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Flush Away: Potty Training Tips for Toddlers

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May 28, 2012

Potty training is one of those trials all parents face. Some parents start as early as 18 months to potty train their kids but I personally waited until my daughter was 2 years old to start. Here are some of the tips that worked for us.

Be patient. Patience is a must when starting potty training. You will get frustrated. Your child may not want to sit on the toilet or the potty chair. He will have accidents. It happens, just try to be patient. And know when to back off and start again later.

Accessorize. Whether it’s a talking potty chair or adorable underwear, you may be able to motivate your child with some potty training accessories. It doesn’t need to cost a fortune though.

Get Talking. We used a potty training DVD and two potty training books to get a conversation started. My daughter still loves reading her books, and they have become part of our daily reading time.

Reward and Praise. This is probably one of the common tips that you’ll read. I use stickers and my daughter loves them. When she has a success, she is given one sticker for her potty chair. She is very motivated to fill her chair with stickers. However, lately she doesn’t even expect them anymore. She only gets praises and hugs now when she does a good job.

Make it Fun. She loves flushing the toilet and washing her hands afterwards. We sing when we wash our hands. She loves bubbles so I also got a bubbly handwash. This not only helps in the potty training, but also teaches good hygiene.

Filter Advice. You’ll read and hear advice that other parents give, but only stick to what works best for you and your child. You may even get negative comments from your “friends.” I remember a coworker asking, “what is wrong with you?” because my daughter was not trained before two-years-old. In parenting, we get a lot of these remarks because everyone raises their child differently. Remember that you know your child the best.

Don’t Rush. This can cause more frustration. I read that some kids are being potty trained for a year or even longer before they fully learn and that there is no one right age for being potty trained.

Be Consistent. I quickly realized that when I thought she was progressing well and didn’t need constant coaching, that’s when the accidents got more frequent. I was waiting for her to tell me “sit down potty” instead of being consistent and continuing the routine she had gotten used to. .

For those who are working, try to potty train it when you are at home. It can be difficult to get your daycare staff on your schedule, so its best to implement your strategies at home first.

I hope you find some of these tips useful. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences about potty training.

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