“Mommy?”
“Yes, honey”
“What is the name of my new chair?”
Samantha looked at the colourful toilet training seat she had just bought for her five-year old daughter Jane and smiled. The potty seat had been artfully made like a small throne. For what it was, it was a beautiful piece.
“Oh that, my dear, is your new potty seat.”
Samantha giggled at her daughter’s curiosity, “It’s made for pretty girls like you to sit on and poop so you can stay clean and happy. See, it looks like a little throne for a princess to sit on.”
Little Jane was very excited, “Yeah, I want to sit on my throne and be the Queen, mommy”
“Ok dear, remember that anytime you feel like pooping just say, “I want to be the Queen”, then me or daddy will get your potty chair ready, okay?
Jane nodded, happy to have a throne as her potty. Smart tricks like this can be used to train young children on the proper ways of passing motion during their formative years.
Many parents, especially the ones just bringing up little kids are usually confused on when and how to start training their little ones on the proper ways of potty hygiene. It is important to learn your child’s signals of readiness like suddenly stopping what he or she has been doing as they clutch their diaper or tummy.
Here are a few tips for new parents:
1. Exercise Patience
We know patience is a virtue. Exercising it is another thing. But it’s essential when dealing with a child who is just starting to learn his or her way around personal hygiene and human lifestyle. Show your child how you sit on the toilet, and explain what you’re doing. At their tender age, children can easily absorb and retain clearly explained lessons you are teaching them. Your child easily learns by watching your actions.
Start by having them sit on the potty seat and watch while you, your partner or an older sibling use the toilet. Allow your child to observe everything from the usage to finishing up afterwards. This can take a lot of time so patience is required. Repeat the basic steps over several sessions. They may not get it perfect all at once. So be patient and be clear with them of each step of the potty-training process.
2. Smart Use of Words
Use sing-song words or phrases to help your child express their need to poop. Use words like “poo-poo”, “pee-pee”, “Want to go wee-wee?” etc. to help them express their need for the toilet without any embarrassment or misgivings each time their urge arises. As they catch on, the communication gets easier.
Using story-telling to help them understand or anticipate the process of pooping may be useful in some cases. A story can help your child to associate any rumbling sensation in their stomach with their need to go to the potty. The goal is to gradually enable your child to inform you when they need to poo before they actually do. Some parents use a reward system to encourage their kids to communicate their need.
3. Transition from Diapers and Encourage Your Child to Communicate their Urge
Diapers are of course indispensable for proper hygiene for your toddler but by age 3 to 4, your child will need to express the need to poo before they actually soil their diapers. At that point, remove the diapers form the child and lead them to the potty. Over time, your child will learn and take on the steps themselves.
4. A Sprucing up the Potty Seat
Make your child’s potty training seat as colourful and appealing as you can. You might be surprised by the difference it will make for some children. There are various types like the standalone chair type that comes with a bowl that can be emptied into the toilet, or the seat type that can be placed on top of a toilet seat.
Children may begin to show signs between 18 and 24 months old, though some may not be ready until later. Boys often start later than girls and need more time to learn. The key to successful potty training is to be flexible and keep your cool. Stress doesn’t help you and won’t help your child. the above tips to work on what is best suitable for your kid to quickly adhere to the training.