Best Tips For Potty Training
How to start toilet training
One of the best tips for potty training is actually not to rush things, says Schafer. “It’s not something that happens in 24 hours, it’s a process that can go on over the course of a year until he’s completely trained.” Here are some steps to help you get started:
1. Introduce your child to the idea. Let him watch you in the bathroom and explain the process to him. Buy a potty or children’s toilet seat and just have it around. Letting your child simply sit on the toilet or potty, clothed or otherwise, for a minute or two before bath time helps make it just another part of the routine.
2. Buy a doll or a potty training book. “Make sure he knows it's just about learning,” Schafer says. “As long as he thinks it’s interesting and fun, then it’s okay. If he doesn’t, then let it go and wait a little longer.”
3. Teach your child in stages. Just learning to pull his pants up and down, or to wash his hands on his own, are important steps in the whole process.
4. Praise success, minimize failure. Be careful not to make him nervous about going by hovering too much. Just put him on the toilet and chat or sing songs for a minute or two and see what happens. Do a “happy dance” when things go well, but don’t make a big deal about it if he doesn’t go. Just thank him for trying and tell him “oh well, maybe next time.”
