It's been so long since you learned to use a toilet that you can hardly fathom your toddler's current predicament. Before you begin potty training, consider that he must first learn to interpret his body's signals as "time to run to the toilet," and then use that signal as a sign to quickly run on his small legs to reach the toilet in time. You can make this complicated process much easier for your toddler if you keep a few tricks up your sleeve.
Start at the Right Time
Avoid the fruitless efforts of attempting to potty train a toddler who isn't developmentally ready. According to BabyZone.com, your toddler may be ready if she remains dry at least two hours at a time during the day, has regular and predictable bowel movements and is physically able to get to the bathroom and undress herself. She also should exhibit postures and facial expressions that indicate she is ready to urinate or have a bowel movement, and she should seem interested in using a potty or wearing underwear.
Talk It Up
Generate enthusiasm for potty training by talking it up weeks in advance. Mention that your toddler will soon get to wear "big kid" underwear and use a potty like mommy, daddy and his big brother or sister. Read him books specifically written about potty training---you may even opt to read one that is gender specific---and consider getting him a doll with its own doll-sized potty. Allow him to observe family members using the toilet and have him "teach" the doll how to use the potty the way that big kids and grown-ups do. Finally, on the big day, take him to the store and allow him to choose his own underwear and child-sized potty or potty seat. Finding items with his favorite cartoon characters on them may be all he needs to be converted to a potty user.
Give Her Time
Allow your child to warm up to her new potty and underwear by letting her carry it around the house with her or play with it. Also consider holding "practice" sessions--wearing underwear instead of diapers and sitting clothed on the potty. Also consider personalizing her potty by writing her name on it and letting her decorate it with stickers.
Make It Fun
He may need more incentives than cool underwear and a personalized potty. If this is the case, consider giving him special toys that he only gets to play with while he sits on the potty. Give him potty targets such as O-shaped pieces of cereal or add blue food coloring to the potty that he can turn green with his urine. You may even consider using a reward chart. For every time he successfully makes it to the potty, he gets a sticker, and for every X number of stickers, he earns a reward, such as a toy car or an extra bedtime story.
Monitor Your Language
What you say will impact how comfortable your child is with potty training. Before you start training, decide how you and your partner will refer to toileting parts and processes. Be forewarned that using words such as "wee-wee" instead of "penis" or "vagina" when using adult sounding words for other body parts may cause your child to believe that there is something embarrassing about her genitalia, BabyCenter.com says. Also, be diligent about responding casually to accidents rather than scolding your child, since you don't want to scare her into holding back.
