Robin's Advice
Pregnancy Advice | New Parents | Potty Training

POTTY TRAINING - Is your child ready for potty training?

To answer that question, you need to ask these questions.

1. Is your child waking up with a dry diaper or a wet warm diaper that has been soiled once?

2. Is your child interested in being clean and neat, is he/she willing to be interrupted from an activity without going into a two year old tantrum, or does he/she try and hide when he/she is pooping? Will he/she sit on the potty without being afraid?

3. Are the adults ready for potty training? EVERY adult that is in charge of the child must be willing to put the child on the potty every ½ hour to an hour to try and go potty. Are all of the adults willing to teach the child how to handle their own clothes while being there to make sure they are clean when they are done? Most important, all of the adults must be willing to go thru this process without being frustrated themselves.

4. Is the child’s clothing right for potty training? Your child should be dressed with no snaps, no belts, no zippers, no coats, no dresses, no overalls. They should have the same kind of outfit is needed to deal with EVERY DAY and night. A simple two piece outfit is needed with the top and a separate piece of clothing for the bottom. The pants need to be easy to pull down with an elastic waistline. Make sure you have enough clothing that is the right type before you start and put away all of the wrong clothes in a box so you won’t be tempted to use them. PLEASE GET SHOES WITH VELCRO that are easy to put on, no laces, no high tops.

5. Is the weather agreeable to having no coat for the next two months? Even better; no shoes. Is everyone done with winter colds and other icky stuff? Do you have any vacations planned when you do not want to deal with potty training?

If you think you and your child are ready for potty training, please take your diapers back, supply us with two shirts, three pants, three pairs socks (if it is not summer) and a package of pull-ups. DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD INTO THE CENTER WITH A DIAPER ON.

Some cultures teach their children at 6 months; they hold them over the sink. Some children are four years old and still in diapers. The age isn’t as important as finding out what is right for you and your child. I have had parents “train” their children at a young age and it has worked out just fine because the adults are really doing the training. I have also had parents ask their child when they are ready and “trained” their child from diapers to regular underwear in one day because they didn’t think it was worth the frustration for their family, and it worked out just fine too. Find out what is right for you AND all of the adults that care for your child. Consistency is the most important part of your decision. (It doesn’t mean, however, that you can not “play” getting used to the potty first).

The clothes and the weather are the most important part for child care.