Potty training or toilet training is a way to eliminate the diapers for your kids and start explaining to them how to use a toilet or how to use the pot for urination and defecation. In this process, the kids start to learn and listen to their bodies when they need to urinate or go to the potty. There should be no rush from a parent’s side to potty train or toilet train their toddler. Parents should know when their child is ready and start potty training. If the toddler is not ready, teaching them may lead to failure and time waste. Though many reports say that an infant is ready to be potty trained between the age of 18 to 24 months as no child wants to go to kindergarten wearing diapers but again, the process of training should start according to the toddler’s willingness.
Here are some ways in which you can determine whether your child is ready for potty training or not –
If they listen to certain instructions or requests of yours, such as going to the bathroom, removing their clothes, and sitting down.
– When your child knows or is alert about their wet diapers.
– When they cry or show discomfort or make a fuss about their dirty diaper.
Often, the child may make certain expressions, postures, or language to tell you that it’s time to go to the toilet.
– If your child’s diaper is dry for at least 2 hours a day and even after the naps, the diaper is not soiled.
– If your child is interested in wearing big kids’ underwear or using the toilet.
These were some of how you can know if your child is ready or not. If your child is ready or is doing any of these actions then here are 10 ways to potty train your toddler –
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Positive words
A parent should use positive words during potty training and should avoid shaming or using negative words related to potty or toilet or even for the child. There should be no punishment, scolding, or even threatening if the toddler is not following any instructions given by you. This method is also called the Brazelton child-oriented potty-training method.
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Schedule training
In this method, you can encourage or instruct your toddler every 2 to 3 hours to use the toilet. This can also be done before and after meals, naps, and nighttime sleep. In this, the parent can follow a strict schedule to instruct their toddler to use the toilet every 2 – 3 hours.
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3 Day potty training
This one is said to be one of the quick methods to potty train a toddler. There should be easy access to the toilet for the toddler in this process, and the toddler should wear easily removable clothes. In this, the parent should instruct their child to know when they are feeling the urge to pee and should immediately rush to the toilet so that the toddler can keep their underwear dry. Although, there can be many accidents in this method, parents should be ready for it. This method requires a lot of patience as well.
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Infant potty training
In this method, a parent has to start the training very early from when the child is of 1 month only. In this method, diapers are ignored from the start. Parents can use cloth diapers instead of regular diapers. Cloth diapers will let the baby feel that their diaper is wet. In this process, the parent needs to work with their infant’s signals about when to potty or pee.
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The Azrin and Foxx ‘toilet training in a day’ method
This method includes both love and strictness. When your toddler follows your instructions and successfully uses the toilet, you can praise them, reward them, and show a lot of affection. And if they do not follow your instructions, you can use verbal reinforcements or reprimands. We do not recommend this one, though.
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Gradual, parent-led toilet training
This is a combination of the Brazelton child-oriented potty-training method and the Azrin and Foxx toilet training in a day method. This involves using and placing the potty chairs where it is accessible to the child and with-it showing affection.
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No pants training
In this method, your child wears no pants and a potty chair is made accessible to them easily. This is a 1-week long process.
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Wait and pee method
In this method, the toddlers train themselves for potty and toileting. There is no force from parents to use the toilet in this method but praises and affection when toddlers themselves choose to use the toilet.
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Training pants
In this method, parents may use diapers that feel chilly when peed in and teach their toddlers how to remove pants for peeing.
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Eyes on the prize
In this method, the child is treated with their favorite items, rewards, food, or prizes for using pot. This motivates the child to do even better next time.
These were some of the methods to potty train your child.