Go!
Lots of concentrated practice in a few days is better than practice spread out over a period of weeks. Provide salty foods to increase thirst, and encourage youngsters to drink lots of liquids. If the toddler agrees, have her spend the day without clothing so you can catch her in the act and take her to the potty when nature calls.
Praise for being a “big boy” or “big girl” can backfire when toddlers are vacillating between “me do it” and “Mommy do it.” Saying “Mommy doesn't want her baby to have to wear wet diapers anymore” may provide more incentive than saying “Big kids use the potty instead of going in their diapers.” Applying some cornstarch or cream after youngsters have used the potty and exchanging tickles and kisses can reassure them that mastering this skill won't turn their world upside-down.
Teaching Hygiene
Using the potty will be messy for little boys who insist on standing to urinate. Learning to aim takes practice, and splashing is inevitable. If they won't sit, have them climb onto a stool to urinate into the toilet. Make sure the stool is stable and doesn't slide. Teach children basic hygiene.
Show them how much toilet paper to use.
Teach girls to wipe from front to back so they don't introduce bacteria into the vagina.
Consult your pediatrician for ways to care for an uncircumcised penis as your son goes through the potty training process.
Provide a stepping stool so they can reach the sink.
Help them turn on the cold water, apply soap, rub their hands together, rinse, and dry them with a towel.
Explain the danger of turning on the hot water.
Many stomach and intestinal upsets that parents believe to be a mild case of flu are actually bacteria from poor bathroom hygiene. Toddlers spend a lot of time with their hands in their mouths; they must be taught to wash carefully every time they go to the bathroom.
Rewards and Praise
Lots of parents recognize that their personal interest in potty training is much greater than their youngster's, so they happily invest in a quantity of Hot Wheels, stickers, cookies, or other items to make the potty experience worthwhile. At first, rewards can be given for simply sitting on the potty for five minutes. Later, the parent can up the ante. To be effective, keep these tips in mind:
The child must understand exactly what to do to earn the reward, whether it is just sitting on the potty for a specified period or urinating in or having a bowel movement in the toilet.
Don't require the child to go for a whole day without an accident in order to earn a prize.
Give rewards immediately; they should
Don't give the reward if the child doesn't complete the required task. You can, however, reassure the child that he'll have another chance to earn one later.
Change the type of reward if the toddler loses interest.
When you give rewards for desired behavior, accompany them with verbal praise, since the ultimate goal is for the child to progress beyond the need for tangible goodies. However, if a toddler is in an oppositional stage, it may work better to refrain from verbal praise and simply say, “Here is your prize for having used the potty” or “You should be proud of yourself.” Effusive comments like “I am so proud of you!” can trigger the rebellious impulses that make so many two-year-olds want to do the opposite of whatever they sense their parents want. Instead, try, “Aren't you proud of yourself?” This is a bit less confrontational.
Many toddlers are content to wet their diapers, but try to avoid piddling on the floor. Many also love to run around the house naked. Allowing them to go without clothes can serve as an incentive for them to use the toilet, but you must be willing to clean up accidents patiently.
Target Practice
When parents turn potty time into a game, most kids can't wait for the chance to play. The standard procedure is to draw a bull's eye with a magic marker on a circle of tissue paper. Drop it into the potty, and see if your toddler can take aim, fire, and score a hit. Alternatively, drop a Cheerio or a square of marked toilet paper into the potty and see if the child can hit it. (This is easier for boys, but fun for all.) Boys can also try to roll a Ping-Pong ball around the bowl. (Disinfect both the ball and the hand that retrieves it afterward.)
But if parents lose interest in the games before their toddler and decline to participate, the child may decide diapers are preferable. As much as toddlers are determined to prove their independence by opposing every parental suggestion, they need all the attention of a little baby. If forced to choose, most toddlers would probably decline to grow up.
Tinkle Toonz musical potties, available at many stores, have a moisture-activated sensor, so that when children tinkle, they receive instant positive reinforcement: a chorus of “Old MacDonald.”No tinkle, no tune. It provides toddlers with that all-important sense of personal control — only they can make it work.
Tracking Progress
With a large piece of paper and a box of stars or stickers, parents can make a chart to help their toddler track her progress. After each successful use of the potty, the child gets to add a sticker to a chart under the correct day. (Instead of a chart, one mother let the child place stickers directly on the potty. He was thrilled!)
After each wet or soiled diaper, the parent may wish to note the time and day. This information can be used to determine the times of day when the child needs more help. Sometimes toddlers consider stickers a great incentive; sometimes an additional motivator in the form of a prize after the child has earned five stickers boosts enthusiasm. So you don't start the troublesome battle of “if I do what you want, what will you buy me?” consider bestowing the gift you can feel good about giving and the present toddlers love most of all: spending time with
Up with Undies, Down with Diapers!
Have your child help select underwear that can be worn as her reward for sustained continence. Let her break out her new attire when she's made it through a full day without an accident.
To increase interest in using the potty for toddlers who are intently working on independence and autonomy issues (that is, going through a very oppositional stage), parents can try making a studied show of having lost interest in it themselves. Employing a bit of reverse psychology works best if a youngster has demonstrated some enthusiasm for learning, but the pattern has been for enthusiasm to quickly fade. Some of these strategies are a bit harsh; parents need to beware, since by using them they risk creating still more control struggles:
Suggest your tot relinquish Pull-Ups and return to diapers.
Allow the youngster to experience the discomfort of wet and soiled diapers by being less responsive to changing them. (Delaying a few minutes is enough — the point isn't to torture little ones or to cause diaper rash!)
Pick her up for a diaper check or change when she's engrossed in a fun activity.
Eliminate the fun and games when changing him.
Be less solicitous and more businesslike.
Although the interruption of usual family routines during a trip or vacation can set potty training back, it may be better not to worry about it until returning home. Otherwise, it's a good idea to pack up the potty since strange bathrooms, which many toddlers find scary, can cause a setback. For a truly portable potty you can use in the car, try a plastic ice-cream bucket for girls and a plastic jar for boys. Don't forget a waterproof pad to put over the mattress.
