Have you tried potty training your child and it just isn’t
going well? Some children fight every potty training attempt
you will make, while other children are interested in potty
training. You as a parent will be able to tell when your child
is ready to start potty training. Two or three years of age is
the average age for your child to start the potty training
process. Here are some simple methods to help make it easier on
both you and your child.

1. Start practicing using the toilet around the age of two. Go
out and purchase a small potty chair or a potty seat that fits
over the regular sized toilet. If you are potty training a boy
make it has a shield in front so they do not make a mess. Bring
the potty chair into the room that your child spends most of
their time in on a day or weekend when you have some free time.
Let your child run around in just a shirt with their diaper off.
If this nudity bothers you then have your son or daughter wear
underwear. If you have them in a diaper they will never get the
idea that when they urinate it will run down their legs and make
a mess.

2. Clear your schedule before starting to potty train your
child. Pick a time when you know that you and your family’s
routine it least likely to be disturbed with vacations, guests,
moving to a new house and so on. Long holiday weekends are a
great time to start potty training your little one.

3. Decide what words you will use to describe body parts, urine
and bowel movements. Try not to use words like “dirty”,
“stinky,” or “naughty”. Using these negative terms can make
your child feel self-conscience and ashamed. Talk about
urination and bowel movements in a simple, matter-of-fact way.

4. Use your child’s favorite action figure or doll on a pretend
potty, explaining “the baby is going pee in the potty.” Put
diapers on their favorite stuffed bear and then eventually
graduate the bear to underwear.

5. Discuss with your child the advantages of being potty
trained. Talk to them about not having diaper rashes anymore,
not having to take time away from playing to have their diaper
changed and the wonderful feeling of being clean and dry. Help
them understand that potty training is an important stage of
growing up.

6. Use books and videos to help your child understand the
process of potty training and see other children learning to
use the potty. There are lots of books and videos available
online or in your local bookstore. Let your child look at their
favorite book while sitting on the potty to help the minutes
pass by.

7. Get out your calendar and declare a potty day. This is the
day that your child would like to start potty training. Use a
bright color and circle that date. Keep reminding them that
“potty day” is almost here.

8. Does your son or daughter like to unroll the toliet paper?
Try squashing the roll so that the cardboard roll inside is no
longer round. This way, it will not unroll as quickly. Also,
little ones who are potty training will not get too much paper
per pull on the roll.

Usually it takes several practice sessions for a child to
understand what they are supposed to be doing and be totally
potty trained. Just remember to keep trying, your child will
eventually understand and be successful.


About The Author: Robert Michael is a writer for Fmea Training
which is an excellent place to find training links, resources
and articles. For more information go to:
http://www.fmeatraining.com

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