Potty Training Tips That Actually Work

 

Potty training is not something that is particularly fun, but is obviously very necessary. Many mothers find this process extremely difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.

Why it is hard

One main reason is that there is simply so much contradictory information out there. If you ask 10 different people, you are likely to get 10 different answers about what they did that worked. The reality is that there are many effective strategies, although some have certainly proven to work a bit better than others. Here is a step by step guide on what you need to do for effective training.

Determine if they are ready.

If the baby knows enough words and can respond to commands, then they might be prepared. Obviously they need to be able to pull up their own pants. If you still have to do this, they are not ready. Also, they need a reasonably strong bladder. If they are able to hold it for 2 to 3 hours at a time then they are prepared to begin training.

Start as early as possible.

This might be the most important tip of all. Many people do not realize it, but infants can learn to go when they are as young as 2 or 3 months. Training them as early as possible is very important.

This is not only because it is good for them, but it will also save you lots of money on diapers and wipes. This can result in enormous savings over a few months. And most people do not realize this, but it is not any more difficult to train them at a young age then when they are older.

Consider skipping the chair altogether.

The truth is, it really is not much more difficult to train them on the toilet, and it will save you a lot of money as well. But obviously you need to give them a way to get up on the toilet, and getting a simple stool is often effective. There are also baby ladders you can buy as well. This might cost a little money, but it is still less than what a chair would run you.

Get rid of the diapers.

Obviously when you take away the diapers, accidents will occur. You have to be ready for them. Some mothers decide to simply keep using diapers during the training process because they do not feel like cleaning up the accidents, but it is more effective to just ditch them altogether. Sure, they might go in their underwear a few times, but they will soon learn how unpleasant that feels and will stop doing it. And do not forget another huge benefit-this will save you a lot of money!

Praise them when they do it right.

When they do go, congratulate them immediately. This way, they will associate the praise with their actions. Many people say you should give them a treat when they go, but others claim they will then expect this every time.

As a compromise, others say to only reward them when they do a bowel movement, rather than just urinating. The former is a bit more difficult to learn, so it might be best to only reward them after that. The reality is, people have been successful using all three methods, and no one particular strategy is better than the other.

Be patient.

This sounds obvious, but the reality is that potty training will take time. This is particularly true for boys, as they statistically are slower learners than girls. Many people believe this is just a myth, but the stats bear this out. In other words, if you have a boy and things are going slower than you thought, it does not mean you are doing anything wrong. Just exercise a little patience, and you will get there.

Use the internet.

Another useful idea is to just go online and show your child videos of other kids going. There are tons of videos on Youtube, so bringing your kids there and letting them watch how it is done will give them the idea.

When you know you are done.

Everybody has a different idea for when this training is officially over. Some claim the process ends when they can have bowel movements and urinate, and only go away from the toilet every now and then. Others say that they have to do this entirely on their own without supervision. It is more of a feel thing, and you will know when they are getting close.

Conclusion:

Starting this process as early as possible is very important. From there, simply implement these common sense tips and you will have your baby trained to go themselves. Potty training is not complicated-it just takes a little patience and effort. However, if you are willing to put in the work, you will reap the rewards.