It is no easy task to potty train child.  The most important advice I received during the process of potty training my son was to “be patient”.  It most certainly wasn’t what I wanted to hear during this extremely stressful time for my wife and I, but it was great advice in hindsight.

Make sure your child is physically ready. Can your child walk in a confident manner?  Is he or she able to pull their pants down and sit on the potty?  At very least they must be able to walk over to a potty chair, pull their pants and “pull up” down.  You want to make sure your child is coordinated enough to sit on a potty seat or toilet insert without falling in.   I know it sounds funny, but why push something as life changing as potty training if your child is not 100% ready? 

Can your child hold their pee or poop while in the car for a short ride?  Can he or she hold it long enough to make it to the bathroom after you get the picture that they may have to go.  This is really important.  If a child doesn’t have basic bladder or bowel control then they are not ready to potty train.  

Ready For Potty Training Your Child?

Can your child communicate to you?   Before you potty train child be sure they can communicate well enough to tell you they need go.  Communication may not just be verbal.  Does he or she pull or tug at their diaper?  My son used to pull at his pants everytime he had to go pee or poop.  Does he/she make a face or a non verbal signal that they are going in their diaper?  If so, then you may be able to start potty training your child.

Making going potty a comfortable situation is absolutely imperative.  Do not stress your child out by over encouraging them or threatening them with punishment.  If they make an effort to sit down and a genuine attempt to go, they should be praised and rewarded.  Find their favorite treat such as an M&M or other piece of candy and offer one as a reward.  Do not over reward or make huge promises that you can’t or do not want to keep, as tempting as it may be.

It will be tempting to punish and scold during potty training toddler.  Especially when your child goes potty for the first time and then has an accident or two or three.  Do not ever scold your child for having an accident it doesn’t help.  Stay encouraging and tell him or her to try to go in the potty next time.  If you child poops in their pants, take it and put it in the potty, ask the child to flush the toilet.  Explain to him or her that that is where poopy goes.  Every little bit helps when you potty train child.

In the quest to potty train toddler boys and girls, patience prevails.  Don’t push it, it will happen in time.

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