Potty Training!

Here at Alliance Childcare, we work very hard to ensure that we are working in support of parents, in partnership with them regarding all aspects of child development to create a strong alliance focused on the success of each child.  We work hard to provide support and resources for parents as kids go through the various ages and stages of development, learning and growing.

One of the most daunting challenges young parents will face, is that of helping their child to transition from diapers to “big boy/big girl” pants, and using the big potty!  It can be challenging to know exactly when it’s the right time to get started with this task, but parents can have greater success if they look for and wait for some of these signs before diving in.

Watch for your child to show some ques that they are “ready” to start potty training, such as:

·      Staying dry for at least two hours at a time, fairly consistently;

·      Showing signs that they can recognize the urge to go potty or poopy;

·      Being independent enough to be able to pull down/take off clothing, to sit on the potty, and to get off the potty independently and help with re-dressing themselves.

·      Showing interest in the potty – when other same sex family members are using the bathroom, or speaking about it, asking questions, etc.

·      Verbally asking to use the potty.

Typically, the ideal age for potty training a child is between ages two and three, although it is important to note that this varies from child to child so watch for your child to begin letting you know they are ready. Starting earlier can sometimes lead to setbacks, and can delay the ultimate success for a child. If a child is not ready to begin toilet training they may have a stressful experience with little success and it may actually deter them from learning. It’s also important not to start potty training when there are other major things happening in a child’s life, for example, if they are moving to a new classroom at childcare, or there is a baby being added to the family. Children need time to process things like a move to a new home, or the birth of a sibling, before jumping into potty training efforts. Parents are also smart to wait until children are physically healthy, and in a stable environment, so for example not when traveling. Both the parent and child must be emotionally ready for the child to begin toilet training as well as physically able to assist with the process, so the parent must make time to take them to the bathroom often, be willing to do some extra laundry and spend time helping their child through the process.

Some other tips for parents:

Make it fun!  Get the right “potty” and the super fun big girl/big boy pants that your child will be excited about. At Alliance childcare we don’t recommend the use of pull-ups through this process. It’s an extra expense, it actually makes more work when dressing and re-dressing kids, and it doesn’t allow them the opportunity to truly feel wet, and can confuse them because it still feels to them like they are wearing a diaper. If you want added protection but still to allow the child to experience the feeling of feeling wet, try purchasing some toilet training underwear that are thicker and help contain accidents for less mess. Involve your child in as many aspects as possible of the process, from picking the potty and underwear, to helping clean up when there are accidents, but be careful not be punish for accidents, and expect fully that they will happen. Be consistent and don’t force your child to do anything1. Be ready for ups and downs, and if it gets too frustrating, take a break for a month or two and reintroduce the process to your child. They may not have been quite ready and there is so much developmental change so quick between ages two and three, a couple of months can make all the difference in a child’s maturity and readiness to tackle this task!