Ditching the Diapers

In the first two years or so from the time your baby is born, of course it is easy to replace dirty diapers with new ones; but for sure you also feel the pinch of having to buy packs and packs of diapers because they just never feel enough. Then, there comes a time when you feel it is time to ditch the diapers.

But wait! You may be ready, but is your toddler ready? How do you even start? Potty training is a huge milestone for you and your baby, so have to be sure you don’t mess this up. In this article we guide you through the facts on timing, how to start and handling the inevitable accidents.

Is it Time Yet?

Many parents think there is a standard age to start potty training because they see other parents doing it, or have heard about other parents starting at a specific age; but when they try it they end up getting frustrated because things get messy. There is no specific age, but of course there is a certain age where you might want to monitor your toddler to notice if she might be ready to start her new adventure.

The usual age for majority of kids to start showing interest in potty training is by the time they are 2 years old, but others might not be ready until age 2 and a half or even older – and just keep in mind that there is absolutely no rush. If you start potty training too early, it might take a longer time to train your child because she may not be physically and mentally ready.

So, you might be wondering how to determine if your toddler is ready to be potty trained. Don’t panic, we are here to help. The first thing you have to do is ask yourself a few questions. The first question would be; does your toddler seem interested in the potty chair or in wearing panties? If you notice her mooching around the toilet or attempting to put on panties over her diaper, she might just be a little ready to ditch the diapers.

This is probably the most important thing before you start potty training your toddler is to make sure she can understand and follow basic directions. Of course showing interest is one thing, but the ability to comprehend instructions is far more important because the last thing you want is to have a poop-fest all over your house, or worst still – when you are out in public.

I’m sure we are all very much aware of how creative babies are with their facial expressions – especially when they need to do. If your child is one with different facial expressions at different times and the signs happen to be obvious it might be okay to start although this is probably not the best way to determine if she is ready or not.

The next thing to keep an eye out for would be how long you toddler’s diapers stay dry for. If she stays dry for 2 hours or more during the day it may be alright to consider starting or you should be getting worried because your child is not consuming enough liquid.

Apart from following directions, it is best if your child can say at least a couple of words before you start potty training her because that would make things a whole lot easier as she would just be able to notify you every time she needs to go. Although, there would be times she might forget – but hey, accidents happen.

However, don’t just answer yes for one of the facts and believe that your toddler is ready for potty training. Be sure that she can do most of the things above and only then consider potty training her. If she is only able to do 1 out 5, you might want to wait. Especially, if she is going through some major changes, such as welcoming a new sibling. A toddler who is not comfortable with potty training now, might be open to it in a couple of months.

Get the Potty Ready!

Get a small potty and place it in the bathroom or where ever you toddler spends the most time. Talk to her about; explain what it is, how it is used and let her decorate it if she wants. Encourage her to sit on the potty chair with or without a diaper, just make sure that her feet can touch the ground. On top of that, you could teach your toddler simple, bathroom terms so that she knows how to inform you when she needs to use to bathroom. While you are training her, it would help if you take the content from her diaper and dump it in the potty chair to show her what its purpose is.

Plan Potty Breaks!

If your child shows interested and you think she is ready to be potty trained, have her sit on the potty chair without diapers on for a couple of minutes several times a day. For boys, it is best to train them to master urination while sitting down, and then slowly teach them how to urinate standing up once bowel training is done.

Something else you could do is giving your child a toy to play with while sitting on the potty chair. Be sure to always stay with your child at all times. Passing praise even if she did not pass motion is a good way of boosting their confidence and making them more comfortable on the potty chair. Remind her that she can try again later and there is no need to rush into it.

Hurry Up!

When you see your toddler squatting, holding their genital area or has a much focused facial expression on, she might need to use the bathroom. Your job is respond quickly! This would help your toddler become more familiar with the signals of having to use the bathroom. Don’t forget to praise her for letting you know when she has to go.

Potty training does not stop there, it is important to train them how to clean up afterward as well. Teach girls to wipe carefully from front to back to prevent germs from the rectum to the vagina or bladder. Let them do the honours of flushing, and make sure to have them wash their hands with soap.

Give Treats!

Besides verbal praise, you could also consider giving her little treats like a sweet or a sticker. Some children may respond to going to the park. All these things boost their confidence and would make them want to try again because they would know they will getting something out of it and eventually will become a norm. Remember to always be positive even if a visit to the toilet is not a very successful one.

Bye-bye Diapers!

After weeks of training and you and your child both feel that she is comfortable enough to use a potty, ditch the diapers and put on training pants or panties. Make sure to celebrate this transition; take her out for ice cream or go on a special outing as an incentive for her big step. Once she is wearing training pants or panties, try to avoid overalls, belts or any other outfits that could slow down undressing.

Let’s be honest, potty training your toddler is not going to be easy. It is going to take a lot of patience and effort and accidents will definitely happen. Just keep in mind that when those accidents happen, they are not doing it to irritate you; they did not mean to do it in the first place. So, don’t punish them, instead talk to them politely about it and explain how they can make it better the next time. Being a parent comes with a lot of responsibilities and this happens to be one of them.