You have reached the terrible twos. Tantrums, big feelings, and incredible energy. And as if it wasn’t complicated enough, it’s now time to toilet train. Yikes! And so you start Toilet training but you come across a few barriers. Maybe potty training is taking way too long? Perhaps he/she seems to fight you when its time to go to the bathroom? Or does it feel like it’s not really working?
Sometimes the solutions is in the details! Here are three important recommendations that can help enhance your kiddo’s potty training and that can really make a difference.
It is very important that the time for potty is a positive time. On many occasions, the time to go to the bathroom might become negative if the bathroom is dark or he/she has to sit alone in a bathroom he/she doesn’t like. It might also be boring for the toddler to sit there and wait, and you might find yourself struggling to have him/her remain sited for a few minutes. Make sure that the potty is comfortable and easy to access. This might mean to get a different potty, a different toilet seat, or any other help that can make the potty comfortable. At times, you might benefit from trying different ones until you find the one your kiddo likes. Making potty time inviting might also mean to spruce up the place. Pick toys or activities that your child likes and add them to the bathroom experience. Books, engaging toys or sing along time with mom or dad are just a few suggestions. If the bathroom includes activities your child likes, they will be more likely to sit and wait until they are done, they might be more likely to come willingly next time and even look forward to when its potty time.
2. Pair words and actions
This is a simple one, but because it is a simple detail, we tend to forget it. It is very important that in the early stages of toilet training you say “potty” or “pee pee” or whichever word you use to refer to the toilet right before taking your child to the bathroom. Why is this so important? Because a connection is being created between the activity being done and the word. In a few weeks when your kiddo is going to the bathroom successfully, they will have to start letting you know independently that they want to go to the bathroom. And this is achieved by consistently associating the word to the action. Soon enough they might start even saying the word by themselves!
3. Stick with it
Consistency, consistency, consistency! I know…easy to say, right? I wont lie, it wont be easy to stay consistent. You’ll get tired of wiping the floor after constant accidents and changing your child’s clothes often. It will add stress and extra work, but, think of the big picture. After toilet training is done, you’ll have a diaper-free life! That looks very appealing to me.
Whatever you do, resist the urge to go back to diapers! Use diapers on the early stages of toilet training for sleeping time only, and after a few weeks, get rid of the diapers all together (after you have installed a very sturdy plastic cover to the mattress). Going back and forth between underwear and diapers will only create confusion and make the whole process longer than it needs to be.
