Potty training often becomes a power struggle between you and your toddler. You might want your child out of diapers immediately, while he has other plans. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you wait until your child is 18 months to 24 months before you consider potty training. When you and he are both ready, try the one-day potty training method. It may sound too good to be true to potty train your child in just one day, but it can be done with persistence and patience.
Step 1
Purchase a doll that can go potty. Potty training dolls are made especially for this purpose and are sold at specialty stores, but you should be able to find a doll that can wet at a regular toy store. Introduce the doll to your child, emphasizing the fact that the doll is big enough to go on the potty.
Step 2
Invite your child to a potty party for the doll. Blow up balloons and get prizes for the occasion. Sit the doll on the potty, and each time it "goes," make a big fuss and congratulate it while your child is watching. Award the doll with a treat or a small toy for going potty, and let your child see the reward. Tell your child that when she is ready to use the potty, she can have a potty party, too. The party offers incentive for your child to become potty trained, Teri Crane, author "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day," says.
Step 3
Inform your child that there are no more diapers and introduce underwear that is decorated with some favorite characters to motivate him to wear them over diapers. Emphasize that diapers are for babies, while underwear is for big kids. Wrap the big kid underwear up like a gift and give it to your child as a present for the "potty party."
Step 4
Load up on salty snacks and plenty of juice to encourage your child to drink and fill her bladder. Choose snacks and juice that she usually doesn't get to have as a way to make the party more special and exciting. Ask her every 10 minutes whether she needs to go potty. Make sure she drinks enough juice so she has plenty of opportunities to go potty. If she refuses to go after 30 minutes, lead her into the bathroom and have her sit on the potty. She may just be resistant to going, or hasn't yet made the association between the need to go potty and the action of doing so.
Step 5
Practice muscle memory by having your child go through the motion of going to the potty, psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw of the "Dr. Phil" show recommends. Each time you bring him to the potty, have him pull down his underpants and sit on the potty several times so that he becomes used to the motions of how to go.
Step 6
Avoid scolding or becoming frustrated when an accident occurs. If your child wets her pants, bring her to the bathroom and sit her on the potty while you get a fresh change of underwear. You'll have plenty of chances throughout the day for success.
Step 7
Celebrate your child's success on the potty by offering plenty of encouragement, clapping and giving a small toy or game as a reward for success. Set up a reward system where he can choose a piece of candy after each successful trip to the potty or receive a small toy for every five successful trips. Keep the positive reaction to potty training going by reinforcing the good behavior until it becomes habit.
Things You'll Need
- Salty snacks
- Juice
- Potty doll
