Baby milestones come at you fast in the early years, and it can be difficult to keep up. One day baby is finally sleeping through the night, and the next they’re yanking off their diaper and running around the house naked. If you’re wondering whether or not it’s time your little streaker began using the toilet, here are some questions to ask yourself and 8 of the best potty training tips to help you decide whether to jump in now or hold off for a bit.
Is it time to begin potty training?
Child-led potty training techniques
Caregivers who are not facing a time crunch to produce a potty-trained child before the first day of preschool or daycare, have some flexibility when it comes to toilet training and may want to implement child-led potty training as a relaxed approach.
6. Be open about what happens in the bathroom.
From the beginning, let your child know what you’re doing when you’re in the bathroom. Explain the process and even let them see you use the toilet.
7. Encourage your toddler to sit on the potty at various times throughout the day.
“Don’t force it. They’ll go when they’re ready,” Bo advised. “When they were ready, consistency was key for us. Even if they didn’t have to go, I would sit them there. Just for a few minutes, ‘just in case.'”
8. Rather than tossing a soiled diaper into the trash or a Diaper Genie, empty it into the toilet.
Empty dirty diapers into the toilet then have your child flush the toilet so they begin to associate going to the bathroom with using the toilet.
Patience is key, and mastering the potty will vary between children. The best thing you can do is remain positive and take it one day at a time.
