Best Tips For Potty Training
What if your child still has accidents?
1. Try cotton undies. A pair of “big boy” underwear can boost his confidence, but they also let him have a chance to feel wet if he does go so that he realizes, oops, he had an accident. (Plastic pants over underwear can help make this step less messy.)
2. Accidents happen. Accidents can happen simply because a child is too busy playing and doesn’t notice he needs to go until it’s too late. And regression is normal (especially if there’s a time of upheaval in your child’s life, such as the birth of a new baby). The key is never to punish a child for having an accident. It’s all part of the process, says Schafer. If your child is having accidents, help train him to cope and be independent about it, she says. Make sure he knows what he needs to get to help clean up, as well as where to put his wet clothes.
3. Don’t get into a power struggle. If your child is reluctant to potty train, try to address the problem without making it a big issue, says Schafer. He may just need a different seat, a smaller potty, or simply some reassurance that it’s okay and he can wait until he’s ready. If you find yourself in a power struggle, back off. “The minute you say, ‘you’re right, I can’t make you do it,’ you’ve taken the pressure off and that’s when you will see a change in behavior,” says Schafer. “If you stop urging, he’ll stop resisting.”
