With my youngest starting nursery at the end of the summer “potty training” is in the forefront of my list of things to accomplish. But let’s face it, potty training your child is not and will not be a piece of cake. I sense your eagerness to get started after computing the fortune you have spent in the last few years on diapers alone. But there will be spillage, missed targets, soiled linen… the works, you will be up to your armpits in mountains of washing. Not to worry because as parents, we will prevail. I am a veteran at the art of successful potty training, having graduated four successful participants in the name of my children.
With my oldest, it was a long drawn out process, partly due to the fact that I was a ‘nouveau’ parent myself, until all of a sudden she had an ‘eureka’ moment and there was no going back after that.
My son did not even approach the subject until he was almost four and then in a matter of weeks sorted himself out. My youngest, my genius, has already potty trained herself at the mere age of two and it was a piece of cake with the youngest as well.
I guess it helps to have older brothers and sisters around.
When to get started?
Despite your eagerness parents, hold back. To be successful at this project, there are a few key factors that we must analyse beforehand. Potty training should not be age driven but should depend more on the emotional maturity of the child. For example do not be alarmed if your friend’s two year old is potty trained but your own three year old doesn’t seem interested. There is nothing wrong. It’s just that he or she is not ready at the moment. Also gauge whether your child is old enough to carry out basic instructions, another indication to not start too early, for if they can’t understand you, then you are engaging in a futile exercise. When your child is ready, he or she might start complaining about soiled diapers and show discomfort, then this is a good time to start. He or she might also use facial expressions to indicate that they want to go. All these are good factors to start the potty training process.
Let’s get going!
1. Equipment – Invest if possible in a potty that also has a removable seat so you can put off the normal toilet seat in later years. Look at how comfortable your child will be because they might be seated on the potty for a while. I have had children falling asleep on potties. Also invest in one in which you can easily take out the bottom to clean.
2. Start by setting up scheduled potty breaks. During certain times of the day, after meals before naps, get your child to sit on the potty.
3. Be quick at getting to the potty. If you notice your child going into corners, or making faces then immediately put them on the potty.
4. Always use a lot of praise, even though nothing momentous has happened. Be very positive, never scold, also you could think about using incentives. Bribery always works with children!
5. If possible get some pull-ups, they are similar to diapers but kids can pull them up or down like panties. This gives the child some independence and allows them to decide when they have to go.
6. Children usually master the art of daytime potty training fast, but night time potty training might take a couple of years and will be a gradual process.
So parents it can be done. You will not go ‘potty’ in the process of potty training. The trick is to keep calm and be aware of your child and meet in the middle. Good Luck!
Text by Mayuri Jayasinghe
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