How to Potty Train Your Child Successfully

If you are wondering whether it is the right time to potty train your kid, trust me when I say this, you are not alone. You may wonder "What is the right age and time for potty training for kids?", "What are the signs that you should look out for to know if your child is ready?". The timeline to potty train is broad as every child might be ready at different ages. It could be anywhere between 18 months to 3 years that your child should shows you the signs and inclination to use the potty and even if they don't, its nothing to worry as they may get there eventually in a few more months.

Potty training takes time and consistent daily trial and error to succeed. It may take days, weeks, months or even years based on where your child is and if your child is ready for it. Your child needs to physically and developmentally get there before you try. Your child needs to understand your directions, communicate they need to go, pull their pants up / down, walk independently and sit comfortably on the pot before they can start to potty train.

Once you have a child able to do the above, they are ready to go. Let us dive deep in to how you can help your child learn this skill fast and well.

Ready the Equipment

Whether it is a potty training chair, seat that you can put on adult toilet or anything fancy, get the equipment that suits the best for your little one. Make sure their feet are well rested on the floor or a foot stool so they feel comfortable. Empty the diaper contents into the potty and tell your child what you are doing, use positive words and praise them when they show interest.

Positive Phrases and Praises

Use the right words to encourage your kid to transitions. When they pee or poop in the potty praise them and when they soil their clothes or diaper avoid use harsh words rather tell them it is okay and we will try again. Choose words that your child understands like pee, pepe, weewee and potty, poo, boom boom anything that your child can easily recognise so when you ask them if they need to use the toilet or when you teach them how to they can follow your directions.

Rush When You See the Signs

When your child tells you, when you notice the signs like freezing, squirming, holding their genitals, facial expressions don't wait, immediately rush to the potty and let them sit on it so they get used to the idea of going in the potty. Praise them every time they do it in the potty.

Dress them in loose, easy to remove clothes so you don't waste time fidgeting when you need to and also kids can try to undress themselves so avoid complicated layered clothing while training.

Good Hygiene and Care

Teach your kids good hygienic practices right from the start - washing their hands every time they use the toilet, how to clean up after, how to flush, wash or wipe their butt and most importantly if you have a daughter do teach her how to avoid back to front so she doesn't get UTIs or other infections.

Stick to a Schedule

Follow a similar schedule each day where after your child is up, after meals or the time your child usually tends to go you make them sit on the potty for a few minutes. In the beginning you could leave the clothes on so they just get used to the idea. Gradually make them sit without their diaper till they figure what the potty is meant for, it will take time and patience before you see anything happen and until them use positive words and praise them every time they make an effort even if it was not successful. Let even the boys sit in the beginning till they get confident to try peeing standing. Eventually when they are ready you will see them doing it in the potty.

Avoid the Diapers

When potty training avoid using the diapers so your kids know the difference, instead use underwear, single use pants or cloth nappies that still don't soak everything up and make your kid feel uncomfortable when soiled, most kids hate this feeling. Make them understand that they are transitioning to the big kid undies and soiling is not an option anymore. If your kid is not onboard immediately with the idea, its normal and will take time and practice. Don't force or yell at your kid for wetting their pants instead tell them they are doing great and they can try again tomorrow.

Don't Fret the Nights

Every child goes through this phase where they struggle to stay dry during the nights. As your child inches towards 3 years staying dry during the day may seem easy but nights need more practice and time until they reach around 5 - 6 years of age. Even in slightly older children occasional night accidents are common so don't be hard on your kid and yourself. Invest in good waterproof mattress protectors till your child learns bladder control and above all stay patient as any new skill takes time to master.