Potty-Training Your Child: Quick Guide for Parents

Dear parents, do you want to finally say goodbye to diapers? Then, start to potty-train.

However, the ultimate question really is, when is the right time to begin? The truth is that no two children are the same. Some toddlers can be trained as early as 2 years old, while others are ready until they’re 4.

Before proceeding to potty-train, it’s vital for parents to spot if their little one is already prepared for it. Here are the common signs that they’re ready for potty-training:

• Your child can follow instructions.
• They can say ‘poop’ or ‘pee’ when they did it.
• They poop on an expected schedule.
• They don’t want to stay in their wet or soiled diapers.
• They can sit down or stand up from their potty seat when told to do so.

Now, when you spot these signs in your child and they’re ready for the potty-training, here are helpful guides that we’ve gathered from our years of experience as a provider of child care in Vineland, New Jersey.

• Introduce the potty creatively.
  You can use storybooks or their favorite stuffed animals and do a pretend play. The goal is to make your child aware of the existence of the potty and help them be comfortable with it.
• Select the right time to potty-train.
  Don’t start the training when you’re in a stressful situation, such as when you’re relocating, on vacation, or facing a family crisis. The goal is to train them when they’re in a relaxed environment and you’re in a good emotional condition.
• Select the right potty equipment.
  It can be a potty seat right for their size or an improvised toilet seat that keeps them from falling into the bowl’s opening. The goal is to provide them a comfortable device which can support them while they sit down.
• Demonstrate the procedures of sitting down and getting up.
  It also helps if you let your child sit on the potty for about 10 minutes just to let them have the feel of the situation. Demonstrate also how to pull down their pants and underwear and how they can make a go. The goal is to let them see how it’s exactly done.
• Finally, remember to praise them.
  You can clap your hands, hug them, say appreciative words as “Good job!”. The goal is to appreciate them as it provides motivation to maintain doing it because they know they make you happy.

Are you now excited to potty-train your child? As your partner in providing early childhood education in New Jersey, we also partner with you in achieving this important milestone for your little one. Just don’t forget to teach them about washing their hands afterward to steer free from infection.

In potty-training your child, it also helps to discern their readiness first and success will just follow. It’s the same principle we apply in our child-friendly programs at DiBiase Baby Steps.

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