When to Start Potty Training

If you’ve determined that your child is ready for potty training, it’s time to take the plunge. It’s not easy, but don’t despair, your child will master potty training some time before kindergarten. It’s important to make sure you’re ready, too, because potty training requires a lot of commitment on the part of the Mom.

First, you need to make potty training a project. If your child is really ready, and you make the commitment to focus on it, many children can be trained in about a week. But, you’ve got to stay on top of it to make it go quickly. Here are some tips to help you out.

When to start potty training?

Use the timer

Tell your child that when the bell rings, it’s time to race to the potty. Then set the timer for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, race to the potty with the child and see if she can go. If not, set the timer for another 20 minutes and try again. As you determine the right interval, you can wait longer between alarms, but 20 minute intervals is a good place to start. Not only does this make a game for you and your toddler, it ensures that you won’t forget to ask if she needs to potty. Success breeds success here. If she can go for a long time without wetting her diaper, it will encourage her to remember. But, at first, you’ve got to remember.

Offer rewards

Offer some sort of reward every time your child goes in the potty. Double it if she tells you she needs to go and then actually goes. Every success should be wildly celebrated. We do our happy dance, sing our song and get stickers, each and every time.

Let the little one go naked

This tactic works best for those without carpet. Your child will really get the picture about how potty training works if he has an accident while wearing nothing on his bottom. It can be messy, but you’ll probably find that it really speeds up the process. It seems to work especially well with girls, as they really don’t like the feeling of wetness.

The most important aspect of potty training is diligence. There are lots of tools that can help you, like books and dolls with their own potty. But the number one factor in succeeding quickly is simply making potty training a priority, so get prepared. Plan ahead of time to make this week “potty training week” and then stick to the plan. Stay home as much as possible to make training easier. Before you know it, you’ll be kissing those diapers goodbye!

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When to start potty training is what most parents are faced with...

Some children don’t like having bowel movements, perhaps because they have felt pain before, and now resist going. This resistance can cause constipation as the feces become hard and compacted, making bowel movements even more painful.

Here are some questions you can ask to determine whether your child is constipated or not.

• have they had a bowel movement in the past few days?

• have they had less than their normal amount of bowel movements this week?

• were their stools hard and dry?

• was it painful for them to pass?

• do they have stomach cramps or a distended stomach?

• are they complaining of being nauseous?

• are they losing weight?

• have they been vomiting for no apparent reason?

• are their underpants regularly soiled with claylike or liquid feces?

If you have answered yes to several of the above then you’ll know you need to take action and help your child. You can’t make your child have a bowel movement so what can you do?

Get your child to drink more fluids, preferably water.

• If they are severely constipated and over nine months of age then some prune juice mixed with water should sort them out overnight.

• Make sure their diet is high in fiber – try giving them some dried fruit or grapes and reduce the amount of dairy they have.

• Reduce their sugar intake

• Licorice can have a laxative effect and is a better option than medication which should only be given with your physician’s approval.

• Make sure they are getting enough exercise – it may be reflection of a sluggish metabolism.

• Encourage them to go as soon as they feel the need.

• If they just don’t like it then talk about the importance of having regular bowel movements and how everyone does it.

• Encourage your child to sit on the potty for ten minutes an hour or so after each meal to see if you can encourage some regularity.

• Make sure your child can rest their feet on a stool or the floor so that they feel stable and balanced and can easily push.

• Try to make having a bowel movement more pleasant for your child by encouraging them to read a book or listen to music while they sit.

If the constipation doesn’t go away then it is best to see your family doctor for advice as it may be indicative of something more serious.

When to start potty training, you ask? Check out http://allresources.info/PottyTraining