Potty training

[dinkydo]

Just a quick question about potty training and when i should start how i should do it and .... well generally everything, ppl ive asked really dont tell me anything helpful so im left here to find my answer.  i know baby is not ready yet but i wana be prepared.

[chatting in chatroom]

To be honest it depends on when your little one is ready for it.  Most books and professionals say between 18 months and 2 years but i found that to be BS. 

Only start introducing them to the potty at that stage, Just before they have a bath stick them on the potty for like 20 secs if they do something then BIG claps and hurrays to motivate them to go again.  If they start getting stressed on the potty then just take them off, its not worth it.  Children can become potty phobic, not meaning they are scared of the potty just that they have negitive memories about it and will refuse to go anywhere near it. 

In my experience its best to leave them till they are 2 years to 2 1/2.  Some children will potty train themsleves very quickly others it will be a hard long slog.  Start putting pull up nappies on them and take them to the potty after every meal to begin with.  Once this becomes a routine its time to take the nappy off .......

Clear about 2 weeks in your calender if you can, simply take the nappy off and bring them to the potty every 1/2 hour to 1hour.  Especially 30 min after a big drink.  Be prepared with a sponge and gloves because it WILL go everywhere for the first while ... but dont give up cos then they will learn that if i cry long enough or dont do as im told mummy will give up and i wont have to do this. 

Once this results in no accidents, then begin to let him/her take themselves to the potty, make sure for the first few days there is no distraction i.e. tv or hyper play (they will forget).  continue with this until they begin to take them selves to the potty, then start the process over again with a pair of under pants on .... yes you must begin again because a pair of pants feels like a nappy.

If you are potty training and you must go out DO NOT put a nappy back on them.  Get a puppy training pad, put it under them in the car and bring a spare set of cloths.  If you regress so will they.  Gradually by doing this your child will learn that there is no need for nappies and will be very proud of themselves.  Always bring them potty just before going out, dont set them up to fail. 

If your child gets potty phobic then stop for a day or two there is no need to over stress yourself and your child.  Always let it be a positive experience for your child and if you start to get stressed just leave it for a while, no one will die if there is an accident on the floor.

Often times children will not get it for ages and then all of a sudden it clicks.  Potty training is very hard and will take a long time for alot of ppl.  Although there are some that are out there that will have a potty trained child at the age of 18months.

There are products and gimicks out there that are ment to help you but to be honest most of them just make the bathroom another play room and distracts the child.

Best of luck with that when the time comes, i hope this helped.

[dinkydo]

gosh it sounds like hard work.  I know im ahead of myself here but i also wanted to know about potty training at night, how do most of you deal with that. 

[chatting in chatroom]

Potty training at night is something you cant help much with.  I would sujest potty training completly during the day and put a pull up nappy on them at night.  With my  first fella he trained himself.  He got up in the middle of the night and took himself to potty and then went back to sleep.  After about 1 week of this i put him in pants and put a water proof sheet under his bed sheet.  But it doesnt happen like this for everyone. 

I would sujest waking him at about 11pm taking him to potty and putting a dry pull up nappy on him so he gets the idea.  Then wake him early in the morning for the first few days at about 6 am.  He wont be happy about it but it will help.  Once this continues for about a week and there are a few dry nights let him try take himself to the potty. Give it a few days, always go potty just before bed and if there is a dry night go straight to potty in the morning regardless of whatever else you need to do.   Stickers can help to motivate too.