Are diapers costing you a fortune? It may be time to tackle one of the biggest challenges in your toddler’s life… the dreaded potty training experience.
One of the most common questions I get asked is about the subject. Many parents will ask me something like this:
“Do you have any advice on how to potty train a two-year-old who doesn’t feel like potty training?”
try?”
I have been very lucky with my four children in that they literally learned to go to the bathroom.
alone, but I’ve had several kids in daycare who weren’t that interested in
this phase of their little lives.
First of all, I know everyone says don’t push them, but it’s so true. DO
DO NOT try to force the problem. As parents, we must learn to pick our battles with
our children and this is one that is not easily won, if they are not ready to
it’s. I started with the “Potty Training” books. There are a lot of different
the ones at your local library or bookstores (I saw a nice hardcover one
at Wal-Mart yesterday called “I have to go to the bathroom!” It was less than $8.00). There
There are also many different videos on this subject, I know that Dora and
Barney has his own potty training videos.
Second, talk to your child about the potty in their language. For example:
“Mommy and daddy pee and poop in the potty, do you think they ever
Do you want to go to the bathroom too like mommy and daddy?” Talk to them at any time.
their level and also answer their questions if they have any.
Third, this is a big deal, so make a big deal out of it. take your son
shopping, ask them to help you pick out the potty or a pack of their
very own “Big Kid” underwear. Also make sure you have rewards for them.
Whether it’s M&M’s, dum dum suckers, skittles, raisins, whatever a
motivational for your child. Shop for those items with your child and make sure
remind them that candy is for after they go to the bathroom. (If you do
buy candy, make sure it’s something small that you can manage easily,
because if you give them a whole bag of M&M’s every time they go to the bathroom,
having a hyperactive child only a few m&m’s or skittles at a time and that’s why if
buy pacifiers, go with the smallest). Once her son gets used to
potty training and you are working on night training, again take them to the
shop and ask them to pick out something special for themselves, a stuffed animal,
video, a new book, game, truck, barbie, etc. Tell them once they’re dry
all the time and have no more diapers, then you and your child will go shopping
that special item, “because they’re a boy or a BIG GIRL.” I can’t stress enough
to involve them and make them feel important!!!
If your child is hesitant to even sit on the potty, don’t push him, but
make a big fuss when you finally sit on the potty. To encourage
ask him to sit on the potty with his diaper on at first if he’s too scared.
Gradually work to remove the diaper when he is on the potty. Also
look for signs your child may have that they are about to go to the bathroom
his diaper, and then ask him if he wants to go to the bathroom (remind him
give them the treat at the end if they go). Reward them for every little step
they drink, to make them feel important. He used to make up a potty dance with
my children. Every time they left, we would do the bathroom dance together and
many times, even after going to the bathroom, my children would do the potty dance
for me, because they too were proud of my achievement. This can
It sounds corny, but it’s a great way to motivate your kids for more than just potty training.
training, but I’ll save that for another article.
You can never encourage your children enough in anything, so start the
cheerleading squad and “LET’S GO TO THE POOL!”
Remember, stay positive, go slow, and have fun with your child during this attempt.
process! Good luck.