So, my baby is not really a “baby “anymore. My daughter Aven is growing super fast, speaking full sentences, running everywhere, eating independently, asking questions, throwing mini temper tantrums, and more. Through doing a little research, listening to family, and observing my daughter’s budding independence, I came to the conclusion that it was time start tackling one of my greatest motherhood fears….da dummmm…. Potty Training!
Here’s how I determined she was ready:
- My daughter was able to follow basic commands and instructions.
- She could verbalize “pee-pee” and “boo-boo”
- Aven was able to let me know it has happening or about to happen by telling me, grunting, stopping and squatting, or my personal favorite looking off into space with her eyes watering.
- She enjoyed praise and took pride in her accomplishments and learning a new skills.
- She could physically pull her own pants up and down
After realizing she was ready, we started the process. I encountered a few bumps along the way but through trial and error I definitely learned a few things.
Below are a few tips that helped make our potty training journey successful:
Get a Realistic Potty
Children are natural imitators and want to do everything they see adults doing. Buying a potty that looks and sounds like the real thing can be super helpful in the potty training process. I love the Summer Infant My Size Train & Transition Potty. It looks super realistic and has been one of the greatest tools for making potty training a success.
This potty has a flushing sound that I use as a reward when she finishes using it. It’s exciting for her and ties in well with me giving her praise for toileting like a big girl. The My Size Train & Transition potty also has a convenient storage compartment for wipes. Aven loves being able to open the compartment and get her own wipes out.
The other cool thing about this potty is that the topper is padded and can be placed on an adult toilet to help with transitioning from the potty to the real thing.
As the seasons change and we move into the winter months, I’d really like to have Aven fully potty trained and transitioned to the adult toilet. Wish me luck!
Make the Toilet the First Stop of the Day
Sit your child on the toilet first thing in the morning, before they’ve gotten a chance really wake up and go on themselves. This is still a part of our daily routine. Every morning, as soon as my daughter wakes up, I take her to the potty. We are usually very successful with this method and it sets the tone for toileting as an expected event throughout our day.
* When I first attempted potty training, around 18 months, Aven was still breastfeeding. Because her morning routine included an immediate morning feeding, she was not interested in sitting on the toilet first instead. We had a real struggle during this time, until I realized that I needed to eliminate her expectancy to breastfeed, so that she could focus on the new task of using the toilet. I switched my focus to ending breastfeeding, then we returned to potty training.
Be Flexible
If a strategy you’re using isn’t working, or your come to roadblocks on the journey, address those challenges and be flexible. Everything doesn’t work for everybody and each child is different. Be open to trying something new, putting something on hold, or even skipping a step.
Offer a Reward
This can be something tangible or as simple as praise and recognition. During Halloween, I kept a candy bucket on the counter filled with little toys (since she doesn’t actually eat candy). After using the toilet and washing her hands, I allowed her to pick an item to play with.
These are just a few tricks that are working for us. I’d love to hear some ideas of your own in the comments below!
I think we’re getting ready for potty training, I’m nervous. These are some great tips, thank you!
Also try going without a diaper so they can feel the discomfort of peeing on themselves