How To Prepare Your Toddler For Potty Training

Studies show that children who are potty trained earlier will take longer to potty train overall, and those who potty train when they show signs of readiness at an older age can be potty trained in a shorter period of time.

Earlier toilet training is not associated with constipation, stool withholding, or stool toileting refusal, initiation of intensive training before 27 months does not correlate with earlier completion of toilet training, suggesting little benefit in beginning intensive training before 27 months of age in most children.

Nathan J. Blum, MD;  Bruce Taubman, MD;  Nicole Nemeth, MD

So whether you are potty training an 18 month old or a 3 year old, there are some things you can do to prepare your toddler for toilet training.

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7 Ways To Prepare Your Child For Potty Training

Introduce The Potty To Your Child

The first step is to purchase and bring home a potty. Introduce it to your child in a lighthearted and humorous manner; it is not anything she should be concerned about.

You may even leave it out and let her initiate the conversation because she is intrigued about it. Allow her to sit on it for a few minutes to create pleasant connections with it.

I also suggest keeping the potty in the bathroom rather than using it as a seat for her to use everywhere in the house. It’s better to set expectations and prevent conflicting messages unless you’re happy with her peeing and pooping all over the place (which you could be).

See also: Insights To Raising A High Energy Toddler

Allow Your Child To Explore and Sit On The Potty

Start recommending to your toddler that he sit on the potty now that he is comfortable with it.

He doesn’t have to take off his clothing or diaper—sitting on it fully clothed might dispel any fears he has about using the toilet. If he doesn’t want to sit without his clothes on, don’t make a big fuss about it.

However, if he does sit on it naked, it’s fine if nothing comes out. My kids would sit on the potty for many minutes without a diaper on certain days, even if no urine came out—and that was fine. Allow your child to become accustomed to the potty so that when the time comes for him to use it, the seat will not be as alien to him.

See also: 18 Best Potty Training Books

Explain How Bodily Functions Work

When you’ve spent your entire life wearing diapers, the shock of seeing your own urine and faeces might be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Even the act of urinating and pooping on a potty differs significantly from that of using a diaper.

This is an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s physiological processes. Discuss how urine comes out the front and waste comes out the rear. This is his body’s way of keeping itself clean on the inside. And tell him that this is typical for everyone, no matter how new it is to him.

See also: Surviving The Dreaded Potty Training Regression

Empty Poop From Diaper Into The Toilet

Your child’s excrement had always gone straight from the diaper to the garbage can. It’s no surprise that she’s confused about why she’s required to defecate in the potty now.

Dumping the excrement from her diaper into the toilet is a simple method to get the point through. Let her know that here is where she may dispose of her excrement instead of using diapers. People who do not need diapers since they can defecate directly into the toilet.

Obviously, dumping the poop into the toilet before discarding the diaper in the garbage is simpler with a “solid” poop than with a sloppy one, but whenever possible, pour the faeces into the toilet before tossing the diaper in the trash.

See also: Potty Training Made Easy From A Mom Of 3

Let Your Child See You Use The Toilet

Not that you need to take this extra step as a mom, but allowing your child to stay with you in the bathroom while you tinkle is a good way to introduce your child to the idea of using a potty.

If you don’t like the idea, you may show her your pee and poop in the toilet afterward if you choose. It may sound yucky, but it’s the simple things like these that will help her learn to use the potty. When her own parent uses toilets, she discovers that they aren’t that unusual.

See also: 6 Signs Your Child Is Not Ready For Potty Training

Purchase Special Big kid Underwear

Nothing motivates you to use the restroom more than getting to wear underpants. Introduce underwear in a lighthearted yet informal manner, stating that you get to wear them because you use the restroom. And, maybe most crucially, she’ll be able to choose her own underpants from the store.

Find a couple pairs of underpants featuring her favourite characters to make them even more thrilling. Brand names may sometimes be quite motivating!

Read Potty Training Books and Watch Potty Training Videos

Children’s books are an excellent approach to discuss concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as using the restroom. Your child can make connections to her own potty use by reading about other characters in familiar situations. Youtube has many songs about potty training, so your little one can get used to the idea of toilet training.

Even if she doesn’t “get” toilet training yet, reading about it will help her understand it.

See also: 61 Potty Training Quotes You Cannot Miss Out On

Getting Your child Prepared For Potty Training Bottom Line

Toilet training—or, as I prefer to call it, potty practice—doesn’t happen overnight. Long before toilet training, children are prepared in a methodical manner to assist them acquire the technique.

Begin by purchasing a toilet and enabling your youngster to be interested in it. Allow her to gradually sit on the potty, even if she is still wearing her clothing. When you go to the restroom, explain to her that pee and poop go down the toilet. Fill the toilet with her poopy diapers as well.

Purchase underpants with characters she like to encourage her to stop wearing diapers. Read toilet training novels for kids so she may see how other characters handle the situation. Finally, congratulate her on her accomplishments, no matter how small they may have been.

She’ll be ready to quit using diapers in due time, especially after spending so much time preparing for toilet training.