Painless Potty Training

It is inevitable that your child will have accidents when he or she is being potty trained. Be supportive, even when your child has not successfully used the toilet. With time, the accidents should become fewer and fewer until your child is completely potty trained and accidents are few and far between.

It’s been a long time since you were in diapers. Parents often do not realize that their children have accidents simply because they think differently. A child cannot plan ahead the way adults do every day —how many times, for example, do you jump in the car for a long trip with an older child and he or she needs to stop for a restroom less then ten minutes into the trip? Toddlers have an even shorter planning ability. They may hold it, thinking they can wait to use the potty when their television program or game is finished. Often, this is not the case, and the result is an accident.

Your child may also simply not realize he or she needs to use the potty. Even if your child has previously voiced the need to go to the restroom, other activities, such as being engrossed in play, can take your child’s mind off bodily needs. Ask you child often if he or she needs to use the potty, just as you would ask him or her to drink water on a hot day.

Be consistent with potty training rules as well to prevent these accidents. Your child may be doing this on purpose to gauge your reaction. Accidents should never result in punishment, but be firm as to what your child can and cannot do until he or she is potty trained. Regular accidents are not OK if your child knows better and had previously been able to control his or her bathroom actions.

However, if your child is having regular accidents and is upset at this, consult your doctor. There may be medical reason as to when potty training is becoming more difficult, and sometimes, simple dietary changes can help you fix these problems. Most children have accidents up to 6 months after successful toilet training. If accidents continue, speak with your child about the situation. If he or she is deliberately causing accidents, you may wish to postpone potty training until he or she is more mature. Punishment in these situations rarely works, but don’t let your child use potty training as a way of getting attention.

Accidents are normal. Although undesirable, remember to be supportive of your child as he or she is trying to learn to use the potty, even when they’re unsuccessful. Join an online support group if you find this process especially stressful. This, along with the multiple articles and tools for parents, can help you learn more techniques for potty training more quickly and avoiding accidents. Use accidents as a learning tool. As your child progresses in the potty training process, he or she will have fewer accidents. Don’t be surprised if your child regresses after having made significant progress—potty training takes time and support and is often a case of two steps forward and one step back.

For more information about knowing when to start potty training and what to do when accidents happen please visit Painless Potty Training.

Potty training can be one of the most stressful times of life for both parents and toddlers, so to be sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible, parents need to be sure that their children are ready for this big developmental step.

Most children begin potty training by the time they are 2, but some start much earlier and some benefit from waiting longer. The appropriate potty training age varies from child to child, even among siblings, so it is important for parents to have a grasp on specific signs that show a child is ready to move from using diapers to using a potty. If you wait until your child is ready, rather than forcing potty training on him or her at a certain age, you will find that your child will begin consistently using the potty without much hassle or too many accidents.

Because potty training can be very daunting for many children, begin at a time in life that is not already stressful for your child. For example, if you have recently had another child, your potty-training child, although he or she is fully capable of learning to use the toilet, may resist training techniques and prefer to have mommy or daddy change his or her diaper, just like the new baby. Other reasons to delay potty training include divorce, moving to a new house, adverse medical developments, or any other major changes in a child’s life. So it’s important to take into account any possible reasons that could make potty training a real battle.

You will notice a number of signs that indicate your child’s readiness to begin potty training, even if he or she does not voice this opinion. At this stage in life, your child is becoming more independent, and wants to do things by his- or herself, such as getting dressed in the morning or cleaning up the play area. Your child may also imitate adults or older children and can follow simple commands. These things all show that your child is mature enough to learn to use a toilet.

Begin potty training after you notice that your child is having regular bowel movements. He or she also should be able to stay dry for a few hours at a time and during many nights and naps. Other signs that you child is ready to begin potty training include:

 Showing discomfort with a dirty diaper
 Asking questions about bathroom use
 Telling an adult when he/she has a dirty diaper
 Wanting to begin potty training
 Knowing when he or she needs to use a toilet

Overall, the most important reason to wait for these signs is that your child will more easily go through the potty training process if it is not forced. Potty training can be frustrating otherwise. Some parents begin with children as young as 18 months. Others wait until their toddler is closer to 3 years of age to even start the process. Don’t be concerned if your child is not ready as soon as you think he or she should be. If you have any questions about age-appropriate potty training techniques, your paediatrician should be able to help you. Start potty training when your child is ready, and it should be smoother sailing than you expect.

For more information about knowing when to start potty training please visit Painless Potty Training.

Hi and a big welcome to all the moms and dads out there who are about to undergo potty training with their toddler. This is my new blog which will have great posts all aimed at making potty training as painless as possible for parents and toddlers. Be sure to pop back soon as I’m nearly ready to make the first post.