Tips on Starting Potty Training

Potty training for babies is one of the issues that confuses most parents. One of the questions that parents especially grapple with is “when should baby toilet training start?” is the question. In this article, we will share with you basic tips about toilet training in babies.

In Which Situations Should Potty Training Be Postponed?

Although you think that your child is ready for potty training and that it is the right time for toilet training, you have a high margin of error. Because after some events and situations, putting pressure on your child about toilet training will not give any results, and this may cause your child to be psychologically affected negatively. Therefore, if some changes have occurred in your life, take a break from potty training for a while. For example; If a new sibling has arrived, moved to a new house, parents are going through a divorce, you have recently lost a loved one, or your child has a serious illness, be flexible about toilet training and even take a break from this training.

When the time is right, you need to follow the steps we mentioned below to give potty training. In addition, your child may indicate that he is ready for toilet training. E.g; If he/she shows that he is uncomfortable when he comes to the toilet, especially when he has poop, he follows you when you go to the toilet and curiously examines the inside of the toilet, he has started to understand the difference between pee and poop, he is uncomfortable walking around with wet or dry diapers and pressures you to remove it, it’s time to give your child toilet training it could be. So here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Follow the signs

The first thing you need to do for your baby’s potty training is to try to make sure that he is ready. Potty training will be successful if your baby is ready both physically and emotionally. Therefore, you should be open to and observe the “I’m ready” signals that your baby sends you. For example, if he’s standing by the potty or starting to show interest in it, wondering what the potty is and what it does, toilet training can be a success with a little more patience. It doesn’t matter if it is dry or wet, if your baby is starting to feel uncomfortable with his diaper and wants to take it off all the time, you can start toilet training. Remember, you should never force your child to toilet train without seeing such enthusiastic signs. This can cause great wounds in his psyche and cause childhood traumas.

2. Take a positive approach

If you have followed all the signs and are convinced that your baby is ready now, it’s your turn to show effort and patience. Remember, this will be one of your baby’s first successes and your positive and supportive attitude is very important. Warn not only yourself, but also everyone around your baby to take a positive approach. Keep your communication close and intimate.

3. Put the potty in visible places

Put the potty where your child spends the most time at home. This will be one of your biggest helpers in baby toilet training. Encourage your baby to approach and touch the potty. Even let her sit on the potty with or without her diaper. Allow him to spend as much time around the potty as possible.

4. Get educational potties

If your baby is starting to find the potty not interesting enough, there are other baby potty training products that will interest him/her. Training panties, as well as training toilets, will make your baby perceive toilet training not as an action to be feared or to perform under pressure, but as a game where he and everyone else feel happy.

5. Take toilet breaks

During the time you spend with your baby, make sure that your baby sits on the potty or the trainer toilet without a diaper under him several times a day, but not too often. Be with her during this time. You can give your baby a toy to play with while he’s sitting there, or you can grab a fairy tale book and read it to him. If you haven’t had a result, definitely keep your positive and supportive attitude. Encourage him next time with words of praise. Reinforce her confidence by saying she can try later.

6. If she/he resists, let go!

Sometimes your child may resist sitting on the potty or on the toilet even though you see all the signs. Never force her/him. Take a break from toilet training for a while.

7. Be prepared for minor accidents

Baby potty training may seem like a grueling and steep road for parents, and babies are prone to accidents on this path many times. Don’t get down on yourself or get mad at your baby. Remind your baby of his need to go to the toilet by asking him if he wants to go to the toilet often, but without insisting. Take care to stay calm and never try to embarrass him about it. It is also important to be prepared for such accidents. It is useful to have spare underwear and clothes for your baby with you.

Pay Attention To These While Giving Toilet Training!

• If you do not get a positive result in the potty training process, avoid exhibiting behaviors such as punishment, prohibition and intimidation to your child. Because this may cause your child to be hostile to his own body and be negatively affected psychologically.
• Toilet training is a process that should be spread over time, not a short time. Therefore, do not lose patience during this period.
• If there is one of the reasons we mentioned above, postpone it and wait for the right time to start toilet training.
• When your child responds positively to toilet training, that is, when he pees or poops on the toilet, avoid exaggerated rewards and reactions. Because your child realizes that an expectation is placed on him and expects to see the same attitude every time he meets your expectation. Even when he/she does not see it, he is disappointed and sad.
• Train your child to toilet before starting potty training. One of the biggest mistakes parents make about toilet training is trying to teach the child the concept of toilet without pre-training.