First Parent's Detailed Potty Training Tips

~~Potty training can be a stressful, daunting task. However, it is also one of the most rewarding that your baby will accomplish. Notice how I said "Baby" yes, they are still your baby and always will be. They have learned so much in their little life, talking, walking, running, drawing, etc. Now, it is time to stop buying those expensive diapers!!

~~The first thing you might want to do (if not already) is aquaint your child to the "potty". Let them follow you or an older sibling into the bathroom, explain to them that this is a "potty" this is where you go "pee" and "poop". (Feel free to use your own words for these things, obviously). Saying things like, "see, this is how you sit on it, this is how you wipe, and then you get to flush it!" "Then we get to wash our hands nice and clean! How exciting!

~~Just as I am sure you did with every other milestone, you may want to kick that "excitement" up a couple notches. Also encourging, rewarding, positive reinforcements. Comments like "When you go to the potty, you will be a big boy/girl"! Kids at this age love to hear how they are a "big" boy/girl. They look at you and want to do and be everything that you are.

There are several videos that dicuss potty time for children, its on their understanding level, plus it helps to have someone to refer back to, example: "You can go potty just like Dora did, or whom ever the character was"

~Some good video recommendations are:

"Once Upon a Potty- For Her" By Alona Frankel

"Once Upon a Potty- For Him" By Alona Frankel

"Elmo's Potty Time with Parent's guide" By Sesame Street

http://www.kidscds.org/videos/educational/potty-training/


~~BOOKS! Are another fantastic option for children, it also gives you that extra alone time with them to read together. Make it interesting; "What are they doing? What is that little girl/boy doing on the potty? What do you do when you are all finished?" Interacting with them will allow them to feel as it they are part of this, as opposed to being made to do it.

~Here are some recommendations for books:

"Everyone Poops" By Taro Gomi

"A Potty for Me" By Karen Katz

"Your New Potty" By Joanna Cole

"You Can Go to the Potty" By William Sears, Martha Sears, & Christie Watts Kelly

"Fuzzy Bear's Potty Book" By Bentley Dawn

http://www.nickjr.com/family-entertainment/kids-books/family-health-books/potty-books_ap.html


~~There are also several "interacting" tools that you can use for rewarding, or motivation. There are charts that you can hang in the bathroom so that they can mark when they used the potty. You can use a marker, sticker, stamp, whatever you desire. It would be better to let them apply it to the chart, for personal accomplishment. Reward systems, if you go to the "potty" then we can spend an extra 10 minutes outside, or you can have a special cookie.

This website has charts for girls and boys! Best of all... FREE!!

http://www.freepottycharts.com/Free_Potty_Charts/Welcome.html


~~Now, while we are discussing helpful products, and suggestions, let me discuss the "potty training" internet purchases.
Ok, yes, there are books that a parent may purchase to help them through this, this may be helpful for some, especially if they are having difficulties. Potty training is not hard, just demanding of your time for a while. Staying on top of your toddler asking if they need to/want to use the potty, or running behind them with the portible potties because they want to wear big girl/boy underware. There is no need for you to do some quick "push" with the training. There are websites selling "tips" and books; claiming to have your child potty trained in 3 days! Other websites claim to give you the "SECRETS TO POTTY TRAINING", for only $19.99.
PEOPLE, come on! Do you seriously think there is a special secret to this, no, there are "tips", "tricks",guidences, and resources available for this, but there is no secret in the sauce business with this!
Don't be fulled by these quick money scams. Trust me, you don't need them. How do they think that our parents taught us? Grandmother's taught them? So on, and so on.. Was it because of the internet? Absolutley not! We have become a lazy, short cut, easy way out society. Please don't indulge these websites.

~~OK, moving on. While I was ranting and raving about that I mentioned big girl/boy underware. This is another great incentive for them, and the underware come in all their favorite characters too! Although starting this adventure with pull ups is probably your best bet! And better for acidents. Explaining to your child that this isn't like a diaper, because you can pull them up and down, hence the name "pull ups". These too come in a variety of colors and designs. Allowing them to wear these for as long as they want gives them a sense of sercurity too. Inform them that if they don't make it to the bathroom in time, or have an accident, it's ok. Many parents keep pull ups around their house for nap time, and bed time. While your training your child, there is adjustments in their brain, especially at sleeping times. There nervous system sensor isn't saying "Get up, go potty" Its more like a "just sleep and let it all come out" type thing. Night training is probably the most ritualistic task because you may have to physically wake them up to use the bathroom so that they don't forget. You should probably wait until the day time training is complete. This would be a lot of changes for a toddler to handle all at once.

~~Start slowly, make it fun, show positive reinforcement, reward, even if just marking a smiley face on the potty chart. Remember that you once too went through these very same steps, try to have patience (I know it's hard) Don't push them, or they could refuse to use the potty, or regress) You know your child's boundaries, limit yourself to those! It's gonna be FUN!

~~Talk with your pediatrician if you have any major issues, questions, or difficulties. Every child is different, and every child will take their own time adjusting and learning this.