Diapering
Add diapering distractions and working on communication
Potty Training
Going to the potty is a BIG skill. Actually, it is a lot of skills!
To go to the potty, kiddos must have an understanding that they need to go, be able to understand and follow a variety of directions, be able to undress and dress themself, and be able to wash their own hands. This is big stuff and a lot to expect from a little one.
Before you even bring the potty into your routines, start here:
Check for understanding of body and clothing words:
Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes song- Can your child touch their body parts in the routine of the song? Using this song helps caregivers see if a child understands these words in a routine and if they can bend and reach for body parts.
Necklace on and off- Here
Finishing clothing when you start the clothing first- Here
Pointing to a variety of body parts when you name them- Here
Have your child help with washing their hands, wiping their face/nose, and washing their body- To get ready for doing more for themself, and less of caregivers doing routines for a child, start having your child help with parts of their daily routines. Try saying "put your hands out for the soap" instead of putting the soap on your child's hands.
Provide less help with hand washing- Here
Have your child point to "bathroom" items to show their understanding- Walk around your home and use "show me" directions (Show me the door, show me the fridge, show me the sink, show me the potty, show me your bed, show me the window). Can you child "show" you they understand potty, sink, soap, stool, and bathroom? Understanding these words is important to being able to follow potty routines, including "Go to the potty, climb on the stool, flush the potty, get the soap, wash your hands."
Read books about going to the potty- Before expecting a child who has used the bathroom in diapers 100% of their life so far to completely stop this routine and begin sitting on the potty, read books about going to the potty. Reading books, seeing pictures of characters learning about going to the potty, and hearing vocabulary about this new routine are helpful ways for your child to feel more comfortable and learn what is expected.
Take your child to the potty with you- Here
Start sitting your child on the potty before they are wet- Start checking your child's diaper, and when they are dry (but you know they will be wet soon), start having them sit on the potty to try. For most kiddos, starting this sitting is best before lunch because we need to wash hands to prepare for mealtime. This is a time of day when they are ready to eat but have not just woken up and are not ready for a nap just yet. Talk about the potty, have them sit on the potty for a minute or so, go through the hand washing routine, then have lunch.
Avoid sitting on the potty when they are wet- One mistake we see often is parents checking their child's diaper, the diaper being wet, and parents or caregiver sitting the child on the potty. This does not work. The child has already pottied and does not need to potty now. Sitting them when they do not need to potty sets a child up for failure. If they are wet, start changing their diaper or pull up in the bathroom, explaining the bathroom is for big kids. Stop using the changing table during the day. We want the new location of the bathroom to be understood.
Set a timer- Take your child to the potty when they wake up, after breakfast, before lunch, before nap, after nap, before dinner, and before lying down for bedtime. Avoid taking your child to the potty every 30 minutes, and instead take them on a schedule you can stick to. They may not need to go all seven of these times, but they will start going during some of them. From there, you can assess how often your child needs to go, catch them before they wet their diaper, and be more successful than random sits.
Watch for the signs- Have a child who suddenly hides behind the sofa at the same time each day? Have a little boy who, during playtime, grabs himself and is dancing around? Your child is showing signs they need to get to a potty ASAP. Pause what you're doing, avoid asking questions, and lead them to sit on the potty.
Avoid questions!- Another common mistake caregivers make when potty training is asking, "Do you want to go potty?" Do Not Ask A Yes or No Question if you are not going to allow for a yes or no answer! Do not ask- the answer from your child will be "no". Instead, use "First/Then" statements or give a choice of order. Example: "First, we are having our snack, Then we are going to the potty." or "Do you want to have your snack first or go potty first?" Either way- we are doing the two tasks you have for your child, but we are not offering the option of "no". You can also give choices during the routine, such as "Are you going to flush the potty or am I going to flush the potty?" or "When we wash hands, am I turning the water on or are you turning the water on?" This works so much better than telling your child what they are going to do. Regardless, the task is happening, but they have some say in what they do and how much you help.
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