*First
off, Is your child ready? Is he able to acknowledge that he has to
"go", and be able to let you know that he has to use the potty or that
he already wet himself but knows he really should sit on the potty
anyway? How can you tell if he is ready? I've noticed when my three
year old son was ready when he started to pull his diapers off and wet
on the floor. Also, he knew when he was peeing and pooping in his
diaper and wanted some privacy to do it. Then wanted to be changed
right away because it didn't feel very comfortable. Other signs that
your child could be ready are:
Step 2:
*He's
staying dry for longer periods of time. You can acually attempt to time
these dry spells also. Check the clock every time he urinates. If he is
peeing close to every hour or two, you might try to set him on the
toilet every hour. This will help keep him from making accidents which
could upset him. *Your child is walking and running well. Usually when
a child has the urge to go to the bathroom the feeling comes on very
quickly to him. Being able to book it to the toilet will come in handy.
*your child shows interest and desire or your child is able to sit and
engage in an activity for several minutes without becoming distracted
or irritable. Its not all that fun to fight with a toddler. If your
child just can't (or won't) sit on the potty and at least attempt to
use it, then he probably isn't ready for the big step.
Step 3:
Once
your little one is ready, the trick is getting him to know when he's
got to go. Potty training isn't going to happen over night. BE PATIENT!
Step 4:
*He
is going to make lots of accidents. Whenever you catch him urinating
outside of the bathroom, walk your child to the toilet and set him on
it. Explain to him each time that this is where he goes pee. *Stay
Calm. Its hard not to get frustrated when you are trying so hard and
all of your hard work doesn't seem to be paying off. In time, it will.
Accidents are going to happen. When they do, walk, don't run. Running
at your toddler after he makes an accident may make him feel afraid
that you are angry with him, when in fact you just want to get him on
the potty before he finishes his business on the floor. *Be consistant.
Don't go back to diapers once your toddler has taken the big step. It
confuses them. Its best to keep him in little underpants or just let
him be nakie. If he can feel in his underwear that he is wet, he will
probably run to the bathroom. If he's naked, he will probably run to
the bathroom if he feels the wetness and will be able to see that he is
peeing also. *Schedule potty times. Tell him its potty time when he
first wakes up in the morning,after snack time, after lunch, after nap,
before and after outside play, before supper and before bed. Scheduling
these times, (or which ever times of the day work best for you and your
child), will keep him knowing that they are the best times to hop on
the pot and give it a try. *Underwear ~vs~ Pull ups. To a child, a pull
up is a diaper. Put it on them and they will pee in it. Yeah, it's best
when you and your child are out and about, but stick to your scheduled
times. Take him to a public restroom and have him use it. You have a
better chance of that pull up staying dry all day! Take him to the
store to pick out his own underwear. You've got a better chance of him
wearing them if he loves the ones he got to pick. *Don't ask, Tell. If
you ask a small child, while he's in the middle of playing ball
outdoors, if he's got to use the potty, what do you think he's gonna
say. Best to tell him, "Hey buddy, its potty time." He wont like it too
much, but he probably wont have an accident later on either. *In a case
like this, take him to the bathroom peacefully by telling him you have
something special. Keep a supply of books he's never seen before in the
bathroom and sit on the floor while he's on the toilet and read a book.
Blowing bubbles is also a favorite.
