I remember a few years ago, I was sitting in a park in New York City with my oldest son who was almost two years old. While he was busy playing, I started chatting with a few other parents. One conversation struck me in particular. A father asked me when I plan on potty training my son. He went on to brag about how his son was potty trained at 18 months. I looked at my son and I pondered his question for a while. To be honest, I hadn’t thought about potty training at that point. I also never felt like this was something I wanted to rush. I was happy my son was in diapers. I liked diapers, and I liked the convenience they provided. Sure, diapers are costly, but getting out of them wasn’t something I gave much thought to, until then…
That would not be the last time I would discuss or talk about potty training. In fact, my friends often ask me for advice as to when I think the best age is to start, and how to go about it. I’m currently in the very-early (VERY should be emphasized) stages of potty training my middle son Ryan, who is two and a half. Since potty training is probably one of the most googled parenting question, I thought I would provide you with some tips.
AGE
Question: When is the right age to potty train?
Answer: There is no specific age that is right; rather, there’s a range. Personally, I believe that potty training is highly dependent on the child and the parent. Should a parent wish and choose to devote a lot of time and effort into potty training because it’s something that they strongly believe in, so be it. It might take a long time to get your child to be fully potty trained, but you can start if you want to. Personally, I believe that the biggest indicator of when one should start is based on the child. If your kid can articulate that they need to use the bathroom, in advance of actually doing the deed, to me, that is a sign that they are ready to be potty trained. To determine if your child is ready, listen to their verbal cues. The verb tense that they use can help you determine if they are ready or not. For example: “I peed” vs “I’m peeing” vs “I need to pee”. This is a natural progression for kids as they learn about their bodily functions. It’s when they get to the “I need to pee” phase that they are truly ready to potty train.
Potty training and learning about hygiene go hand-in-hand. It also allows your kid to feel independent.
SEASON
Question: When is the best time of the year to start potty training
Answer: Summer! A great way to potty train is to have your kid naked as much as possible. Young kids will identify their need to use the potty quicker without any support down there. It will also allow you to get them sitting on the potty faster as it doesn’t require you to pull down their pants or take off their diaper. When we potty trained my oldest son, it was over the summer where we spend most of the time at the cottage. Over June and July I would let him run around outside the cottage naked. When he felt the urge to pee, we pulled him to the side, and he went in the woods, bushes etc… By early August, he was potty trained! It never felt forced and he was a willing participant. Obviously, not everyone has the luxury of having a cottage but you can still spend a lot of time outdoors in your backyard over the summer weekends in minimal clothing.
GEAR
Question: What should I buy to help with potty training
Answer: There are a few items that I would recommend as necessity for potty training. The first is a POTTY and / or a toilet seat. Personally, we had two potties, one for each floor so we wouldn’t waste any time trying to get to it. We also have toilet seats in each bathroom in the house so they can use them during bath time or as we prepare for bed. You can find fairly inexpensive ones at Walmart if you want to grab a few. The second items further help promote and achieve independence in your kids and those items are flushable wipes and soap. Our personal favourites are the Kandoo Flushable Wipes and Hand Soap. Ryan is currently obsessed with the hand soap so it provides him with further incentive to go potty. My oldest son Kyle, who was potty trained shortly before turning 3, still asked us to do a “check” after he wipes. However, since we gave him Kandoo flushable wipes, he feels more confident that he fully wiped, and no longer asks us to do a check.
Kandoo Flushable Wipes helps my son feel independent
I’m currently embarking on potty training Ryan as timing is right and he’s asking to use the toilet on his own accord. He gets excited to use the toilet before entering the bath. He may be six months younger compared to when we potty trained Kyle, but HE is ready!
GIVEAWAY
Just in time for potty training season, my friend at Kandoo and I, are giving away a variety of Kandoo and Boogie products, valued at $150. Contest is open to all residents of Canada. Enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter (please give it a few seconds to load). Contest ends Tuesday July 7, 2015.
Be patient with the little ones. It will happen when they are ready.
set the stage, set up a potty for them and their own fun kandoo products. and since they barge in the washroom with you every time you go talk to them about what you are doing so it gives them the vocabulary. also i would say with boys (which is my only experience), give them the choice to stand or sit to pee
patience, and don’t compare your child to others.
Patient is the no 1 tip I can share!
If the child is not interested in sitting on the potty then there is no reason to start potty training you are just going to end up with a lot of messes to clean up. I have a little guy in my daycare and a few months ago his mom decided that she wanted him potty trained and started sending him in underpants but within 10 minutes of him showing up he peed on the floor. I spent the day trying to get him to sit on the potty and he had absolutely no interest in it. After cleaning up a half dozen pees and poopy pants I dug out a Pull-up we had left over from when I trained my son and told his mom at the end of the day that he was not ready. The same little guy told me the other day that he needed to pee and he sat on the potty, without a fight, and I read him a few potty books. There was nothing in the potty but he was ready to try. If the parent is ready but the child isn’t there will just be a lot of frustration for both sides and it may even make training take longer.
My tip is to just be consistent and remember every child is different.
My tip is one I have learned recently myself – sometimes you need to follow your child’s lead with potty training, because if they are not ready it just isn’t worth it to try and push it! My strategies that worked easily for my first child have not worked at all with my second. After trying to figure out what to do, how to make it work etc, I finally realized that now is just not her time. There is no magic age – when they are ready they are ready!
I was able to train my daughters (at age two) much faster than my sons. When the time comes for my next son I don’t even think I’ll try till closer to three.
I also found the potty helpful especially since it can be placed anywhere in the house…usually where I was, and that made it more likely for said child to want to sit on the potty.
When I found that my kids were pulling at their diapers I decided I would put them on the potty every 30 minutes and see if they could pee. When they finally did go on the potty they realized that is what they were to do. BUT even when we went anywhere I had an extra potty with us in the truck (mini van)and if they had to go we had to pull over. Just because we were potty training I did not wish to stop the kids from going anywhere because of it.. I also kept on them do you have to go lets try and they would IT worked they were trained at a very young age
My biggest tip is lots of praise and a whole lot of patience, and I like to give small treats for when they go on the potty!
Be patient and don’t rush it. Little rewards help too.
Give them time and space to get use to it.
be patient and don’t get stressed because the kidlet picks up on that and it just makes everything more difficult!
Honestly nothing really worked for my son, he just took his own time with learning.
Patience and rewards
Bribery works wonders!! We give our little one a little chocolate chip everything he pees in the potty!
don;t try to force the potty on your child. every child is different and will do things at different ages. My daughter is 2.5 and is no where near ready for potty training. I still put her on the potty as i try every couple of weeks but she still has absolutely no interest in it right now
Introduce the potty before potty training and let them play with it with a doll
I really thing the best tip is to be patient!
I have read quite a few articles about it and one tip that stuck with me was to start training sitting down. Little boys are just too short to reach the toilet. True, a step stool can be provided but unless you’re going to bring it with you everywhere you go it isn’t really realistic. Standing up will come in time 🙂 Wonderful prize pack! Thank you for the chance.
Patience and praise!!! I”m about to start this as well with T!!
no devices while on the potty. someone we know is surprised their child shows no interest when the second the child sits they are handy their game device (eww)
Hmmm, I’m no expert. My daughter basically trained herself by 2 1/2 and my son si now is 2 1/2 and refuses to have anything to do with potty training. I need some help:)
My tip is to not push them and let them do it when they’re ready! we are about to start potty training soon once he shows interest
patience, all kids are different from each other so dont be upset when same age and one is not ready, they will let you know, dont force them
Be patient 🙂
Don’t push the kids for potty training. Make them interested to try instead. Give reward for success will make them more looking forward to try to do it again
My tip: patience is key! Know that every child is different and don’t start them too early because friends and family are telling you they should be ready. You are the parent and you make that call. If you start too early, you’re setting yourself up for failure and frustration.
Jeannie Lam
Haven’t started yet but thinking of getting a seat soon. Not going to rush into anything! Will wait for good communication first.
put a cheerio in the potty… helps with aim!
My best tip is to potty train during the warmer months. Not only is it easier when there’s an accident, it’s easier for them to use the potty when they’re not dress in layers.
Be patient with your child and don’t rush them.
make each potty session fun, encourage but don’t push.they all are different and will train when they are ready.
If they have an older sibling, let them watch them go to the washroom. I have a 5 year old son and a 22 month old son. The little guy is now interested in sitting on the BIG toilet because he follows whatever his big brother does. It’s FAB!
Wait until they are ready. I didn’t push at an early age and it went so quick and easy. I waited until his 3rd bday and one weekend and he was done!
Patience is key and wait until they are showing signs of interest in using the potty! 🙂
Be patient!
Lots of patience
START EARLY BY BRINGING YOUR CHILD TO THE BATHROOM WITH YOU SO THEY START TO TAKE AN INTEREST
Patience, patience.
Patience and having a sense of humour helps! I also have seen where a toddler watches an older child go increases them to do it too.
sometimes nana can be persuasive when mom can’t. try it.
Try the rewards system. We use to do two smarties for pee in the potty and four for poop.
I found that each child has their own pace for being potty trained. My children often looked to their siblings which made them want to be potty trained too. If a child isn’t ready don’t push it, it will happen in time 🙂
Don’t push. Each child is different, and not every child will be ready when they are 2. Its okay, it will happen you just have to let it happen in their own time.
Encourage them with rewards
Just be patient 🙂
Start training them only when they are ready!
Stay consistant
pinterest name : Pinterestedo I think it entered before I could correct when I hit enter on the rafflecoptor form
I like the sticker chart with rewards at the end of the week
Try and be patient
I posted on facebook
I found waiting until my son was ready then using sticker charts with rewards got the job done in a day or two with no night wetting either.
My best tip – be patient.
The only thing I can contribute is to be patient and no matter how much you will it to happen, it’s up to the baby/toddler. They will only do it when they are ready. Patience is key. Don’t rush it.
I have twins and they were a true testament to the fact that every child is different. They both learned at their own pace and in their own time. It’s true that your little one’s will let you know when they’re ready 🙂
Always be consistent, even when travelling. Also, I found with my four, that waiting until the child was totally ready is key, Don’t force it!
My best tip is to wait until the child is ready. If they aren’t catching on, take a break for a few weeks and come back to it when they are more interested.
Jonnie
Have a lot of patience and have a good attitude.
Praise when they go!
Praise, excitement, sticker chart AND a little baby m&m and they were off!
Not to rush it. You can’t force it. The child needs to be ready
Be patient, every child learns in their own time.
My best tip would be patience.
Do not force them or rush them. They will do it when they are ready!
be patient , dont EVER scold , and make sure to give lots of praise 🙂