If parents are looking online to find the right answer, here it goes: there’s no right answer!
Don’t panic. Of course, you can find some guides and tips either online or talking to somebody who went through the toilet training process with a toddler.
However, the most important thing to know about teaching your child to use the toilet or potty is: the right moment is when they are ready! (and only then)
What will help you to know when children are ready or not is pretty simple: just observe them.
Learning how to use the toilet is quite a big step for young kids. Mums and dads often get anxious about it and concerned if the process doesn’t go as planned, problems that can be avoided if parents decide to start it when their child is showing signs that she/he is ready to learn!
Another very important observation to make is if your child is going through a change in his/her life. It’s not appropriate to start toilet training if there’s a big change in the family routine such as moving houses, the arrival of a new sibling, starting Day Care, etc.
Some toddlers learn how to use the toilet very quickly while others need gentle encouragement, support and more practice until this becomes something natural.
Parents know their children better than anyone else in the world, so, simply be attentive for the signs that they are showing, which may include:
– the child is becoming generally more independent when it comes to completing tasks;
– is able to sit for some short periods of time;
– expresses curiosity in watching others going to the toilet;
– can hold urine and stay dry for at least 2 hours (this indicates that the bladder muscles are developed to hold the urine);
– can pull pants up and down;
– begins to dislike nappies and saying that she/he doesn’t want to wear it.
– can say when they are doing a wee/poo while they are doing it or can tell straight after.
If you child is definitely ready to start, then just follow these simple tips:
Learning Process
Don’t forget to make the toilet training as fun as possible. It’s another learning process and can take some time! This is an important step in your child’s life – just focus on being there and be supportive.
Avoid comparison
Each child is unique and has their own pace to learn everything. They will be toilet trained eventually and you will certainly miss these days when all they needed was some gentle guidance from you.
External conditions
If possible, start toilet training in warm weather – cold days are not helpful as kids are wearing more clothes which can make it a little more difficult. Also, if there’s an accident, being wet when it’s chill can even cause a cold.
Expect accidents! They will happen!
Just be understanding and try not to show it if you get frustrated – this is not helpful at all!
Simply say nice things such as: “that’s okay”; “this is not a big deal”; “we can clean it quickly”; “I understand sometimes it’s hard to remember”; “you can always tell me if you need to do a wee my darling”.
Be supportive, clean the mess, and keep going 🙂
My name is Natalia, sweetly called "Lala" since I started working with children. I am the owner of Lala’s Family Day Care and my passion is to make positive connections with my little ones, providing high-quality learning experiences. I believe that every child is unique and they grow the best when they feel valued, loved, happy and secure.