Here are some effective tips on potty trining your children.
Potty training your child can be one of the most frustrating, not to mention messy, jobs of parenthood. Every child needs to be potty trained, though it can certainly turn into a war of wills at times. Children can be ready for training any where between the ages of 1 ½ and 3 years old and your child will usually show signs of readiness that you can take your cue from like, interest in using the potty, wearing underwear or wanting to be a "˜big boy' or girl like another child they know. If you think your child is ready there are a few things that will make this journey a little easier.
Diaper substitutes like Pull-Ups have their uses, but don't use them for training in the daytime. Pull-Ups are no different than diapers in that, the child will not be uncomfortable if he has an accident. Pull-Ups are great for overnight when your child is probably still too young to wake up and go to the bathroom. Staying dry through the night is a milestone that is often not reached until long after your child is trained during the day. When you start training, arm yourself with at least ten pairs of underwear per day and don't let them wear the Pull-Ups until night time. This will encourage them to stay dry as it is quite uncomfortable to have wet underwear and they will not like having to change so often.
It is a good idea to have a small potty chair placed where your child can easily access it on his own as often times little ones don't get much warning when they have to go. Usually your toddler will be so engrossed in play that he will not remember to use the potty until the last minute and will often have an accident if he can't get there quickly. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, have a spare training seat outside and for bringing with you when you are visiting away from home.
It is o.k. to use treats as a reward for using the potty. Be sure to give lots of praise and make a big deal every time. You might want to keep a chart and award stars for dry days or you can split the day up into sections for easier goals. For boys, it is fun to put a target in the potty for them to aim at, it teaches them where to aim and it also makes it into a sort of game. Cheerios make a good target and you can also buy colored tissue paper and cut them into shapes. You might also want to let your child into the bathroom with you or older brothers and sisters to show him that this is something everyone learns to do.
Don't make a huge fuss if your child has an accident: it is going to happen and if you get upset it may discourage them from further effort and cause them to regress back to diapers. It is completely normal for training children to go into periods of regression where you just want to put the diapers back on. Perhaps your child really isn't ready and you should give him another month and try again. With consistency and understanding, you will have your child potty trained in no time!
