Toileting: 10 Training Tips
Toilet training is one of those tough parenting topics. Everyone has issues with toileting in one way or another. Every child is different. Potty training is social, emotional, physical, verbal, and psychological. Lots of pieces need to come together so watch for readiness on all fronts. Try these strategies for training your child.
Toilet Training Tips
- Choose time to work on toileting when the child is well rested, feeling well, and there is time to focus on training.
- If the diaper is dry after a nap, give the child a chance to use the toilet. It’s a good readiness cue and the child will most likely need to go.
- Plan a shopping trip to pick out “big kid” underpants. Children typically cannot bear the thought of having an accident and getting Spiderman or Cinderella wet or worse. Plus, there is the benefit of having a superhero or princess back you up!
- Purchase a doll that wets so the child can see how the body works… in one end and out the other. Some children are frightened by the thought of something coming out of their body and being flushed away. Tell child every living thing poops. The body uses food for energy. The waste needs to be eliminated.
- Try dedicating a day for training. Feed the child salty foods to promote thirst. The child will spend a lot of time “practicing”. Give a small treat or sticker when the child is successful.
- Avoid power struggles. You cannot make your child eat, sleep, or use the toilet.
- Fear can set in after a bout of constipation. Yogurt and high fiber foods help soften stools and take the pain out of the experience. A warm bath can help too. Keep the child’s mind otherwise occupied with a basket of books in the bathroom. There are fun “potty books” available for little kids.
- Sticker charts work well for some children. When the child is successful, award a sticker. When 10 stickers (or any predetermined amount) are earned, reward your child. The reward doesn’t have to be a material thing. Extra reading time, making snow angels in the backyard, or a trip to the park are great rewards. Increase the number of times the child is dry in a day, then proceed to the number of dry days.
- Have your child contact a grandparent or special friend who will be excited about toileting success.
- Pull-Ups are not necessary and can delay the training process. Move directly from diapers to underpants.
© 2023 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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