So it’s time to wean your little beanie off diapers but every potty training trick you’ve tried just seems to still end right back in either a gooey mess on the rugs or a runny liquid map on the couch– not a pretty sight, we know. But just what if, it’s not time to wean them off their diapers yet? Usually, a child is ready to be potty-trained when they hit the 20-24 months old mark.
Your child is past the age of 2 and still isn’t taking your potty-training efforts any seriously? Don’t sweat it, most kids only register to find their way to their potty or the toilet at age 3! So yeah, don’t fret. It takes even longer for boys than girls to get the hang of it. But just before getting into the business, take a quick potty-ready assessment of your child to determine if you should even be worrying their pretty heads about leaving their diapers behind. Starting too early makes potty-training appear daunting to your child and starting too late makes the task boring for them, so get the time right by mentally ticking all or some of the following boxes:
- Can your child walk upright, sit and stand confidently without help or staggering?
If no, you shouldn’t attempt bothering a child that hasn’t even mastered proper use of their basic parts with the functions these parts should play. A child that hasn’t learned proper control of his voluntary muscles will also likely not have control over his bowel or bladder muscles. Bladder and bowel control are important prerequisites to potty training.
- Does your child go 3 hours or longer without wetting their diaper?
The more spaced out the peeing or pooping voids are, the more aware or even embarrassed they get when they soil themselves. At this stage, they start announcing by themselves before the big poop drops. Potty training takes a certain level of awareness you can then play up to make training them more effective and speedier.
- Is your child older than 20 months?
This is usually the age where they’ve covered a considerable amount of developmental milestones and can thus have a pretty good grasp of whatever you’ll be teaching them.
- Is your child curious when mum, dad or other older siblings go to use the bathroom or toilet?
Might just be the right time to swing into potty training action!
Boxes ticked? Let’s get right into some potty training hacks and say goodbye to those changing-table tantrums you so don’t look forward to.
#1: SHOW YOUR CHILD THEIR POOP.
Was your first reaction to reading this disgust? Lose that. Yes, lose it. The goal right here is to make the exposure to their poop or pee a positive treatment that doesn’t elicit any negative responses such as shame, disgust or embarrassment. Let them watch you clean the poop off the diapers as you flush down the toilet. If it’s a diaper soaked in pee, have them hold and feel the weight of a wet diaper against a dry and clean one. The point of this is to have it register into their subconscious how much more comfortable and effective it is to maintain a dry diaper as against making it all soaked up.
#2: HAVE THEM BE A PART OF YOUR BATHROOM SESSIONS
Virtually every child on earth copies what they see adults around them do, so how best do you potty train a child than have them watch you have a go at it. I promise you, you wouldn’t even need to try too hard to get them requesting to use that “white throne” (as my little bug fondly calls it). Getting them a potty that looks just like an adult’s toilet helps to really make them feel involved. Also, let them know what you’re using it for while they watch you. Hopefully, they can hang around long enough to watch you flush too.
PS: Don’t do this all the time, it’s only so much shit one can take. (Haha! Pun intended)
#3: FOR LITTLE BOYS, HAVE THEM GO TO THE BATHROOM WITH THEIR DAD
The posture and sitting loo-mechanics for mum is quite different from dad’s and it’s nice your little boy learns that early in the game. It’s good practice to have them see that unlike mum, dad has to stand a few centimeters away from the loo and at the same time make sure his urine makes the loo bowl and not the edges, or the floor.
Warning: Your little bug may find it hard to suppress the urge to reach for a scoop of willy fountain water. Dad must know to firmly but calmly tell him “no, you can’t do that, however, I’ll teach you a trick that turns that willy water from yellow to sparkling clear water!
Ready, Set, Flush!!!”
In no time, your little guy will not only get used to using the loo the way he should, but he’ll also learn to clean after himself the right way.
#4: GET A POTTY THAT MAKES THINGS FUN
Even I want to sit on a potty that doubles as a four-wheeler that takes me short distances round the house.
Having a fun, colorful potty your child can play with while in the bathroom helps them learn just how to sit properly on one. Help them understand what it’s for while at it. One way to do this is to have it next to the loo so while they watch you go about your business, they can replicate what you do with their potty as well.
#5: DIAPER-WEANING DAY!!!
Make a fuss about this, actually make it into a mini-celebration. Tell your little bean they’re now grown and will be wearing grown people’s panties and no more diapers. Have them understand what this comes with: They have to go to their potty, pull down their underwears and then sit when they feel the urge to pee or poop. No more pooping or peeing as soon as they feel the urge to.
Got a potty already? Get another fancier one or one like mommy and
#6: WHEN THEY MAKE MISTAKES …
Don’t reprimand them harshly. They’ll usually make a few puddles or even still pee in their underwear when they set out to do things on their own the first few times. What you should do instead is an “Uh-oh! Pee pee on the floor because you didn’t pull down your panties. Next time, pull down your panties and use the …” allow them fill the rest of the sentence, “potty” to help them figure their mistakes out themselves.
#7: AND WHEN THEY DO GET IT RIGHT?
TOOT, TOOT, TOOT THEIR HORNS!
Positive reinforcement goes a long way to ensure a repetition of desired behaviors. Your little one is now not so little and they deserve praises for big achievements such as this, so why not?
- How To Revive Your Sex Life After Baby - October 17, 2023
- The Sona App Aims To Make Your Child “Sleep Like A Baby” And We Tested It - May 14, 2023
- 7 Ways To Get Some Alone Time As A Mom - March 1, 2023
