5 Steps to Potty Training Your Child

Photo Credit: All My Children Daycare & Nursery School

Potty training can get hectic for parents. Don’t fret. Here are my top 5 easy steps to make potty training in your home a lot easier.

1. Take them to the potty every 30 minutes.

This may seem extreme, but you have to get the child in the routine of going to the potty. Remember, they are use to just doing their business in their pamper. You have to begin to retrain their minds. The more they go to the potty, the more they will want to go.

2. Make a big deal about them using the potty.

Encouragement goes a long way. Make sure to celebrate the successful attempts that they make even if they do not get it all the way right. Try not to focus on them getting it wrong. This can be in the form of a reward system with stickers or a impromptu pep rally of the family screaming, “Yay”, “You are a big girl/boy”. We do not suggest using sweet treats as a reward because it can be too sugary. We also do not want them to get rewarded all of the time as to not make them dependent on rewards to potty.

3. Ask the child does he or she have to potty.

Begin asking the child if they have to potty. This gets him or her in the habit of thinking about it and shows the child how to self-check their bodies. This is also a great way to know if your child is ready to begin potty training if he or she can let you know that they have to go. Even if they are only telling you after they have already used the bathroom in their pull-up or pamper. It is letting you know that they are aware that they should not and do not want to be wet.

4. Allow them to go to the potty with older siblings or classmates.

This allows them to see an example of what they should be doing and be motivated to use the potty on their own. Parents should also consider allowing the child to go to the potty with them. This helps to reinforce not just using the bathroom, but washing their hands and other potty mishaps.

5. Cut off heavy liquids an hour to two hours before bedtime.

When beginning to potty train, the child is learning how to control their bodily functions. We can assist them with this by cutting of liquids in order for them to begin to wind down for bedtime. It also saves your bed mattress.

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