For children in toddler care, potty training is a significant step toward becoming a “big kid.” With the right timing, attitude, and a good amount of patience, you and your child can conquer this learning process. Use the following guide to navigate potty training with your toddler.

A Simple Guide to Potty Training

1. Wait Until Your Toddler’s Ready

While the idea of a child moving past diapers is exciting for parents, kids might not be so thrilled. If you push your child to use the toilet before they’re ready, they may resist and build negative associations. Watch for signs of readiness, which include sitting up on their own, pulling up and down their pants or diapers, and keeping their diaper dry for two hours at a time. Most toddlers will be ready to train between 18 months and 3 years of age.

2. Talk up the Transition

Potty training will be easier if your child thinks about it positively. Read them books about using the bathroom, casually mention it in conversation, and discuss how underwear makes them a big kid. Even silly jokes can make your child more receptive to the change. Don’t put too much pressure on immediate success, because every child tends to experience a few setbacks.

3. Place the Potty Strategically

Toddler care experts suggest placing the potty in areas your child frequents before training even begins. Start talking about the toilet using simple but common terms, and soon your little one will be accustomed to its presence. Once your child begins showing potty training readiness, keep the seat in the bathroom.

4. Schedule Potty Breaks

When you first begin training, setting up a routine will help your child get used to using the bathroom. Schedule a potty break every few hours, whether your toddler expresses the need to go or not. Have them sit on the potty with their diaper down for a minute. To pass the time, read them a story or play a game. Dump the potty and have them wash their hands afterward, even if they didn’t go.

5. Gently Praise Progress

Your child’s first success may make you want to jump for joy, but don’t celebrate too hard. Going overboard with praise or punishing them for accidents can both result in avoidance and fear. Always offer gentle praise for using the potty, and even for trying. Consider putting up a sticker chart, where a certain number of successful potty breaks gets them a small toy or favorite snack.

Toddlers are in a unique stage of life, so they need a toddler care program that caters to their development. Kids & Cribs Child Enrichment Center of Fort Thomas, KY, offers a curriculum specially designed for your little one’s needs, with emphasis on self-directed activities, play, and socialization. This child care center gives your little one the developmental skills they need for preschool and beyond. For more information about their program, visit them online. Call (859) 441-5888 to learn about enrollment.