Starting
too early will
usually result
in you spending
half of your
life sitting in
the bathroom
waiting for your
toddler to use
the potty. It's
best to begin
when they are
ready which is
somewhere
between 20
months and 2 1/2
years old.
Don't start if
there are big
changes ahead,
such as:
#1 – new baby in
the family
#2 – move from
house or school,
parent starting
work, etc.
There are signs
for potty
readiness.
Toilet learning
is a complex
skill which
requires
awareness,
concentration,
coordination,
muscle control,
and split-second
timing. Your
toddler, sooner
or later, will
learn to use the
toilet. Starting
when they are
ready will make
it much easier
for you and your
toddler.
The signs are
universal – if
you can answer
yes to them
you're ready for
the next step.
if not, Be
patient and give
it a little more
time.
•
Able to stay dry
for an hour or
two
• Awareness of
bodily functions
– they look,
grunt, comment
when they go
• Interest in
being clean and
dry
• Able to
understand and
follow simple
instructions
• Interest in
wearing training
pants instead of
diapers
• Simple
self-dressing
• Interest or
curiosity about
bathroom habits
(it often
becomes a
preoccupation)
• Make sure you
are ready
You will need
endless
patience, a
sense of humor
and plenty of
time to spend in
the bathroom.
 |
|
Each
Toddler
meets this
challenge
in their
own way.
She or he
may sit on
the potty
for 45
minutes
without
any
results
only to
soak the
carpet one
minute
later.
Others
want to
use the
potty
every 5
minutes
while you
are busy
preparing
a meal. It
can be
very
frustrating
for you.
We may
never
fully
understand
all the
reasons
why our
children
behave
this way.
They don't
understand
it either,
after all,
they are
still a
baby. We
do know
that any
message
that says
your
child's
value
depends
upon
performance
can have
significant
negative
consequences.
This is
not about
being good
or bad.
They need
to know
you love
them even
when they
don't
"perform"
on the
potty. |
|
Do's and
Don'ts for
Parents |
|
Do's |
Don'ts |
• Do
invite
them
in
when
you
use
the
bathroom.
• Do
ask
them
"do
you
need
to
go
to
the
potty?"
if
they
look
like
they
need
reminding.
• Do
watch
the
clock
closely
for
regular
patterns
of
elimination
and
take
them
to
the
potty
at
the
right
time.
• Do
let
the
toddler
use
the
potty
when
they
want
to.
• Do
switch
from
diapers
to
training
pants
(but
never
insist).
• Do
dress
them
in
clothes
they
can
get
out
of
quickly.
In
the
house,
training
pants
only
or
pants
with
elastic
waist
that
pull
down
quick.
• Do
teach
them
to
wipe.
• Do
teach
them
to
pull
up
their
pants.
• Do
teach
them
to
wash
their
hands.
• Do
appreciate
when
your
toddler
tries
to
use
the
potty.
• Do
appreciate
when
your
toddler
reports
an
"after
the
fact"
in
their
diaper
or
training
pants.
This
recognition
of
body
signals
is a
step
in
the
right
direction.
• Do
praise
accomplishments
and
overlook
accidents.
• Do
be
patient
with
relapses.
• Do
have
something
to
read
in
the
bathroom.
• Do
remember,
your
toddler
will
learn
to
use
the
toilet. |
|
•
Don't
force
them
to
sit
on
the
potty.
•
Don't
flush
in
the
presence
of
your
toddler
if
they
have
a
fear
or
are
upset
by
flushing
the
toilet.
•
Don't
use
good
or
bad
in
relation
to
toilet
training.
Instead
of
saying
"what
a
good
girl
you
are"
commend
the
act
"what
a
great
job
you
did".
•
Don't
make
the
bathroom
a
battle-ground.
If
you
meet
with
total
resistance
wait
till
your
child
is a
little
older.
•
Don't
shame
or
punish.
•
Don't
give
up
hope.
He
or
she
won't
want
to
wear
a
diaper
forever.
|
|
Above info used
with permission
by Diaperaps.
Copyright ©
2000. All rights
reserved. |