You’ve just become a parent. You’re exhausted, sleep-deprived, and confused about what you’re doing. But you’re in luck because your baby is about to embark on the wonderful potty training journey. Even if you’ve potty trained other children before, every child is unique and will learn at their own pace.
Nevertheless, potty training is a great opportunity for parents and toddlers to work together on an important skill, and we’re here to tell you that it can be fun! This article offers advice about how best to prepare them physically, emotionally, and socially to succeed in this new skill of using the potty training seat.
How Soon Can You Start Potty Training Your Baby?
Potty training is an essential life skill that all children must learn. While potty training methods may vary from culture to culture, the overall goal is the same: to help children develop the skills necessary to use the toilet independently.
In many parts of the world, potty training begins as early as four months old. But most kids will show signs of their desire to go before 24 months. So it varies on the maturity and development of your child. However, training might take longer than necessary if you start too early or too late.
Generally, parents should pay close attention to their baby’s cues and learn to read their signals if they’re ready to use the baby’s toilet seat or not. But others rely on their child’s physical skills, such as:
- Sitting
- Walking
- Pulling their bottoms up and down
- Staying dry for up to two hours
- Following basic directions
- Communicating they’re wanting to use the toilet with you
What Are the Common Approaches to Potty Training?
Which potty training approach is best? No one size fits all when it comes to teaching children how they should go potty, so we’ve compiled three popular approaches that might be a good fit.
Child-Oriented Potty Training
One potty training method that doesn’t require much time or focus from parents is child-led potty training. With this method, potty training is instigated by the child rather than the parent. Because of this, there is often less resistance and regression. Child-led potty training can be a great option for busy parents who don’t have much time to dedicate to potty training.
Child-oriented training begins at around 18 months old, by introducing the potty to your baby slowly. First, let them sit on the potty with their bottoms on. This will get them used to sitting on the potty without being afraid of falling in. Once they are comfortable with this, you can encourage them to sit on the potty with their diaper off.
Next, let your toddler know where to go by putting their dirty diapers into the baby toilet near the regular toilet. This will help them understand that the potty is for eliminating waste. Eventually, you must let your child sit on the potty with no bottoms, helping them get used to having no diaper.
Fast-Track Potty Training
With time and patience, your child can be successfully potty trained in three days! This type of training is often effective for children nearing two years of age. It involves giving your child plenty of fluids for more opportunities to practice going to the potty and demonstrating toilet routines through pretend to play with plushies.
In this method, parents should focus more on raising their children rather than shaming them for using bathrooms. Encourage your children by offering rewards such as toys instead of punishing them if they don’t go in right away.
Parent-Oriented Potty Training
In this approach, parents take the lead and schedule their child’s potty breaks. The schedule involves trips to the bathroom before and after meals, before playtime activities, afternoon naps, bedtime, and before going out. Parent-led potty training is a good method for toddlers with dedicated caregivers since you will have to shift your busy schedules to do the job well.
What Do You Need for Toilet Training?
Once you’ve chosen the type of potty training for your little one, you need to stock up on potty training supplies. With the right baby gear and supplies, the process can be smooth and easy for you and your little one. Here are some must-haves for toilet training:
Potty Chair
When you have a little one who needs to go potty but can’t quite reach the toilet yet or is just not comfortable sitting on it for long periods, the right baby gear for you is a potty chair. This mini version of an adult toilet allows children access and familiarity while still teaching them how important restroom habits should be carried out properly.
Potty Training Seat
A potty training seat is a great way for your child to get used to sitting on the toilet. These seats nest into any type or style of a toilet; for example, the super potty trainer that purposely corrects your child’s sitting position. In addition, some potty seats come complete with a step stool so that toddlers have something sturdy to support them while sitting down.
Potty seats are also advantageous for homes with small spaces as they are foldable for easy storage. In addition, you can simply flush your baby’s waste instead of having to dump it like with the potty chair.
Easy-To-Remove Clothing
Instead of zipped or buttoned baby clothes, go for loose clothes that are easily removable. The goal of having this type of clothing when potty training your kid is to avoid messy accidents and teach your child to be self-sufficient in taking off their own underpants.
Underwear
You can make the transition from diapers to potty training easier by using fun and exciting underwear. So take your pick of fun patterns or characters that inspire your baby beyond the basic whites and get ready for toilet training.
Kid-Friendly Hand Soap
Part of toilet training is teaching your child how to wipe and wash their hands. Thus, look for a hand soap that’s gentle on sensitive skin and has a fun scent that your child will enjoy. Don’t forget to teach them the importance of washing their hands after using the potty. With a little patience and practice, potty training will be a breeze.
How Can You Make Potty Training Fun?
Daunting heights, noisy flushes, and cold toilet seats are just a few scary things that might discourage your child from potty training. But the upside to potty training is every moment can be an enjoyable experience for you and your baby.
Rewards
Keep giving your child encouragement and positive reinforcement for doing good jobs. For example, shower them with praise or give them a sticker of their favorite cartoon character whenever they finish! Showing how proud you are will help make it easier next time they have to go again.
Potty Training Songs
To help your child feel more relaxed and get into the groove, you could try singing a song as they head to the toilet. You can find many online potty training songs, or you can make up a tune on your own.
Play-Through
Another interactive way to potty train a child is by using plush toys. This method involves placing the plush toy on the potty and showing the child how to use it. By doing this, the child can learn how to use the potty without feeling pressure or anxiety. Additionally, this method can be used even if the child is not yet ready to potty train, as it can help them become familiar with the potty and what it is used for.
Magic Tricks
Is your child not having fun with songs or plays? Try using little experiments. By adding some blue dye or just toilet bowl cleaner to your child’s toilet, you can make the water turn green as they pee. If those aren’t enough ingredients for fun, add dish soap and when they relieve themselves it will foam and bubble up!
Final Thoughts
Congratulations on your decision to potty train your baby! It can be a challenging task, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. We hope our guide has helped you figure out when to start, what tools you’ll need, and how to make the process painless for both you and your little one.
If you’re looking for a good potty seat to start your baby’s training, check out the one we have here at Ashtonbee. The right potty training seat makes potty training less messy and more fun, so purchase one today!
