Making PottyTraining a Success

Before starting potty training keep a record for a few days, charting every 20 – 30 minutes whether your child is dry, wet, or dirty. Some pull-up diapers have a strip that changes color to make this easier. Chart periodically, maybe once a day each week after starting training to keep track of progress, problems, and tendencies.

• When you start toilet training, prepare the environment with the needed equipment and remove extra distractions.

• Plan a schedule for potty time that will match the report you gathered. If the child usually stays dry for an hour, anticipate to take him/her to the bathroom about 10 minutes before. Try to match the schedule to the natural cycles of the day.

• Plan a potty training routine that you will have your child follow and make a picture chart of that routine so that your child and everyone who helps him can follow it. Change the cue level by decreasing examples as the child achieves the skill.

• Watch for signs of toilet readiness such as when your charting shows being dry for an hour, your child indicates in some way that she is wetting or soiling diapers, indicates in some way that she has soiled or is wet, regular bowel movements, or interest in others going toilet.

• Keep positive, praise attempts, praise being dry and clean, use reinforcement and give your child time.

• When your child has some success with understanding toileting help him/ her learn to indicate that they are going to the toilet with a sign, word, or picture or several of these. Children today often use potty, pee and poop, but signing toilet,or potty may work or a picture of the toilet may be helpful. Visual cues as part of your routine helps the child tell you when they have to go potty.

By all means I am no expert on potty training but I do have a lot of experience. I was a preschool and infant toddler teacher for over 15 years and have helped with potty training many children. I have already potty trained one of my boys who was 1 1/2 years old when he was potty trained which is not very common for boys. Every child is different and will be ready at different ages. My 3 1/2 year old who has autism is not potty trained yet, and in my opinion not ready to start potty training as of yet.How ever he does show some signs of readiness, but by no means will i rush him.We will try when the new school year starts. Fingers crossed!

I have been asked by many parents on how to begin the potty training process, that is why I have put this mini series of post together.

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