How to Prepare for Potty Training

So you've read all the signs and it seems your toddler is ready to start potty training, but where do you start? How to do you make the transition from diapers to the toilet smooth sailing? Unfortunately this doesn't happen overnight, but with a little patience and understanding, I will help you through the storm by giving you some tips on How to Prepare your Toddler for Potty Training.



#1- Getting the potty
First things first, if you’re going to train your toddler to use the potty they are going to need to feel comfortable with using it. This means you need to opt for a toilet seat that goes on top of yours that fits their little behind, or you need to get them their own potty chairBy explaining to them that this is THEIR OWN POTTY they will feel more inclined to use it!



#2 Personalize and make it fun!
After you have purchased your potty chair or seat, sit down with your toddler and let them personalize it (if you decided to go with the potty seat, have them personalize their stool). By letting them decorate their seat they will feel more ownership to the item which in turn will make them want to use it. This task can be done by simply letting your toddler place stickers on the chair. I let my son draw all over it with markers. Whatever way you decide, it is important to make this a fun experience. This will make your child react to the potty and potty training in a positive way!





#3 Underwear is fun and exciting!
Now I'm not telling you to throw out all your diapers quite yet. Until you are confident in your child's understanding of potty training I would hold on to them for night time use. In the beginning phase of training I would advise using pull-up training pants. Show your toddler how these are different then diapers and let them know how happy you are that they are ready to use them. Show them how easily they pull up and down so they can do the pulling down themselves when it is time to do it. I do however believe it is a good idea to take your child to the store to pick out his/her own pair of underwear even before they are ready to use it. By doing this it will make your child WANT to wear them. This will help your child to realize "If I use the potty I get to wear underwear". They will want to wear them by making them think underwear is fun and exciting! Make giving them the underwear an accomplishment! Help them understand the training process while also rewarding their efforts. When to reward your child is up to you. When they start asking to go to the bathroom, after they go by themselves for the first time, or a certain number of days without accidents. Either way they will understand they have reached a milestone when they get to wear that pair of underwear for the first time!



#4 - Read, Read, Read
Potty training is not an easy task. Keep in mind that it may take several weeks before your child even shows interest in being potty trained. There will also be setbacks. On day your child may go all day without an accident and the next he/she may not go in the toilet at all. To keep your sanity it is a very good idea to read, read, read. Go into parenting forums and read fun stories other parents have on the training their child. Read blogs dedicated to potty training (as you are right now! Good job! ) and find books on potty training. One of my favorites is
Potty Training Made Easy: A Guide for Parents. It is also a good idea to read potty training books to your child. There are many books out there for children that have wonderful illustrations, and even fun pop up pages to make your child feel more comfortable with the idea of the potty, like Even Firefighters Go to the Potty; A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story , or top selling childrens potty training book
Elmo's Potty Time. I cannot tell you how great this trick works with your child!


#5 Poo Poo Goes in the potty
Help your child understand poo poo and pee pee go in the potty. You can start by making the connection of bathroom to poo poo. When your child has a dirty diaper, if possible, change them in the room their potty chair is in. Another great way of letting them know where the poo poo goes is by actually putting their poo in the potty for them. I know, I know, super gross, but it works. When your little one makes their next poo in their diaper, instead of throwing in the waste basket, drop the poo in the potty and tell them "see poo poo goes in here". They will eventually catch on. If your toddler isn't afraid of the flushing sound of your toilet, let them flush. They will enjoy this task, which in turn will make them want to poo in the potty so they can flush again.... and again.



#6 Thoes that cannot do TEACH
whether your little one is having a hard time getting the concept of using the potty, or if their interest is dwindling, a potty training doll (a doll that can urinate, and sometimes even defecate) is a wonderful tool! By using the doll as a visual aid your child will become more confident in how to use the potty. A big help is your child will usually want to teach the doll themselves! They will make the doll sit on the potty and pee. This, in turn, gets them more motivated to use the potty themselves.



#7 Time is precious
If I have one tip for you it is to make sure when you start seriously training your child that you dress them in clothing that is easy to get off! If you are dressing your child in something that takes longer than a few seconds to pull off you will have many accidents! Take it from me. You have a few precious minutes after your child lets you know they need to go until they actually go. If you spend too much time on undressing they WILL have an accident even if you are right next to the toilet. They are still learning how to control their bodily functions. You have to be PATIENT and quick!


Good Luck!! For more tips on potty training and where to start please read my next post