Potty Training

Why is potty training a child seen as a mission for some women and not others, is it something the mother could be doing differently when teaching their child to use the potty, or is it something to do with child in general. Read on to find out more about potty training your toddler.

I believe there are lots for our children to learn as well as lots to take on board, and one of these common issues include potty and toilet training. Once you have got past the first hurdle of potty training, most moms think ha-ha they’ve cracked it. I myself was guilty of this, and it was my youngest daughter that proved it was not going to be the breeze I expected it to be.

It was one step forward and two back with the training part but we got through it, but this was not the end as all you moms are aware because the next step up from this was the issue of toilet training. Of course and to be expected with little kids learning to use the potty and loo there were still the odd accidents happening every now and again.

Nearly every child has their own way of letting you know when they are ready to use the potty or the toilet. Of course these ways may differ greatly in each child.

Some children might use signs like dancing on the spot trying to hold their wee, while others use their face and body, where you see their body quiver. However most common way to let you know is he/she will strip the nappy off and throwing it at their parents or anybody else who gets in the way.

It is hard not to try and push your children to begin using the potty or the toilet because it really is frustrating when you see other children of the same age as your own child using the toilet without a problem, it does make you feel as though you are doing something wrong or have started to late or to early, but I realized if you go with the flow it will happen eventually.

But it can be difficult, and gets easier over time when the learning process kicks in.

It is said that the majority of children can control there bowels before they can control there bladder and also that by the time a child reaches two years old there would be one in two children dry throughout the daytime.

All I can say is that both of my children were not dry like them mentioned above, and also I think that each child is different and will do it when they are ready to do so.

I always thought bedtime would be the hardest of all, but with my first daughter I just took her out of nappies as soon as she was dry in the day and when she woke the morning after, for me to find her nappy bone dry I never looked back after that. But it proved more difficult with my second daughter which when I relate back to what I was saying earlier that each child differs and they are ready when their ready.

It’s been said that getting a child to become dry at night will take longer than the daytime being dry because a child has to know the feeling of a full bladder and the sensation that they get, and also need to wake up when they feel there bladders full and needs to be emptied, it sounds easy to us adults but a child just does not understand.

When is the best time to start potty and toilet training your baby? Good question. You know your own child better than any other so this should give you great insight to what is the best time. If you have concerns then speak with your GP or local midwife.

*Children start to become aware of the sensation and feeling that they need to  the toilet

*They realize the uncomfortable feeling of having a damp or wet nappy

*Also they will get to know when they need the potty or the toilet and may say 
  so.

*If all of the above are happening you may want to try your child on a potty or toilet depending on which stage you and your child are at

*Helpful advice for both mum and her baby below to help encourage her infant (son or daughter.) to poo and wee in the potty or toilet

*Leave the potty around on the floor where the child is so he/she can see it and even and try putting a doll or cuddly bear on it and make a big fuss when pretending that the doll/bear has had a wee.

*If you notice a certain time scale that your child needs the toilet try and ask or remind them just before the time they usually go.

*When your child does attempt to go to the potty/toilet but can’t do anything, don’t be upset praise them for attempting to do something rather than thinking of the bad side that they did not do anything because, they tried at the end of the day and you cannot ask for much more than that surely.

*When your child does do anything on the potty/toilet no matter how small it may be always give the praise and hugs and let them know how pleased and happy they have made you feel.

*I feel the better you make a child feel the more they want to do it all the more.

*A big help could be the big girl/boy toilet seat which helps them feel more secure on the toilet because it can be frightening for them the size of that toilet hole compared to the size of the child’s bottom/bum.

And if all else fails the last resort as they get older and start to understand more you could try a reward chart if you feel your child has got to the point where they just can’t be bothered or they are being lazy. Set a target and if they reach the target for going to the toilet they get a reward of their choice obviously within reason, you can also use the chart for other problems that you may want to nip in the bud - stick to your guns at all times and it will work.

Problems with potty/toilet training

If your child is just not showing any interest in going to the toilet, then don’t be disheartened by this reaction, it will happen when your child decides that he/she does not like feeling uncomfortable in a wet nappy.

If you do find it hard and you feel you are getting nowhere with the toilet training then revert back to potty days for a week or so and then just try again.

If your child has a mishap and dirties when you feel you were getting somewhere just always remember to keep calm and don’t shout just remember they are trying and it is hard for them as well as yourselves.

Also if you finally get your child dry for a while and then wetting a lot starts again then it maybe an underlying problem, maybe they are worrying about something maybe as simple as a change of address or it could be down to something as simple as they got over excited and forgot whilst playing with friends.

Just always remember you will get there eventually and when you do you can be proud and the children can be proud of their achievement.