Potty training is not a pleasant task to endure. We need to understand that it is a baggage that accompanies parenthood.
Changing intoxicating and suffocating diapers is one activity that parents would love to miss, but unfortunately cannot afford to skip. Therefore, potty training is a part of training the child, to follow a set code of conduct, and adhere to the definite modes of discipline. It is an integral part of growth and development. It is yet another happy thought to behold, when parents spot evident signs of children interested in being potty trained. After all, it is a safer, rather less intoxicating activity to go through than changing diapers, which throws a foul whiff at you.
How to Go About Training Them?
Before we begin to elucidate and enlist some tips, it is important that you know when to start with it. The average age is when children touch the 2 to 3 year old mark.
- It is in the interest of the parent to be observant and notice when the child is ready for it. You may notice that your baby has stopped her activity and understand when she is having a bowel movement. Watch out if your toddler shows readiness to sit on the toilet seat and pulls her pants down, all by herself.
- The next important tip is to take your baby along with you to the bathroom. Let her see how a potty needs to be used. After this, you could ask her to sit on it, and see how she feels.
- Praise her when she has successfully completed the task of demonstrating how it has to be used. However, if she has been unable to follow your instructions, do not shout or get annoyed. This may lead the child to restrict himself/herself from continuing with it.
- Instead of using diapers, you could resort to using cloth garments. You may begin to use them during day time, and when you feel confident, you may use them during the siesta hours, as well.
- Diapers have specific features that soak up the wetness and don’t let the child feel uncomfortable. However, when thick pull-up pants are used, she is bound to feel uncomfortable with the wetness and dampness. This will make your baby avoid wetting her pants, and thus, deviate to potty training.
- Providing this training early on has its own set of advantages; one benefit being that your baby learns how to use it, and starts understanding its importance. If your little one commits to excreting in her underpants, avoid getting angry at her. All you have to do is to take her to the bathroom, and make her sit on the potty, even if she has finished her job. Now take her underpants and dump the excreta into the pot, and tell her, that where the potty is supposed to be.
- Another important thing is to take her to the bathroom, and allowing her to sit on the pot. You can also make certain sounds so that your child will get the signal, indicating that it is time to pee or poop. Don’t get frustrated with her, if she is taking time. Understand, be patient, and give her as much time as she wants.
- Kids have a tendency to urinate during their bathing sessions. This is wrong, and must be corrected. You must make your child sit on the pot for some time, and then proceed for the bath. This way, she would understand that she needs to reach the pot to pee or poop.
- You might face a situation where your child has been doing just fine after the training. However, there is a problem that you may come across. Suddenly, you find that she is unlearning all that you taught her. Well, rest assured, there is nothing to worry about. This is quite natural, and has the potential to occur. However, it depends on how you deal with the situation. You don’t need to scream and shout at the sight of your child peeing or pooping in her undergarments. Instead, you must try to find out why this regression took place. Is your child going through stress? Is she disturbed due to family troubles? Is she liking her new day care or her newly-appointed nanny? Is she suffering from constipation or some stomach infection that causes pain?
When you find answers to these questions, you will come to know why your little one went back to her “old ways”. Thus, with these tips at hand, potty training your child will be a teaching and learning process for you and your little one.
