How to Establish an Effective Potty Training Routine
If your child is now showing interest in using the potty, terrific!
You have already cleared one of the largest toilet training hurdles.
Now it’s time to start by establishing an effective potty training routine.
The first milestone to reach is for your child to remain dry during the daytime hours, at least while they’re awake.
Here are some suggestions to establish effective potty training habits.
You have already cleared one of the largest toilet training hurdles.
Now it’s time to start by establishing an effective potty training routine.
The first milestone to reach is for your child to remain dry during the daytime hours, at least while they’re awake.
Here are some suggestions to establish effective potty training habits.
- Make frequent trips to the restroom. It is impossible to force your child into elimination, but you can certainly encourage them to practice. Have your child sit on the potty for 2 to 4 minutes every hour or so. Schedule these sittings close to times your child normally eliminates. For example, immediately after a meal, snack or rest time. Remember, you cannot control when your child urinates or has a bowel movement. You can only do your best to move them toward a tangible routine.
- Know when it’s time to stop. Don’t expect a home run the first time at bat. If your child is unable to urinate or produce a bowel movement after 2 to 4 minutes, then it is probably best to try again later. It is even a good idea to let them play alone in their Baby Trend Pack N Play for a while. If your child insists they don’t need to go when you suggest a return to the potty, choose your battles wisely. With our children, it is sometimes best to allow them to think they are the ones deciding the rules.
- Allow your child to learn from you and others. Children are often the most interested in their own family’s bathroom activities. It is sometimes helpful to let children watch parents, older brothers and sisters, trusted friends, and even relatives (if they are not too uncomfortable) when they need to use the bathroom. Seeing these familiar people use the toilet makes children want to do the same.
- Let your child dress and undress themselves. Have them practice lowering and raising their underwear or training pants, and take their pants on and off.
- Relocate the potty if necessary. At first, keep the potty chair in the same room where your child plays most often. Easy access is essential and will greatly increase the chance he or she will use the potty with success. Consider getting two potty chairs – one for the playroom and one for the bathroom.
- Prevent the bathroom door from closing or locking. To prevent children from locking themselves in the bathroom or closing the door on their fingers, place a towel over the top of the bathroom door to help keep it from closing.
- Have your son learn to sit before he tries to stand. Having your toddler boy learn to use the potty by sitting will not only make for an easier transition, it will also help to minimize sprays and dribbles that will otherwise coat your walls and floors.
- Respect your child’s feelings and privacy. Potty training focuses on the most personal and private parts of their body, so it is imperative to proceed in a dignified and respectful manner. Some children require privacy and will not be able to release while someone is looking.