Potty Training a Child: How to Do It and When Can Parents Start?

By / October 17, 2023 / Parenthood, Parenting & Family

How to Potty Train Your Child?

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Some pediatricians recommend potty training for the baby at the age of 1.5. You shouldn’t do it earlier than this because the baby cannot control their intestines and bladder to start potty training a child. But what are the signs to start potty training and how to potty train a child?

Potty Train Your Child

At the age of 1.5 – 2 years, the child is mature enough to master a new skill both physiologically and psychologically. When they are ready to learn, this process is much more comfortable and effective. 

At the age of 1.5 years, teach your kid to go potty at a certain time, for example, before and after walking, sleeping, eating. Then, the probability of catching “that very moment” is much higher.

How to understand the signs to start potty training a child?

  • The child begins to understand the requests addressed to them: what they should do and why.
  • They can express their wishes with words or sounds.

little boy potty training

  • The child feels less comfortable in wet diapers.
  • The child remains “dry” longer.

How to potty train your kid? Pieces of advice for parents:

The simpler the potty is, the better.

A comfortable back and stability are very important. Some additional entertaining options (music, flashing lights, etc.) can develop a negative attitude towards going potty. The child can accept it as a toy.

Observe your kid without a diaper.

Check a typical time for them when they “need to go.” Parents can start replacing a diaper with underpants for some time during the day (for example, for an hour per day), then gradually increase the time.

baby with diaper

It gives a possibility to determine the rhythms of the baby’s urination. For example, mostly, the child goes potty right after sleeping or eating, or, probably, after a specific period.

Identification of features

Identification of such features allows us to get the child on the potty in their rhythm; in other words when the bladder is really full.

Girl potty training with teddy

It makes this process effective, and the chain is built in the baby’s mind: “a discomfort because of a full bladder – going potty – relief.”

The time when the child is not sitting on the potty shouldn’t be wasted!

You can look at and discuss with the baby some pictures with other kids or animals, sitting on the potty. You can read fairy tales or rhymes on this topic also. Children learn through the example of each other or their favorite characters.

If the child resists going potty, you should postpone training for a little while.

Otherwise, you won’t get a positive result, but you’ll definitely get discomfort for the whole family!

Also, screaming at the baby for mistakes can cause negative results. In the process of potty training, it’s important to praise your child for small victories and disregard failures! 

Potty training baby

How to understand that the child is potty trained

When the kid feels the urge and goes to the potty by themselves (without mom’s reminder), takes their pans off, sits on it, and is done, then mom can be proud of herself and her kid. The baby potty training mission is completed!

What did you think about our potty training ideas? Let us know in the comments below! Check out our other related articles.

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Liliana
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