*This post is brought to you by Acorn for Charmin and Sam's Club.
Potty training is one of those parenting milestones that every parent looks forward to with fear and dread.
Amazon.com
sells over 1,000 books dedicated to just this one topic! The thing is, it isn't an exact science and it's important to remember that all kids are different.
After potty training two of my children and while being in the process of training my third, I feel almost like an expert. There are some things that have worked well for me (and many that haven't!) I've learned a bit from books, but I've mostly learned by rolling up my sleeves and just trying different things!
These 5 tips are a great start for beginners:
Introduce them to the Idea
If you
expect your child to go from not understanding what a potty is for to
using it in a weekend, you're going to be disappointed. Make a long-term
potty plan. By this, I mean that you should start talking to your child
about the potty, explain what it's for - and not just once! This needs
to be an every day, on-going conversation. Include your child in your
trips to the bathroom.
Make a big show of getting them
their own potty chair or toilet seat. Let them pick one out, or
surprise them with one that makes them feel like a star.
Read children's books about using the potty, watch cartoons that deal with potty training. Make it fun! The more they see it, the more they are likely to want to try it.
Wait for Signs of Readiness
You'll know when your child is ready to potty train when they are showing interest in using the potty. This can be anything from them wanting to accompany you when you go, to becoming suddenly more aware of when they are eliminating. When toddlers get to the point that they are looking for a corner to hide in and start making their "poop face", they are showing that they are aware that they need to go, they just might not be verbalizing it yet.
Don't start potty training if your child isn't ready. I promise you that it's not worth the headache or the frustration! (
Take it from a mom who knows!) I tried to train my son before he was ready, for a preschool program. It took far longer than it should. There were tears - from both of us, and in the end, he started using it when
he was ready.
Not when I wanted him to be ready.
The fact is,
not all kids are ready at the same time. Boys can be especially slow with this. If your child is slow to potty train, try not to worry overmuch.
Be Prepared
Potty training toddlers go through a LOT of toilet paper. You'll need to choose the right kind for your child's sensitive bum. Remember - it's not uncommon for a potty training child to use the potty every half hour. That's 48 times a day (YES, even in the middle of the night!) The right toilet paper is essential. A good choice is Charmin Ultra Soft.
Not only will it be soft enough, but it's absorbent too. To make your roll go even farther, check it out at Sam's Club. They add an extra 1,000 sheets per roll, so you change it less often and your money goes farther.
Big Kid Underwear!
This is always an exciting step, but it can also be a messy one. After your child shows that he or she knows how to use the potty, introduce some "Big Kid" undies. Get ones with their favorite characters on them and tell them that they are going to use them from now on.
Your child will inevitably have an accident and
this is okay! Changing out of the diaper is such an important step! Using the diaper leaves your child feeling like they have the option of using the potty OR their diapers. By making the switch to underwear, your child will feel very uncomfortable if they potty in their pants.
If your child was truly ready, it won't take long for them to decide that it's much more pleasant for them to use the potty than to go in their pants.
Accidents will Happen
Remember, potty training is a process. Accidents
will happen. Some kids learn to go quickly, some take a while. Some kids will be able to wear underwear at night and some will need to wear night-time training pants. There are children who will go poop in a toilet and not pee, and others who will not want to poop anywhere but their diaper.
Every child is different. It's important to go with the flow (no pun intended!) and do what works for your child. Don't despair if it takes them a while or they aren't showing readiness. Your child won't be going to college in diapers!
$50 Sam's Club Gift Card Giveaway for Charmin
that I was provided with in order to share my thoughts with you.
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