
How to Potty
Train a Child in Two Days
Ah, potty
training! Go to a local bookseller and you will find dozens of books on
the subject. Search the Net and there are thousands of websites with
information on how to do it stress free. There are even people who are
capitalizing on a parent's frustration with potty training by offering
to do it for you, for a hefty sum! I honestly can't imagine anything
more unseemly than paying someone to teach my child to "go".
Ewwww!!! I have
successfully potty trained two out of 3 kids so far, baby number 3 is
only 14 months so she is off the hook for a few months at least ;) I
seem to be the envy of the playgroups when other Moms see that my 3
year old son has been in whitey tighties for over a year. My oldest was
also 2 when he potty learned.For me, potty training starts with a
newborn. Now don't get me wrong...I do diaper my babes (unlike the
native African mothers who wear their babies on their backs and who, to
avoid being soiled on, learn to read their babies' cues so well that
they know when their newborn needs to be held over a bush...no, I'm not
kidding!) but I have always used cloth diapers, which encourages babies
to train early. I'm not a longhaired, barefoot, off-the-grid hippie
(not that there's anything wrong with that, but you're more likely to
find me in Doc Martens than Birkenstocks!) but I have been cloth
diapering since the beginning. It has saved me hundreds and hundreds of
dollars, but I also like the fact that my babies begin to make the
association with the uncomfortable wet feeling and the knowledge that
they can prevent it. Most babies will wake up dry in the morning at
several months of age, demonstrating that they are physically able to
"hold it". In my opinion, Pull Ups are evil and yet another invention
that some clever businessman came up with that parents now think is a
necessity. Along with formula, baby swings, and the like. Pull Ups just
enable a 5 year old to keep soiling himself. Research has shown that
cloth diapered babies potty learn several months earlier than
disposable diapered babies.
So here's
Grandma's recipe (and I do owe it to my Mother, like most of the good
stuff I know about parenting) for easy potty training, even if you
choose not to cloth diaper.
Let your baby
come into the bathroom when you go. That way, they know what's going on
in there. You don't have to get graphic, just talk to them about what
toilets are for. If you are a woman at home all day with boy children,
encourage Daddy to show 'em how it's done. You don't want them thinking
that if they go on the toilet their equipment will fall off, like Mum's
obviously did. Strange, but true...some tots will come to this
conclusion. Buy 3 or 4 of
those cheap little molded plastic potties and put them around the
house. At least, one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen or the
room where you spend the most time with your child. Stick a towel
underneath for the sake of your carpet if said child is a boy. Speaking
of boys...you can take advantage of nature here by keeping an open
mind. I know at least one boy who was trained when his Mom let him go
off the side of the deck.
The summer that your child is closest to two, take two days and don't
leave the house. Let your child run around naked from the waist down,
with a big tee shirt on top so that private parts stay private.
Every 10 minutes, place the child matter-of-factly on the pot. DO NOT
ASK insane questions like "Do you need to go potty sweetie pie!?" We
are talking about dealing with a two year old here! Just do it like
it's the thing to do, and don't ask permission. Don't force it, and if
he/she wants to get up right away, let him or her. If you have a
resistant child, set a timer to go off every 10 minutes. It's amazing
what a child will do when the power dynamic is taken away. When the
"potty timer" goes off, it's time to sit on the pot!
Use praise but
don't go overboard. Act like this is the expected thing. Be cool. Say
"You put peepee in the potty, just like Mommy and Daddy (and big
brother, and your older play group friend...3rd parties are gold
here!!) do.
Don't make a big
deal out of what's happening. Don't spend hours reading potty training
books or videos to the child. Again, be cool. If you make it into a big
deal, your child will be more likely to dig in and resist.
Have some "big
boy shorts" or "big girl panties" that you know your child will like,
perhaps that you have picked out together, ready for the end of the two
days. Your child will be less likely to have accidents if s/he is going
to mess up their new undies.
When the
inevitible accidents happen, don't scold. Be patient and gracious. This
is part of the job. Remember that even if you decide to spring for
carpet cleaning, you will still come out ahead if you don't have to buy
diapers for another year or two!
About The Author
Carrie Lauth
is a work from home Mom of 3, a homebirth advocate, breastfeeding
counselor and homeschooler. In her free time she enjoys a good book and
anything involving espresso. http://www.money-smart-women.com/
or msbiz@earthlink.net
Here are some
great Potty Training Systems to aid you in training your child to use
the bathroom
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Training Materials
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