In our experience, these tips work!
- Once your child shows signs of physical and emotional readiness as outlined in the following WebMD article http://children.webmd.com/tc/toilet-training-topic-overview, it is important to BE CONSISTENT so you are not switching back and forth to diapers and underwear every other day/week. Once you decide to make the move to underwear, do it! This means that you need to time car trips and trips to the potty! You will soon learn where all the public bathrooms between home and your regular destinations are.
- You may need to start by taking your child to the bathroom on a regular schedule until they are confident about telling you when they need to go with enough time to actually get there and get on the potty. We usually recommend taking the child every hour at first, unless your child has recently drunk a large amount of fluids. Keep a look out for signs they need to go (the pee pee dance or hiding in a corner for #2).
- Make it a big deal to go out and pick out the underwear together— let them pick out their favorite characters as this is very motivating!
- In our experience, Pull-ups are not that different from diapers, and tend to confuse the child and prolong the potty-training experience. We suggest skipping this step all together.
- It is normal to have accidents! That is how they learn. Send in 4 – 5 extra pairs of underwear and clothes* when your child is in the training process at school.
- If the child starts to display signs of “not being ready” (refusing to go and try at regular intervals), hold off on the training, and then start up again once they are showing those signs of readiness.
- It may take longer to learn to do #2. This is normal! You will learn your child’s poop schedule and look for signs that they are ready. When you see these signs bring them to the potty to “check”.
- It may also take longer to stay dry at nap or night time. We suggest putting a diaper UNDERNEATH the underwear. Try referring to it as your “nap diaper” or “sleep diaper” so it is “different” from a regular diaper.
Lots of times children will want to be completely done with diapers once they have made the move to underwear. Try to limit fluid intake right before nap/bedtime and always have them do a “pee pee” check before. If your child can make it through nap/nighttime with a dry diaper on a regular basis, they may be ready to try wearing underwear at night, too! - Make a really big deal about your child’s potty success! Hugs and cheers go a long way!
*If your child is potty training at Pine Village we request you send in 4-5 changes of underwear, pants, socks and at least one other pair of shoes. Please check each day and change out soiled clothes and make sure that they have the right number of recommended changes.