As your toddler develops an interest in using the potty, you may be excited at the prospect of never having to change another dirty diaper. As long as she is truly ready to begin the process, you can follow some simple strategies that will help make the transition smoother for both of you.
Signs She’s Ready
You will be more successful in training your toddler if you start only when she exhibits signs of readiness. If she has predictable bowel movements, goes multiple hours between wet diapers, announces her dirty diapers or signals she is using her diaper by pausing her activities and grunting, is able to undress herself and displays interest in using a toilet, she is likely ready to train, says WhattoExpect.com. Don’t worry about her age if she doesn’t seem ready; some children are ready to train as early as 18 months of age, while others wait until they are in their 4th year, says BabyCenter.com.
Before You Train
Once you decide to start the training process, acquaint her with bathroom processes by allowing her to observe you using the toilet, says BabyCenter.com. Once she sees how it works, she will come to accept it as common practice. If she sees male family members standing to use the toilet and she consistently expresses interest in doing the same, BabyCenter.com recommends letting her try it, as she will eventually recognize that she doesn’t have the right equipment.
Getting Started
Purchase a child-sized potty chair and place it in the bathroom or use an adapted seat that goes directly on the toilet and encourage your daughter to “practice” sitting on it with or without her diaper, according to the Mayo Clinic. Once she becomes acquainted with the toilet, schedule regular potty breaks throughout the day, sit with her while she tries to use it, and read a book about potty training with her or allow her to play with a special “potty only” toy while she sits. Also pick up on signs that indicate that she has to use the toilet, such as squirming and squatting, and immediately take her to sit on the toilet whenever you notice them.
Encouragement
Whether or not anything ends up in the toilet, praise her for trying, says the Mayo Clinic. Once your child has succeeded in using the toilet on multiple occasions, consider taking her on a “big girl” outing to the store and allow her to pick out her favorite underwear. Also consider using incentives, such as stickers on a chart, additional stories at bedtime or small toys for successful potty use. Some accidents are sure to happen, so vow in advance to treat them lightly with an “Uh-oh! You had an accident,” rather than scolding her.
Considerations
Girls in particular are susceptible to bladder infections due to the close proximity of the rectum to the vagina. Teach her to wipe from her front to her back, or to wipe her front and back separately, in order to prevent bacteria from entering her vagina, says BabyCenter.com. Get her checked if she seems to be urinating more frequently than normal, if she has abdominal pain or if she finds urination painful, says BabyCenter.com.
