Baby Potty Training - Tips To Success

As a mum of three, I believe in keeping life as simple as possible.  When it comes to potty training you need to pick your moment.  Forget about what the parenting books say and if your friends and family are putting you under pressure to toilet train your child, ignore them.  Remember you know your child best and you will know when he or she is ready to be potty trained.

Learning to use a potty is not going to happen overnight.  Like everything else to do with children, a little patience will go a long way.  Be prepared for mistakes to happen and accept that accidents will occur.  Don't start potty training your child before they are ready. You will only make life more difficult for both of you. Pick your moment and it will be less stressful for all concerned.

So how do you know your child is ready?  Watch for some signals, the first being their awareness of when they are doing a poo or a wee.  They may ask you to change their nappy as they don't like the sensation next to their skin.   If they are dry after a nap, this can be another sign that they are ready.  If they have become quite independent and want to do everything themselves it might be an idea to try.

There are many reasons why you should start with a potty rather than putting your child on the toilet.   A potty is portable so you can take it with you when you go out and about.  You can carry it around your home as well which means that it is always there whenever your little one needs it.

Your toddler may be scared of the toilet.  It is not uncommon for them to have a bad reaction to seeing their poo being flushed away.  Also the toilet can seem very noisy for a little one.  A potty is a much more gentle experience.

From a health and safety viewpoint, your child is less likely to fall off the potty than they are when they first start using the toilet.  Remember everything is a new experience to them and it is better they concentrate on going to the toilet rather than trying to hold on as well.  The position they sit in on a potty means that it should be easier for them to push the poo out than it might be if they are seated on the toilet.

Should you buy a basic potty or one in bright colors and fun shapes?  It depends on your personal choice but many parents find that the funny shaped potty help with toilet training.  Your child will make friends with their potty and if you make the whole experience fun, they are much more likely to use the potty.  Letting your child sit on the potty fully dressed takes away any pressure to preform and gives them a chance to get used to this new addition to their little world.

My son loved this Fisher Price Precious Planet potty but my daughter preferred a pink one!