Toilet training a child can be one of the most frustrating trials of parenthood. The carrot at the end of the process though, is a child who no longer needs to have diapers changed. By far the most important factor in toilet training a child is readiness. For most children, toilet training readiness occurs sometime between the second and third birthdays. If you wait until your child can be a partner in this rite of passage, it will go much more smoothly.
Step 1
Make sure your child is ready. Readiness signs, according to babycenter.com, include asking to use the toilet, asking to have a diaper removed as soon as it's soiled, having regular, predictable bowel movements, having words for urine and bowel movements and being able to sit patiently for a few minutes on the potty chair or toilet.
Step 2
Find a few days in your schedule to devote to potty training where a routine can be established. Potty training can be very frustrating and messy, so make sure you don't have any large work projects looming or are going on vacation soon. Once your child is toilet trained, he'll need a couple of weeks to practice the new skill.
Step 3
Work out your reward system. Some children are happy to place a sticker on a chart for a successful potty trip, while others will want a small toy or some M&Ms. Work out with your child the types of things she'd like as an incentive to use the potty. In addition, discuss what will earn the child the reward. You could choose to reward your child for trying to use the toilet in the beginning and then gradually move up to using the toilet. Or, you can start with rewarding only successful tries.
Step 4
Buy some big kid underwear once your child has successfully used the potty a few times. Big kid underpants is a huge motivator in many kids who do not want to soil them. Once your child fully understands what it's like to use the potty, why it's important to use the potty and has used the potty, you can toss out the diapers and switch to underwear only.
Step 5
Prepare for accidents. Once your child is wearing underpants, he'll have to remember his body's signals that it's time to use the potty. Don't ask him to use the potty, just tell him each day that he is responsible for making sure the pee gets into the potty and that if it doesn't, he will be responsible for cleaning it up. Toilet training expert Wendy Sweeney, who operates a potty training "booty camp," says this gives the responsibility to the child, and he is both motivated by his successes and understand the consequences of his failures. Most children will need help cleaning up an accident at this age, but make sure your child gets the new underwear and whatever cleaning supplies are necessary, and helps with the cleaning.
Step 6
Travel everywhere with a potty chair in your car. It takes a while for most kids to learn to hold their urine, and accidents in the car can be embarrassing for your child, as well as a setback to her training. Having the chair available makes pulling over to the side of the road a quick way to make a potty stop and will keep a newly trained toddler on task.
Tips and Warnings
- When traveling with your child, keep a disposable diaper in the bowl of the portable potty. When the child pees or poops in the potty, you can roll up the diaper and place it in a plastic bag until it can be disposed of. Replace the diaper with a fresh one, and get back on your way.
Things You'll Need
- Small toys
- Reward chart
- Underwear
