Potty Training Tips for Those Ready to Get Started

Diapers are so expensive, and cleaning the growing behind of a toddler is just increasingly gross as days go by, which is why parents look so forward to potty training. Except when potty training starts, most parents are completely overwhelmed and out of their comfort zone. It happens. Potty training is scary. You don’t want to do it wrong, you worry that something’s not right when your little one doesn’t pick it up right away, and you stress that your child is behind. Here are five great tips that will relax you, calm you down and make potty training much easier.

Don’t Compare

The best piece of advice anyone can give you when it’s time to start potty training is not to compare your child to others. According to medical professionals, most children aren’t ready to start toilet training until they are at least 22 months old, and many are even older than 30 months. There is no right or wrong time; it’s all in the child.

Wait for the “No” to stop

If you think it’s time to potty train, but your child’s favorite word is, “No,” think again. Kids who are going through the “No” phase are not ready to be potty trained because everything will turn into a battle and your child will not comprehend what is happening. Wait for this stage to end and for your little one to communicate a little better.

Understand Time Frames

Some people can potty train their kids in a few days or weeks. Others can’t. There are plenty of people who have advice for you, but the average time in which it takes to potty train a child is 3 months, and it typically takes boys longer than girls. Additionally, you will likely have to help your child wipe after a bowel movement until he or she is around 4 or 5, and public restrooms might require more assistance than comfortable, familiar bathrooms.

Don’t Force It

Children who resist the potty are not ready to be toilet trained, according to medical professionals. If your little one is doing a good job potty training and suddenly begins to resist it, it’s best to stop for a while and begin again when your child is no longer resistant to the potty. Additionally, stress and illness and disruption of a child’s routine can cause them to have issues potty training.

Prepare the Family

When it’s time to potty train, make sure the entire family is ready. This means prepping every bathroom in your home, making sure all family members are on board and not trying to make big changes in your child’s potty routine when there are already big changes going on in his or her life. For example, the birth of a new baby is not the time to start potty training. Do it before the baby arrives.

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