My son and I were shopping when he noticed the display at the end of an aisle with shelves of different potty training toilets. We already had a little seat that you place on top of the seat on our regular toilet, but he hadn’t shown much willingness to use it.
But the moment his eyes scanned that display and locked in on a Minnie Mouse pink potty training toilet, it was game over. We started potty training that day!
I’m going to be upfront with you: We haven’t really been focused on potty training. However, his response to that pink potty this last weekend has given me motivation.
The moment he said he was excited, I was, too!
So, now it’s potty time, and I have tips and tricks to make potty training smooth and fun for everyone involved.
Watch for a sign
If you are thinking about potty training in advance and are wondering if it’s the right time or what to get together, here is what I found: The best way to know it’s time to begin potty training is to wait until your kiddo gives you a sign.
That could be them not peeing for extended periods of time or while they are asleep. They might show more interest in the toilet in your home and when or why grown ups use it.
Build excitement
Once they’ve queued you in that it might be the right time, get them even more excited by getting them involved in the potty training prep.
This can be letting them pick out a training toilet or underwear with their favorite character on it.
You can show them how to pull their pants up and down on their own and practice it together. Maybe purchase a book about potty training and read it together a few times before you start the process to make it feel more familiar.
One idea that we are implementing is a prize bucket. We let our little guy pick out some prizes at a dollar store. These are small prizes, like a mini piece of candy, for going pee in the potty. We have some larger prizes to reward going poop in the potty.
Once you have sufficiently hyped up the magic of potty training, it’s time to begin.
Consistency is key
Try setting a timer for every 30 minutes to start. Encourage them to sit on the potty and attempt to go. Keep a positive attitude throughout and provide praise even for attempts. This is key to keeping them engaged and excited.
Try allowing your little one to add a sticker to a chart for every attempt. You can offer prizes for every certain number of attempts as well.
When our little one does sit down to try to go, we try to keep him entertained so he doesn’t get bored and want to run away. We do this by reading books and singing songs.
Make a weekend of it
During the beginning stages of potty training, it can be a good idea to keep your plans to a minimum. Stay home for the weekend and really focus on the attempts, every 30 minutes or so.
The more successes a child has, the more motivated they’ll be to continue.
Do your best to keep things light and fun. If your little one is resistant to going to the bathroom for an attempt, that’s ok! Offer to take a break and try again later.
Help your child to have positive experiences to associate with going potty.
Unlearning and learning
It’s a lot, trying to teach our little ones to unlearn something they have been doing their entire live.
It’s OK to feel frustrated or overwhelmed at times. As parents, we are all trying to do our best!
Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works in advocacy for victims of interpersonal violence. Her son is almost three years old.
Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACSvouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at [email protected] or call us at 929.228.1180.