mummiez & daddiez magazine May - June Issue 2013

Top 10 Tips
for potty training
Reaching the decision to begin potty training is the
easy part. The tougher one is tackling it
successfully so the end result pleases both parent
and child:
1. Be Prepared To Begin
Be prepared to begin the process. Potty training
takes time and energy. The spring/summer season
is often prepared as the warmer weather means
less clothes, more holidays and longer days making
more time for tots to master potty training. Any
season can work though.
2. Tailor Your Approach To Find What Works
Tailor your approach for potty training success.
Different products offer ways to help make the
transition easier. You can look at different websites
that suggest pull ups that
match your child’s learning
style. Look for products that
have wetness liners. You
may find your child will be
more willing to wear the pull
ups if they are colourful with
pictures on.
3. Introduce the Potty Early
If you have already
introduced the potty at a
young age for your child to
play with and get used to
having it around that’s
fantastic if not it’s still fine
but may take time for your
child to get used to the potty,
it will be like a new toy to
them and are likely to be
putting it on their head to
wear as a new hat. By now
your child is showing signs of
readiness—stays dry for two hours, interested in
the bathroom, etc. Demonstrate how the potty
works and instil a sense of potty ownership in your
child by wrapping it as a present or decorating it
with stickers. I would suggest keeping the potty in
the bathroom as this will get your child used to
going to the bathroom when they are using the
Toilet.
4. Get Your Child Comfortable With the Idea of
Potty Training
Get your child comfortable with the idea of potty
training, and introduce the potty training supplies
you'll be using before getting started. Practice
putting on training pants, washing his or her hands
at the bathroom sink and sitting on the potty
before he or she starts using it.
5. Remain Positive and Patient
Always remain positive and patient – potty training
takes time and setbacks will occur. But remember
that children thrive on positive reinforcement.
Praise and rewards can help tots feel more
comfortable with new skills and keep them
motivated during each potty training stage.
6. Be Consistent
Be consistent – once tots are out of nappies – they
stay out of them. It’s proven that toddlers train
faster if they don’t switch back and forth between
nappies and training pants.
7. Use Interactive Approaches
To sustain a child’s interest, use interactive
approaches, such as games, songs, books,
progress charts and being role
model.
8. Use Teamwork
Use teamwork – make sure
everyone in the child's life,
from grandparents to childcare
providers to siblings, is on
board with a consistent potty
training philosophy,
encouraging your little one
throughout the process. I’m
sure the siblings will find this
process hilarious if it’s made
fun for all the family and not
stressful.
9. Pack Familiar Potty
Training Supplies When On
the Go
When out and about, pack
familiar potty training supplies
like a child-size adapter seat
and even a favourite book so he or she is as
comfortable as possible using the potty in an
unfamiliar setting. You will need to take the potty
out with you where ever you go. Even if it’s to the
shops, this keeps the consistency. When I started
potty training my son I put him on there every 15
minutes then time lengthened gradually as he
realised what he was meant to do.
10. Use Motivational Rewards
Use motivational rewards for your child, such as
listening to fun potty training songs. See if you
can get some stickers, children love these and are
great rewards. For example the sticker could say
“I am so proud of you!” Other ideas include
stamps, a token present such as bubbles, or a
surprise from a "grab bag" pre-filled with
inexpensive kiddie items.