Potty Training – When & How to Prepare
Potty Training is an important & eagerly awaited milestone in a child and parents life when they can finally get rid of the diapers but unfortunately very few parents are actually prepared for how much time and effort it can take. Use our article to understand the best time & preparation needed to start potty training your child.
When Should You start Potty Training Your Child
The potty training time for kids vary largely between 18 months to about 3 years depending upon their readiness to transition to a diaper free world and physical development. Most kids begin to realize when the bladder gets full around the age of 12-18 months and start showing signs that they are ready for potty training graudually after that.
As per the direction by most doctors, 24-30 months of age is a good time for parents to begin potty training their child. Starting any earlier could mean that child would not be fully ready and would lead to wasted effort and disappointment.
Signs that Your Child is Ready For Potty Training
How to Prepare to Potty Train Your Child
Potty Training is a very important milestone in a child’s life and it is critical to prepare for it properly to give you the best shot of quickly achieving successes. In addition to the child, it is also crucial for parents to access their own readiness and make sure that they are committing to devoting enough time and effort in this activity. Here are some of the
1. Understanding the correct start timing
In order to give yourself maximum probability of success in the first trial, it is important to determine the best time to start potty training the child. In addition to just the age criteria, make sure that child is in a comfortable state of mind and not undegoing a stressful period or major change in their life, like recovering from an illness, a new play school, caregiver or a new surrownding because these factors can increase the failure rate.
It is also important for parents to time it correctly based on their schedule as well. If parents are not fully committed and are busy with other things like a new house, job or struggling with their next pregnancy, it is better to wait till things settle down a bit and you can once again give your child the entire attention they deserve to make it successful.
2. Invest in Correct Training Equipment
Consider inventing in the correct gear like a child potty seat or an adaptor seat to make it easier for the child to potty train. Most kids in the beginning are afraid of the adult potty seats and fear falling inside making them more anxious and more likely to not train successfully. It is best to buy something which can attract your childs attention and is very comfortable for them to use.
Also consider keeping a stock of extra clothes, diapers & tissues at hand while training the child because initially there are more chances of an accident happening. Having a backup available and not making a fuss will put the child at ease and promote faster learning.
3. Block Time for Training
Potty training a child needs certain amount of patience and commitment from the parents. It is best to block some time when you are distraction free and can focus entirely on your child to help them learn. Consider blocking the entire weekend or make use of one of those long weekends to help the child get used to transition away from the diapers.
4. Help Mentally Prepare Your Child
Even before you start potty training your child, it is important for parents to gradually start preparing the child mentally for the task by first helping them pick the potty seat of their liking and then by explaining the purpose as to why it is necessary. Introduce words like big boy/girl to help them understand why this activity is necessary.
5. Make use of Potty Training Songs & Picture Books
If you feel that child is scared of training, consider using some popular songs and picture books on potty training to help explain the process to the child. Try to make it a fun activity for them to put them at ease which will only speed up the process.
6. Dress up the Child for Success
Make sure that while potty training, child is always dressed up in clothes which are easy for them to take off. If they always need significant help in taking off the pants then that will deter them to go to the potty. You can also choose to buy some training pants readily available in the market to help with the process since they are very easy to take-off and are disposable. Consider purchasing some which have the child’s favorite cartoon character on them which has also been shown to act as a deterrent to pooping in the pants.
Do you have any other preparation activities that you found useful in your journey ? Please share with us using your comments below.
