10 Important Potty Training Tips for Parents

Potty training…all parents have to do it. For some kids, they pick up their potty skills relatively early and quickly but for others…it can take quite some time to master. No matter when you start potty training your child, it is important to come up with a game plan, gather up some tips from experienced parents and instill a lot of patience in yourself and your child.

Today, I am going to share with all of you some of the potty training tips that I used when potty training my daughter and when I helped potty train my grand daughter.

1. Look for signs that your child is ready to begin with potty training. If they are asking you questions about using a toilet, watching older siblings use the toilet and so forth, it may be time to start the training. You will know when the time is right…so watch for those “readiness” signs and then begin.

2. Draft up a “potty check” schedule and stick to it! For us, this meant getting on the potty first thing in the morning, every 1 1/2 to 2 hours throughout the day and it was the last thing that our child did before going to bed. I found it very helpful to set my kitchen timer so that it would ring to notify me and our daughter that it was time to go sit on the potty!

3. Get a “potty routine” established! I made up a tote bag that contained several books inside it and it hung on the back of the bathroom door. Every time she went in to sit on the potty, she got to sit with a book. This was part of our routine and it occupied her while she sat on the toilet. This is a great way to get kids to love books at an early age too!

4. Dress you child appropriately when potty training! Their bottoms should be easily dropped down. Don’t layer on tights, skirts, belts, leggings and other things that take several minutes to undo. If a child has to stand there for several minutes undoing everything then accidents can & will happen. Easy dressing is the name of the game when training your child to use the potty.

5. Realize that every child learns their toiletry habits at a different age and some catch onto it quickly while others lag behind. Just because Jane’s child was fully trained by age 2 doesn’t mean your child will master it at the same age. Just because Sue’s child only took 2 weeks to be trained doesn’t mean your child will master it that quickly too.

6. Accidents will happen! Don’t scold your child, humiliate them or punish them when they have accidents. It is completely NORMAL for all children to have accidents. In addition, even months after they have been trained don’t be surprise if they go through mini-phases when accidents occur again. It is all part of the learning process.

7. Invest in Pampers Easy Ups for your potty training needs. Pampers Easy Ups can help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to set aside their diapers and wear something with more of an underwear-like design that still helps keep accidental messes off clothing, bedding and other surfaces.

Pampers Easy Ups have fewer leaks than the other leading training pant to help simplify and improve the overall potty training experience. Pampers Easy Ups have an absorbent core that holds 25% more than the other leading training pant to help ensure little ones remain dry. Plus, with up to 12 hours of protection, it works during the day AND night, enabling toddlers and moms to confidently and completely transition from diapers towards underwear.

8. Celebrate, Praise and/or Reward! Every time your child has success on the toilet make sure you celebrate, praise and/or reward their success. We used to do the “happy dance” after each time she successfully used the potty and I would give her a little reward. This can be something as simple as a piece of small candy, some grapes (her favorite snack as a child), a cracker or two…whatever! Let your child feel your excitement and how proud you are of their accomplishments…even if it’s one step at a time!

9. Pick up some great books on the subject like Dr. Laura Jana’s (who co-authored) the book “Its You and Me Against the Pee..and the Poop, Too! These types of books are always loaded with great potty training advice and tips.

10. Involve Others! If you drop your child off at daycare or at grandma’s house make sure you ask them to help continue your potty training efforts while your child is in their care. This helps to keep a consistent routine for your child.

Right now we are getting ready to start training my little god son and as you all know, my daughter is pregnant with baby #2. I have to admit…I love potty training children. Do you? Got any great tips to share?

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Disclaimer: “This review and giveaway was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.”