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Toilet training toddlers - what you need to consider before you train yours.
There is plenty of useful information (okay, there's some not-so-helpful info, too) available today on the subject of potty training toddlers.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I'm going to touch on some toilet training ideas that are focused on less often, but that can be very helpful to consider carefully before you tackle potty training your child. I have potty trained my own four children (two boys and two girls) and these are ideas that were helpful to me.
Toilet training toddlers - establishing readiness.
Everyone talks about potty training readiness cues. These cues indicating your toddler is physically ready are indeed important to note before beginning training.
But just as important is emotional readiness. Think about these things when considering if your toddler is indeed ready for toilet training.
- Is he eager to please you?
If so, his seeking approval from you will lead to his cooperation during potty training. Try to train without your child's continual cooperation and you are doomed to failure and frustration.
- Is he feeling comfortable in his surroundings?
Stressful times and scary changes are no times to toilet train toddlers. Plan to potty train when life is fairly stable and calm, if possible.
- Do you and your toddler communicate well?
Do you ever feel as though you and your little one are simply not understanding one another? That happens to all of us at some time or another, but if you are feeling that way regularly about your child, it might be fairly difficult for her to understand and follow the simple instructions you will need to give at potty training time.
Take the time to figure out what is causing the communications difficulties between the two of you and address it. Solving or improving this challenge can have tremendous impact on the overall quality of your relationship with your child, not just during potty training.
- Is your toddler a mature soul?
Everyone grows up at their own pace. Just as some kids grow taller later instead of sooner, some toddlers take their time blossoming emotionally. Does your sweet toddler handle life's daily bumps with ease? Or does she find it challenging handling her normal mood swings? It's okay to decide that a few more weeks or months would make toilet training your toddler easier for everyone. You'll be doing her a loving favor.
Toilet training toddlers means you need to be ready emotionally, too.
Your child isn't the only one who can stress out over toilet training. Toilet training a toddler is probably going to have it's frustrating moments for you, too, mom or dad. That's normal.
There are some common sense things you'll want to remember for yourself before you tackle potty training.
- Clear your schedule and your head so you can focus on your child and he can focus on his toilet training. The more you can give yourself to this process, the more you can assist your child.
- Patience, patience and oh, more patience.
You know you need to be patient, of course during potty training. But most parents underestimate the long time view of potty training. Sure, you can prep well and do a potty training in 3 days event or even attempt potty training in a day but even if those toddler training days are successful, you still have potty PRACTICE for several weeks or months. This is a lifelong habit you are seeking to instill in your child. How many lifelong habits have you picked up perfectly overnight?
Just remember. Patience is a longterm commitment in parenting and toilet training your toddler is a great time to practice it.
- Be matter-of-fact.
In many ways, toilet training toddlers can be exasperating. However, that's not what you want your child to know. This is a time to put your game face on. Your toddler will take his cues from you, mom or dad, and you need to treat this process just like you treat other things you teach him.
Being matter-of-fact about potty training will instill confidence in your child that, yes indeed, she is capable of this intriguing game you're asking her to play. Remember, to your child toilet training is truly a new game. Additionally, it's probably just not that important to her way of thinking. Letting her know that her becoming toilet trained is VITAL to you could set up a potential power struggle that you do NOT want to engage in.
Why?
Because for at least several weeks or months, your toddler will win. Trust me on this one.
Toilet training toddlers - emotional readiness summed up.
In short, assess your child's emotional maturity along with his physical readiness as you decide the timing for her toilet training. Don't be pressured into starting her too early. When she's ready, both physically and emotionally, she will train well.
Make sure you are ready emotionally for potty training your child, too. Your ability to control your natural frustration during toilet training can make all the difference in your child's ability to cooperate with you until he "gets" it.
Popular potty training topics.
Potty Training Child
A list of all of our articles to help you while potty training your child.
Toilet Training Tips
Many times just one new piece of toilet training advice that I hadn't considered before was just the help I needed to help my child over a potty training hump.
Potty Training Boy
Additional tips to help if you are potty training a boy (I've trained two boys myself).
Potty Training Girls
Specific tips to help potty training for girls move smoothly (I've trained two girls myself).
Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with over 29 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms around the globe at www.paintedgold.com.
Note from Colleen: Remember, I earn my living making excellent recommendations to you, Mom, so when you choose to click any of the links on this website and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.
Naturally, that means I care about what you think! If you try a product or service I recommend, I'd love to hear from you. How else can I keep my recommendations top notch for all my visitors?
And thank you, for stopping by.
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