How to potty train a child?

How to potty train a child – this is a question many parents ask themselves. And they don’t always know how to answer it correctly. Meanwhile, potty training is strictly individual for each child, depending on age, mood, and development.

Potty training involves recognizing readiness to eliminate and implementing the individual steps: discussion, undressing, eliminating, washing, dressing, and hand washing. Most children can be taught bowel control between 2 and 3 years of age and bladder control between 3 and 4 years of age. By age 5, the average child can go to the toilet alone.

The key to successful potty training is recognizing signs of readiness (usually between 18 and 24 months): the child can remain dry for several hours, shows interest in sitting on the potty, shows visible signs of preparation for a bowel movement or urination, wants to be changed afterward, demonstrates the ability to put things away, and can understand and follow simple verbal commands. Approaches to potty training should be the same for all caregivers.

When can you start potty training your child?

Don't start toilet training until both you and your child are ready. You're ready when you can devote the time and energy needed to encouraging your child to use the potty every day.

Most children begin to show signs of readiness to use the potty between 18 and 24 months, although some may be ready earlier or later. Because of the nature of child development, boys often start later and may take longer than girls.

Signs that your child is ready to potty train on his own include:

• Your baby lets you know when his diapers are wet or dirty.
• Your child is showing signs that he is interested in sitting on the toilet seat or on the toilet.
• Your child says he would like to go potty.
• Your baby feels uncomfortable if his diapers (pants) are wet or dirty.
• Your baby stays dry for 2 hours or more during the day.
• Your baby wakes up with a wet diaper.
• Your baby can pull his pants down and then up again.

You may start to notice these signs when your baby is between 1.5 and 2 years old. However, it is not uncommon for a baby in diapers to cry when their diapers are wet and to let you know that they need to go to the toilet.

How to prepare a child for potty training?

The timed method is the most common approach, where once the child is ready, the parents discuss with the child what will happen, choosing words the child can understand and pronounce. The child is gradually introduced to the potty, and sits on it fully clothed for a short time; then the child learns to take off his pants, sit on the potty for 5-10 minutes, and get dressed.

The purpose of this exercise is explained to the child several times and emphasized by placing wet or dirty diapers in the potty. Once the connection between the potty and the bowel movement has been formed, parents should anticipate the child's desire to defecate and reward him for successful defecation. The child is also encouraged to use the potty every time he feels the urge to defecate. The child should also be taught to flush and wash his hands after each bowel movement. This method is difficult to implement in children with an unpredictable bowel movement rhythm; teaching should be postponed until the child is no longer able to anticipate bowel movements.

You must not get irritated and punish the baby if he/she does not succeed. If the child resists and does not want to sit on the potty, you should try again after eating. If the refusal continues, you should postpone toilet training for at least several weeks. Changing behavior with rewards for successful elimination is one of the conditions; when the skill is consolidated, rewards should be gradually discontinued. You should not force the child, as this often leads to regression of acquired skills and can worsen the relationship between the parents and the child.

Potty-trained children may lose skills during illness, emotional distress, or when they want more attention, such as when another child is born. Refusal to use the potty may also be a manifestation of manipulation on the part of the child. In these situations, parents are advised to avoid pressuring and motivating the child, and, if possible, to give the child more care and attention during times not related to toilet training.

Let your child feel natural when you go to the bathroom and let your child feel comfortable in the bathroom. Let your child see his urine and bowel movements in the toilet - he will understand that it will not look good in pants. Let your child practice flushing the toilet.

Before you begin toilet training your child, place the potty somewhere visible in your child's room so that he or she can become familiar with the potty. Allow your child to examine, touch, and sit on the potty by themselves.

Tell your child that the potty is his or her own. Allow your child to sit clothed on the seat as if it were his or her regular place. Allow your child to refuse the potty at any time. Do not force your child to spend time sitting on it.

Once your child has gotten used to the potty and is sitting on it regularly with clothes on, try asking your child to sit on the potty without pants. Let your child get used to sitting on the potty now without pants and diapers.

The next step is to show your child how to use the potty. Place a pile of dirty diapers on the potty. Let your child watch the movement of the bowel movements in the toilet. Let your child flush the toilet and watch the bowel movements disappear into the bowl.

How to teach a child to use the toilet?

Once your child has started using the toilet with you and has understood what it is for, you can begin teaching your child to use the potty or the toilet. Dress your child in pants that are easy to remove.

Place your child on the toilet seat whenever he signals the need to go to the toilet. Your child's facial expression may change when he feels the need to urinate or defecate. Your child may stop whatever he is playing when he feels the need to go to the toilet.

Most children have a bowel movement once a day, usually within an hour of eating. Most children urinate within an hour of drinking anything.

Carefully observing the signals that the child gives you before urinating or defecating, put the child on the potty, and do this constantly. This can continue every 2-2.5 hours.

Stay with your child when he is on the potty. Read something or talk to your child when he is on the potty. This can help your child relax. Praise your child when he goes to the bathroom to use the potty, but do not express disappointment if your child fails to do anything on it. Be patient with your child.

Once your child has mastered using the potty, he or she can begin using a toilet seat.

What to do if a child accidentally causes an "accident"?

Your child may have occasional "accidents" even after learning how to use the toilet. Sometimes children get too involved in play and forget that they need to go to the toilet. By offering regular toilet breaks, you can help your child prevent "accidents."

If your child has gone potty in his pants instead of the potty, stay calm. Don't punish your child. Just change his pants and encourage your child to use the potty again in the future.

How long will it take for a child to use the potty on his own?

Every child is different. Potty training can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months of daytime potty training. But it may take longer to get your child to the toilet at night when bladder control is reduced. It is important for you to be patient and supportive throughout.

If after a few months your child is still resisting or has difficulty with toilet training, talk to your doctor. The most likely reason your child has not learned to use the potty is that he or she is not ready to use the potty.