A child must be physically and mentally ready to be potty trained. MayoClinic.com recommends that the child be at least two years old before you attempt potty training. Your child will show signs that he is ready, such as alerting you when his diaper is wet or telling you he has to use the bathroom. With patience, you can potty train effectively.
Step 1
Explain to the child the potty training process. Let her know that as a big girl she is ready to move on from diapers. Get her excited about reaching such a milestone and tell her you are proud of her. Make the transition from diapers a happy experience so she will not be reluctant to be potty trained.
Step 2
Take your child shopping for training pants. Allow him to choose his own training pants to excite him about wearing them.
Step 3
Wrap the child's mattress in a plastic mattress cover. MayoClinic.com notes that to nighttime bladder control may take months longer achieve than daytime bladder control, so in the meantime, you can use a plastic mattress cover for nighttime protection or training pants. Do not allow your child to drink liquids in the hour leading to her bedtime, and make sure to take her to the potty before she goes to sleep.
Step 4
Schedule potty breaks throughout the day. During potty breaks, have the child to sit on the potty chair for a few minutes. FamilyDoctor.org recommends placing the child on the potty every one and a half to two hours. Be consistent with the potty schedule. Take into account snack times, because children usually urinate one hour after a drink. Plan also to take a potty break at the time your child usually has a bowel movement, which is often after a meal. Stay with your child during the potty breaks, and sing or read a book to make the time enjoyable. Give him praise and support just for sitting on the potty during the entire potty break.
Step 5
Take the child to the bathroom immediately if you notice signs that she needs to use the potty. The signs to look for are squirming and grabbing the genital area. Teach her how to recognize the urge to use the bathroom and that she needs to immediately stop what she is doing and go to the potty when she feels the urge. Do not scold her for accidents.
Step 6
Reward him with a treat each time he successfully uses the potty. KidsHealth recommends small rewards to celebrate the child's efforts. He will want to keep doing the action that results in him getting treats. Give him plenty of praise and encouragement. Positive reinforcement is one of your biggest tools in potty training effectively. Before moving to regular underwear, FamilyDoctor.org advises continued use of training pants until the child is successful in keeping them dry for a few days.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid clothes that snap at the crotch to make potty time easier. Do not force a resistant child to sit on the potty. If you start potty training and the child does not seem ready, you can can stop potty training and resume at a later time.
Things You'll Need
- Training pants
- Plastic mattress cover
- Potty training chair
