Potty Training Celebrations

     Potty training is often seen as a difficult and ongoing task that can last either a few months or up to a year. This constant daily task is commonly frustrating and time consuming for a parent. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently wrote an article that provides parents with 4 principles to consider while potty training your child. 

     1. Stay positive

     2. Be consistent

     3. Stay involved and observe

     4. Enjoy

     It is important to be positive by praising your child when they use the potty and rewarding them with a treat, a hug, or simply celebrating by doing a little dance. Children learn better in positive environments. Next, consistency is what children need to succeed. Keep the potty in the same place and do the same routine daily so that your child knows what to expect. When potty training becomes discouraging stay involved. Observe what strategies are working and what can be modified to receive better results. Last, enjoy this difficult developmental stage! When Johnny uses the potty, FaceTime dad at work to receive more praise and encouragement. Whatever you do, make it fun!

     

     Having a difficult time potty training? Parenting with a Smile has created a program to potty train your child in as little as 3 days. The steps to doing so go as follows:

     1. Schedule yourself a weekend with just you and your child- send dad and the kids on a camping trip, so that you and your toddler will not be distracted.

     2. Turn up the heat in your home to 80 degrees- the hotter it is in the house, the more fluids your little one will drink, causing them to use the potty more; resulting in more attempts to practice.

     3. Buy your child underwear that is 1 size to big- this allows children to pull up and down their underwear by themselves and makes potty breaks more accessible.

     4. Follow your child around all weekend with their potty- this allows you to engage in quality time with your child and help make potty training a more memorable experience.

     5. Reward with cold and refreshing snacks- celebrate going to the bathroom on the potty with some cold watermelon, a slushy, popsicle, or grapes. These rewards are cold so your toddler will enjoy eating them without realizing that these snacks contain higher amounts of water and as a result, causes the child to go to the bathroom even more. 

     6. Be positive- take advantage of this special time you have to concentrate on your child's needs. Read them books, jump on the trampoline, do cartwheels in the grass together all weekend. The more positive the experience, the better your child will learn. Make the potty an exciting activity that your child will want to engage in! 

     Each child reacts to potty training differently and we understand this completely, but we hope that through our program provided and the 4 positive principles given from the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can feel more confident at tackling the often dreaded task of potty training. Be consistent with the program you decide to use and make it fun. With that advice in mind, you will not fail. 

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American Academy of Pediatrics (2013). Guide to Toilet Training. Retrieved November 5, 2014, from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/toilet-training/pages/Creating-a-Toilet-Training-Plan.aspx