she's trained. Usually about a week. When/if you do go somewhere, keep her in underwear. Do not put diapers or pull ups on! This will cause confusion and she will regress.
*STAY POSITIVE! - The second you get upset with her, she will regress.
*BE CONSISTANT! - The second you are inconsistent (and children know), she will regress!
Comments:
Thanks for sharing this info as I am planning on starting the training with REAL soon. I should print this out for hubby too! lol...
Thanks for this info. I wanted to start potty training my daughter soon but I wasn't really sure how to.
Wow! I got some great tips from this. Its weird because I just did a potty training journal post myself about potty training my daughter and we already did quite a few of these things just because we learned it with trial and error with my son. The night time potty tips are great and I plan on starting them ASAP. (I got the link to your post from the pull-ups or easy ups post)
I am so going to use this thanks!
Thanks for the advice. Ive been trying to potty train but she wont stay on the potty she wants to take it apart orin the big potty she wants to flush it. I will try this but is gonna be hard cause shes in daycare durningf the day. They are trying to but not that much Thanks
How old or what signs are there to show that the child is ready to potty train? My son is 1 and I would like him potty trained before two.
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