There is no surefire way to potty train your toddler, nor are there rigid rules that apply to all children and all situations. Stay relaxed and patient, it's the best thing to do. In the past, some mothers began to accustom the baby shortly after birth by putting it above the potty before, after, or sometimes during its meal; once in a while, they got the expected result. It saved a diaper once in a while, which was appreciated before there were washing machines. Apart from this advantage, this method is ineffective. Now most parents prefer to wait longer for the right moment. There's no reason to start before the little one is ready.
Contents 1 When should you start? 2 The choice of pot 3 How to present the pot? 4 To teach him to be toilet trained 5 “Accidents” 6 Learning difficulties 7 Get him used to other toilets 8 Outside 9 Dry nights 10 Postpone potty trainingCertain manifestations in children tell you when to start. Does he understand and carry out simple requests from you? Is her diaper dry when you change her? As they age, their bladder can hold more urine. This is a gradual process, and like other developmental stages, not all children progress at the same rate.
As a general rule, if your child urinates more often than every hour and a half or two hours, it is better to wait a while. Also consider other signs:if your child is left without a diaper (in the garden, for example), does he make the connection between his body and the pond that occasionally forms at his feet? Is he curious when other people use the toilet? Is he embarrassed when his diaper is wet or dirty, and does it make a difference with a clean diaper?
It's not always easy to answer these questions with certainty, but there's nothing stopping you from trying the potty, even if you're not sure your child is ready. If the test is not conclusive, give it up for a while, before one of you has had enough. Also know that “few children are ready before the age of 18 months, and the majority of them pass the course around the age of 2 years. Boys are generally a bit slower than girls ” says Claire Biron, childcare worker and consultant on Femmes References.
Note that your child may like to sit on the potty if he can occupy himself by looking at his favorite book.
The pot has an advantage:it is portable. You can bring it quickly to your child, or he can pick it up himself. Time is precious with a little one who can't hold back for very long. The bottom must be wide to ensure good stability when the child stands up suddenly.
Bath time is the perfect time to introduce him to the potty while explaining its use. Suggest he sits on it to try it out. If your child succeeds in doing something, congratulate him but without excess, because when he does nothing he will think that he is "bad". If he makes progress, give him a small reward. You can increase the frequency of potty sessions if he doesn't mind. On the other hand, if he is unhappy, slow down the pace a bit.
A very active toddler will be upset if he has to spend more than a few seconds on the potty each time. You can try looking at a book with him to relax him. Getting angry and forcing him to stay on the pot is the opposite of the intended goal; this risks completely robbing him.
The time will come when you can let him walk around the house without a diaper while asking him the question from time to time. The pot should be located in a convenient and quickly accessible place. If you live in a house with more than one floor, it is better to have one pot per floor. If you have to go out, encourage him to go first. You can put a diaper on him, but only wearing it at certain times might confuse him.
If you go to close friends or relatives, it is better that you bring the pot in order to prevent "accidents".
Good to know: There are pots of all shapes and sizes. The most comfortable is the one that looks like a seat. For a boy, choose a model with a raised front.
A taller child will climb onto the toilet seat more easily with a step. This can also be used for the little boy who wants to pee standing up. A seat that fits over the toilet seat and reduces the size of the bowl, reassuring the little one and avoiding having to hold it.
When your child is out of diapers during the day, you'll be at the mercy of occasional mishaps. It is an inevitable stage of learning, and of childhood in general. Sometimes you'll doubt it's accidental, but remember that at age 2 or younger, it's hard to have the control to ask for the pot in the middle of an exciting game.
Often accidents are linked to having waited too long. At other times, your child may not really realize that he needs to go potty. We must also be careful not to exaggerate the importance of having always clean panties, nor to cry out in horror when they are soiled. It's uncomfortable and inconvenient, but that's it.
You may not feel like he is making progress at first. A good day will be followed by several others where it regresses and you spend more time cleaning the floor than emptying the pot. If this happens, take a break. Either your child is not ready or they are going through a phase of disruption. Put her in diapers again for a few weeks.
Another fairly common situation is having a child who controls his bladder but not his bowels. This usually happens in the reverse order, but not always. Some children prefer to wait to have a bowel movement until they have a diaper (during a nap or at night, for example). Be patient and it will work out over time.
However, you should check that your baby is not constipated.
It is recommended to get your child used to several potties from the start. If he is too dependent on a particular pot, it will cause him problems when you are outside; in this case, you will have to carry your pot everywhere for months. When it's ready for the adult toilet, you can get a special seat that fits over the bowl. If you are outside, reassure him by holding him very firmly above the bowl. Both of you go in search of the toilets in all the places where you are; tap into her natural curiosity by saying something like, “Let’s go see what color Aunt Nicole’s toilet is… »
When you are outside, your child will likely need to go potty; it may not be practical to find a place out of the way. Feel free to ask the store clerks if there are any staff-only toilets you could use. When you go in the car and you think your child will sleep the whole way, you can make him wear thick terrycloth pants, so you don't undermine his confidence by putting on a diaper.
Few children manage to stay dry at night, when they are clean during the day. Often a more absorbent diaper is needed at night for a few more months. You can try to encourage him to potty before bed, but he's unlikely to be able to control himself overnight.
Some parents prefer to wait until 2 years of age or older for potty training. Whatever your decision, choose a period when he is cooperative, and not one, for example, when "no" is his favorite word. If you've had a potty at home for a while, and if it's being used by another child, your little one will surely be very happy to try it too. Your child may also skip the potty stage altogether and use the toilet directly. You just have to explain to him what you expect of him, or ask another child to demonstrate it. Since your child is old enough to understand, he may get a taste for it quickly and without fuss. The main disadvantage of doing this is that it will use diapers longer.
