Tips - Potty training your toddler



 Tips - Potty training your toddler 


Starting potty training can be daunting for some. You might think when’s the right time? What’s the right method? How do I start? 

To be honest there is no same time or method for everyone. It’s all based on your child. When they are ready and what method works for them. 

Below is tips on how we potty trained our 24 month old toddler successfully and smoothly within weeks. 


FYI- this blog is a bit TMI 


Tip number one- Get a good method. My number one recommendation would be to read ‘Oh crap potty training!’ Book by Jamie Glowacki and follow through with the method consistently and correctly. This book was very simple and clear so me to understand the blocks in which to conduct our potty training and the method is very simple for my child to understand. I liked that this method consisted of no confusion for my toddler by implementing that once the nappies are gone, they are gone.  


I think some methods that include trying your child on the potty and then putting their nappy back on again and being okay if they sometimes pee and poo in the nappy but oh hey come try sit on the potty again! But okay let’s go out out and put your nappy back on..., you know can get confusing for a toddler. This way will work eventually for children but it would take a little bit more understanding from your toddler and yourself to break the Convenience and comfortableness of just being able to go in their nappy when ever they needed to. I liked straight forward for me and my son. 


The ‘oh crap potty training!’ method also does not use any sort of over the top praises, prizes or rewards. I did not want my toddler to be reliant on having to get a sticker after every time he did a pee. This could causes the child to only want to use the potty just to get a reward rather then them learning authentically and feeling pride in themselves for learning this new skill. 


So I have been highly recommending this book to anyone who has asked me about how I PT. 


Tip number two- Look for signs of readiness. OCPT book states the most easy and effect time to potty train in between the time of 20-30 months old. 

It’s up to you as a parent to notice the signs that your child is showing that they are ready. 


Signs to look for is interests in the toilet. (are they noticing when you yourself use the toilet? Are they becoming aware that poo/pee is suppose to go into the toilet?) 


Another sign is being able to use language or even sign language about what they are about to do. (can they say the words Pee and Poo? Are they associating these words to what they are actually doing? Do they tell you after they have done a poo/pee in nappy? Are they wanted to be changed as soon as they have done there business as it is uncomfortable for them? Do they go grab there own nappy out or lay on there change mat themselves? 


Have they been practicing independent self dressing? (are they able to push their pants down/ pull their pants up?) *a Montessori inspired child’s clothing rack and full length mirror help for this. 


My son was showing all these sign at the age of 23 months so I got everything ready and as soon as he turned 24 months we begun our potty training/ leading journey. 


Tip number three- Get everything prepared. 

Before you begin make sure you have everything you need. 

  • Your potty training book.
  • A potty (nothing fancy with bells and whistles, just a plain low potty) 
  • Travel potty (foldable ones are good) 
  • puppy pads (to put under the potty to soak up and spills)
  • wet wipes/ wash cloths
  • loose elastic pants (this makes it easier for your child to push there pants down)
  • all their new underwear
  • Wet bags (for any wet clothes while out) 
  • Change of clothes for when going out
  • a basket for entertainment while on the potty like books
  • loads of activities planned & toys rotated 
  • meals prepped for the first week since you will mainly staying at home and not leaving your child’s side. (don’t make any plans. Try to stay at home on task for a full week to ten days). 
  • Clean house, pick up all the rugs off the floor and move furniture if you have to. 
  • Also mentally preparing yourself so that you stay on track. 


One day before you commence PT prepare your child by telling them in a gentle and clear way that tomorrow morning when you wake up you are no longer going to be wearing nappies, you are going to learn to use the potty and then follow through. 


Decided whether you are going to potty train for night sleep at the same time. 

We personally did not as our son still woke rapidly through out the night. So I guess with exception to the no nappy rule we would put on his ‘new night pants’ as I called it at night. Which were just new pull ups as he had never been in pull ups before. We have now moved on to cloth training pants at night as he mostly wakes up dry. 

 *(For naps still no nappies and ensure they use the potty before going down for their nap) 


Tip number four- read the book all the way through and follow the ‘blocks’ in your way. I read my PT book though twice to ensure I had all the information ready. I then followed the stages in our own way in our own time. 


So to quickly break it down, we were in block one for three days which consisted of my toddler being naked from the waist down and the potty being by our side at all times. This gives the child more chance of success as once they are learning to feel the sensation to ‘Go’ they are able to sit straight on the potty and go. Of course you are going to have accidents they have no pants on! Lol but the goal is to help them with confidence to get many successes. 


I would regularly prompt my son to use the potty as the same intervals everyday, being careful not to over prompt  as this could deter them. So I would prompt him when he woke, after breakfast, after morning tea, after lunch. You get the idea. 

I also kept a chart for myself on my phone to track his progress. 


We then stayed in block two for about six days. Block two consisted of wearing lose fitting pants but no underwear (commando) and again having the potty with us at all times. You want the pants to be lose fitting so they are easy to take off and also so they are not snug enough to absorb any accidents as you want your child to feel and know when they have wet them self. This will allow them to further recognise the feeling of having to go and wanting to use the potty. 

 

After six days of this we then made it to the next step of leaving the house for short trips (in commando) with the travel potty, being ready to use the potty when needed. 

(Also don’t be afraid of accidents in public! It happens and children are still learning so have faith and confidence to in your child that they can do this and it will be okay. You don’t want to delay there progress by putting a nappy back on they when they are out). 


We then went to Block three which was introducing jocks and moving the potty into the actually toilet area so my son could learn more bladder control by having to hold ‘it’ until we walked to the potty and sat down. And yes boys learn to urinate sitting down until they are ready and able stand and aim. 


After a few long weeks I could gratefully say our toddler was confident, happy and could successfully use the potty. 


So wow, that seemed like a lot of info from me but it really is quite simple. Just follow through with your method, support your child and guide them let them know calmly and respectful that the potty is where you go to do your business and everything will be okay. 


Like I said earlier there are so many different potty training methods out there that might suit and work for you individual circumstance but this is just what worked with our child. I feel it very much went along with our Montessori and respectful parenting philosophy’s. 


I understand this won’t work for everyone as I am a SAH mum to one child this method was great of us, we could carve out that time to stay on point. There may be other methods better suited to working parents or parents for multiple children but I hope you can find some of these tips helpful and appreciate why I’m sharing my experience with everyone. 


I loved to answer any questions you have so feel free comment below or DM me on Instagram for any advice. 


Good luck 

  • Mummy  R 



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