Potty pushback
Is your child ready? Readiness, and not age, should be the deciding factor. It also shouldn’t matter what season it is, or when his sibling or cousin or friend did it. Your child’s own readiness is what matters.
So, how will you know when he is ready?
One of the first signs is that he begins to show an interest in family members’ toilet activities. By all means, let him observe you or help you flush. Experts say you can typically expect this type of interest to occur when your little girl is about 32 months old and your little boy about 36 months old.
Another early sign that the end days of nappies might be approaching are that your child makes an attempt to pull his own pants up and down. Try out pull-up nappies at this stage, or, if you can get them, towelling undies.
A third early sign is that you can set your clock to when your child goes! Pay attention, and you might notice that he always poos at 9.45, for instance. Regular, as the experts call it.
You can stimulate your child’s interest in the potty in many ways. We’ve got some ideas for you:
TALK THE TALK
Help your child to begin recognising the feeling of being wet, getting wet and the sensation before wetting. It is the almost wet sensation that matters most here. So observe him closely, and comment when you see him suddenly freeze and look uncomfortable just after a number two. Ask pointed questions like: ”Have you made a wee?” or ”Did you poo?” instead of just asking what he’s doing. You could also ask him to come and tell you when his nappy is wet or soiled. Storybooks about children who use the potty also help, or you can just make up your own stories about the topic.
You could even play games and let his favourite toy sit on the potty and make a play-play poo or pee.
UNCOVERED TIME
Allow your child some naked time in the house, if it is warm enough and private enough, of course. It helps a lot if he discovers himself in the midst of a pee or poo by seeing what happens. Before or after bathtime is good for this.
A SPECIAL SPOT
Once your child begins to show an interest, you can make a habit of always changing his nappy in the bathroom near the toilet, so he can begin to associate the deed with the place.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Your child’s interest in the matter is important, but a few other things have to be in place too before you begin with potty training.
YOUR CHILD SHOULD…
• Be able to talk well enough to be able to tell you that he needs to pee.
• Be at least 2 years old, as that is when toddlers develop the muscle control that is necessary to keep urine in.
Summer is often an easier time to potty train, as you only have one light layer of clothing to remove.
Pick a time when you will be mostly just home, especially during the first few days of potty training. If your child goes to playschool, let them know that you are starting, so they can keep it up at school. They’re often just as keen as you are! Always be patient, and make a big encouraging fuss of a pee or poo that happens in the potty or toilet.
KIND AND CLEAR WORDS
Toilet issues are sensitive issues. We can’t emphasise enough that it is important to wait until your child is ready. And then you have to use very direct language. Don’t be vague and say ”Let’s go to the bathroom.” Rather say, ”Let’s go and pee.” Try not to use words like stinky or yucky either. This can make your child think that his body and bodily functions are shameful. Rather make the whole affair an exciting one!
Also chat about the advantages of wearing undies instead of nappies, and how nice it feels to be clean and dry, and how cool it is not to have to lie down for nappy changes all the time. It is important that your child receives positive messages that using the toilet is part of growing up. Beware of offering a sweet as reward for success, as it can create a lot of expectations. Rather offer a little reward at the end of a whole day, if he cooperated well. You could use star stickers rather than sweets.
BE PREDICTABLE
On the day you start, inform your child very clearly of what’s what during potty training. Put the potty in the bathroom near the toilet, and explain what he is going to try and do in it that day.
Push the liquids a bit more that day to make it easier, so his bladder fills up, and you can go to the potty often. Aim to take him every 90 minutes.
If nothing happens, you can try the old trick of opening a tap while he sits, but don’t try and force it in any way.
Don’t have a particular timeline in mind. Children are all different. Remain patient, and if you’re going out, you can still use a nappy. ●