7 Steps to a Potty Trained Toddler

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Potty training can seem like a scary task for any parent.  Try using these 7 tips to making potty training easier and more fun for your child.  First you need to remember that your child has no idea what the potty is for so take some time to get him or her used to the idea before you introduce the task completely.

Step 1: Make the potty chair a fun chair to sit on.  Let your child help pick out the potty she/he will be using.  Make a day out of it.  While shopping, include picking out underwear as part of the day.  Make a big deal out of how cool wearing “big girl/boy underwear” is and give them the freedom to choose what designs they want to wear. One more item to consider is a pack of stickers (these will be used in step 2).

Step 2: When you arrive home from the store, take the potty chair to the bathroom and put it in a clean roomy space that you child will have easy access to.  Bring out the stickers and let your child decorate the potty with them.  Praise your toddler for how good their special potty chair looks and how well they are doing putting the stickers on.

Step 3: Introduce the potty slowly.  Once you have prepared the potty chair, ask your child if they would like to try it out.  Make it exciting.  Choose books to put in a basket next to their potty just like the magazines next to yours, sing songs, and even make fun rhymes to say when using the potty.  This will allow your child to begin to feel comfortable with the concept of using the potty in a fun environment.

Step 4: The first time your toddler uses the potty praise and praise again!  You cannot be too positive with your child about using the potty.  Positive reinforcement is so important.  Try having a treat jar with gummy snacks or special toys like cars or little dolls.  This will help your child to learn that using the potty is a good thing.

Step 5: Ask your toddler often if he/she has to use the potty.  Remind them to tell you if they have to go and help them to get used to the feeling of needing to go potty.  When you go take him/her with you and put them on their potty.  Again sing and get excited while your child is trying to go potty.  The more it is for them, the better.

Step 6: This one is for the boys: When trying to help your son to stand while using the potty, try using a sticker or something that floats (that you don’t mind going in the toilet) in the potty.  Tell them to “aim” at the object.  This will help your potty trainer to learn where to “shoot” when using the potty like a big boy.  (Try not to use food like cheerios because little hands might want to retrieve it.)

Step 7: Accidents will happen.  From time to time a toddler that is potty training will have accidents.  Don’t punish them or holler at them for their accidents.  Reinforce the importance of telling you that they have to go to the potty, but be calm and get down to their level.  Tell them that accidents happen and that that is okay.  Take them to the potty chair and have them try again.  Remember to keep lots of extra underwear around that he/she can change into.

Potty training can be a difficult task.  All children are different and the timing has to be just right.  Don’t rush or force your child into potty training they will only fear the concept.  With patience and the 7 steps above, you will have a happy potty trained toddler in no time.

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