POTTY TRAINING
This page has been put
together to help you and your child enter the exciting world where
nappies are not needed! Much of the advice here is based on our own
personal experience. If you have any hints and tips that worked for
you, then email them to us and we will include them on this page.
When
should I start potty training? The key to successful potty
training is not to start until your child is ready. For most children
this is around the age of 2 years, but every child is different so go
with the flow (pardon the pun!) and don't worry if your child starts
potty training later than their peers. Girls may be ready to potty
train before boys. It is not worthwhile attempting to potty train
before the age of 18 months as the nerve pathways and sphincter muscles
are not fully developed. Years ago, parents used to plonk their
children on the potty as early as 12 months, but any success was
usually down to lucky timing rather than anything else!
How
do I know when my child is ready? You need to look for signs
that show your child is beginning to link cause and effect. For potty
training to work, your child needs to recognise the physical sensations
that mean "something is on the way". They may pull at their nappy, stop
what they are doing for a few seconds to concentrate, or even tell you
that they are doing a wee or poo. Anecdotal evidence suggests that
children in cloth nappies make the "cause and effect" connections
quicker than children in disposables.
Should
I use a potty? Some children prefer to try using a toilet
straight away, but most prefer a potty. Adult toilets can seem huge to
small children, so a potty usually makes the transition easier. There
are various colours and styles available and some children prefer a
“potty chair” that has handles so that they can lower themselves
securely onto the seat, rather than the “hover and dock” procedure
required for a conventional potty. If you do decide to go for the big
toilet straight away however, then make sure that you use a child seat
and provide a step.
How
do I start? Introduce your child to the potty, maybe even
involve them in choosing one they like and encourage them to practise
sitting on it. Explain that they can try to do wees and poos in the
potty instead of their nappy and how clever and grown up they will be.
If you are using a My Wee Friend
sticker in your potty then you can explain that they will get a special
reward of a magic smiley face when they wee in the potty! I suggest
that initially you start the process at home, when the atmosphere is
relaxed and you have plenty of time. Leave the potty close by, and
leave your child without a nappy. When you recognise a sign that they
are about to perform, encourage them to sit on the potty and see what
happens! I think it is important to have the potty very close by at
first, or maybe to have a potty in each room of the house in the
initial stages, as children may only have a 1 second warning that they
need to go!
Hints
and tips once you have started. Make it a positive
process. A positive parental attitude is crucial if potty training is
to be a trauma-free process. Be consistent, calm and relaxed. Lots of
praise, hugs and kisses when your child gets it right, but never punish
accidents. Hopefully both of you will find the process fun and a great
step towards independence. If however your child seems distressed by
the whole idea then give up temporarily and try again in a few weeks.
Once your child is
starting to get the hang of things, trainer pants might be useful for a
while. Take a potty with you when you go out as well as a change of
clothes. Do not leave your child in wet clothes as this will not “teach
them to go to the toilet”. I used to find it helpful to pop my child on
the potty or toilet before we went out, to minimize the chance of
accidents. If you are out and near a toilet it might be worth popping
in to see if they need to go, especially if they haven't been to the
toilet for a while. My daughter would often think she didn't need a
wee, but was happy to go and try to see if there was a "secret one" in
there!
Most of all - enjoy
your potty training experience. It is a major step towards your child's
independence and deserves to be celebrated!
