Steps in Potty Training

How can I prepare my toddler for potty training?
When you have seen signs of potty readiness, start talking to your toddler in positive terms about adult toilet habits. At the same time, avoid speaking negatively about diapers; it may make your toddler hostile to the training process.

The best way of acquainting your child with the idea of using the potty or toilet is to have him watch family members of the same sex. (Watching someone of the opposite sex use the toilet may be confusing to your child.).

Experts recommend that your toddler start out using a potty chair rather than an adult toilet. Because they can plant their feet firmly on the floor, children are not afraid of falling off or in, and may feel more secure.

When you have selected a potty chair, place it in your child's room or in a nearby bathroom. Let your child take time to become familiar with the potty before trying to use it, and make it clear that it is his own.

You can help your toddler become comfortable by explaining what the potty's function will be when he is ready for it. Giving your child some control, as by allowing him to carry the potty around the house, helps motivate the child to use it independently.

What are the first steps in potty training
For the first few weeks of training, let your child sit on the potty chair fully clothed while you talk about toileting and the potty's function. When he is accustomed to sitting, try it with the diaper off. As sitting on the potty becomes part of your child's routine, increase the sessions from once to several times daily.

Next, have your toddler watch while you dump stool from a soiled diaper into the potty, and explain that stool and urine belong there. When this connection has been made, your toddler, who has probably become interested in putting things where they belong, is more likely to want to use the potty.

At this point you can help by letting your child play near the potty with his diaper off. Watch carefully for body signals that indicate the need to urinate or have a bowel movement, and teach your child to be aware of these signs. Even if you sometimes guide your child to the potty too late, you are reinforcing the connection between the potty and elimination.

Should my little boy sit or stand when he urinates?
Have your son learn to urinate into the potty sitting down. A boy who begins by standing may want to have a bowel movement in that position as well. Also, since accurately directing the urine flow requires considerable coordination, it's best to wait until your toddler has acquired basic skills on the adult toilet before having him stand.

When your son is comfortable using the big toilet, he can practice to improve his aim while sitting on the seat facing backwards. Next, with a demonstration and coaching by an older male, he can try to urinate while standing.

What are the next steps in potty trainings?
Like adults, children tend to have regular patterns for urination and bowel movements. When you discover your child's pattern, encourage him to visit the potty at the appropriate times of day.

Remember, never force an unwilling child to sit on the potty, or make a child stay when he or she wants to get off. Aside from delaying progress, this can lead to constipation, straining, and fissures (cracks) in the anus.

After your toddler has had some success using his potty, start to place his potty next to the toilet to help him understand that toileting is to be confined to the bathroom. Having your child help empty the potty contents into the toilet can help draw the connection between the potty and toilet.

Eventually, your toddler will be ready to try using an adult toilet equipped with a training seat. You can start this transition by inviting your child to join you when you use the bathroom, and then suggest (without pressure) that he try the toilet.

Letting your child use a stepstool to access the toilet can give him a feeling of control and also allow him to plant his feet firmly while using it.

Reprinted with permission from Wyeth Nutrition