According to the Baby Center website, your daughter will let you know when she is ready to be potty trained. She will begin to show signs, such as being interested in the potty, being able to pull up and down her pants and being able to follow simple rules. It is useless to try to potty train before she is mentally or physically ready. It will take longer and frustrate everyone. When she is ready for potty training, patience and repetition are the keys to success.
Step 1
The Potty Training Concepts website suggests you demonstrate going to the potty yourself and demonstrating the process with a doll. Let your daughter practice pulling the doll's underwear up and down as well. Have your daughter make the doll use the potty.
Step 2
Have a party for the doll after the successful potty training activity. Make sure the doll gets lots of attention so your daughter comprehends what a great thing it is to go potty.
Step 3
Begin dressing her in real underwear or training pants just as the doll wears.
Step 4
Supply a lot of fluids for your daughter to drink. The sooner she has to urinate, the sooner potty training can start.
Step 5
Ask her if she has to use the potty. Teach her to wipe from the front to the back to prevent infection. If she has an accident, do not get upset. Instead, take her to the potty, pull her underwear down and put her on the seat. This is to be done 10 times in a row to build memory.
Step 6
Once she goes in the potty, celebrate with a big party as you did with the doll.
Step 7
Accidents will happen, but continue taking her 10 times in a row to continue building the memory.
Step 8
Continue rewarding potty successes with toys, stickers, games and praise.
Tips and Warnings
- The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests delaying potty training if your daughter is going through big changes (new daycare, new baby in the house, etc.). Provide activities to keep her busy while she is on the potty, such as books or music.
- Watch out for bladder infections. The Baby Center website says it is more common for girls to develop bladder infections while potty training. If she has abdominal pain, or starts to urinate more often, a pediatrician may need to be consulted.
Things You'll Need
- Potty (toilet, potty chair or potty seat)
- Toilet tissue
- Stool
- Rewards (stickers, prizes, etc.)
- Training pants
- Doll that goes potty
