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Can You Potty Train Your Child in One Day?

Do these programs work?

There are many guides and articles available online that say that you can potty train a child in a day. Even if it’s not a day, you would have most probably seen guides that state, “Potty Train Your Child in 3 Days” or “The 7 Day Potty Training Plan”. If you want to give these programs a try, it is okay but there is no mandate on how long potty training should be.

You may be wondering, “Do these programs even work?”… “Why is it taking my child so long?”While these may be valid questions, there are a few other questions that you should ask yourself.

Why have a deadline?

“What is the rush?”… “Why do you have a deadline?”… “Did I learn how to read and write in a day?”…now that you’re an adult, if someone gave you 5 oranges and asked you to juggle them, would you be able to learn how to do it in a day?

Definitely not. Potty training may be easy for you but for your child, it’s a whole new process. They will need to overcome some fear and understand what they are doing. There is a learning process involved and it will take time.

You can’t rush the learning process. Trying to, will just stress your poor child out and aggravate you. Some children learn faster than others. Depending on your child, you will just need to be patient and see how it goes.

Forget about meeting a deadline and getting them to learn it in a day or three days. It doesn’t make you a better parent if your child is potty trained in record time. It’s true that the hassle of changing diapers will end, but rest assured that it will end in a matter of time. If it takes a little longer, so be it.

As long as you know what you are doing and your child is ready to be potty trained, you will do just fine and your child will learn well. Encourage them, praise them and make the process fun. That is the best way to speed up the process. Don’t get irritated, angry or even spank them if they make a mistake.This will just create a very hostile and unpleasant situation. It will actually impede your child’s potty training progress because he/she is scared now. That will mean that the whole process takes longer.

What Should You Do?

You should do whatever you can to assist your child to make transition. Get a colorful potty chair that appeals to them. Use potty training charts. Offer rewards and praise when they do a good job. Get them shorts that they can easily pull up and pull down. They shouldn’t be struggling to remove their shorts or undies..

There are many little games that can be used to potty train your child. You should go online and research these games or get an online guide on potty training to help you out. There are a few proven bestsellers that have helped thousands to train their child. So, you can get one to help you out.

Here is our free ebook guide   

“How to Start Potty Training Guide”

 

At the end of the day,  just remember that there is no rush. Your child will definitely be potty trained if you keep at it. Let go of your expectations, be patient and have a sense of humor about the whole thing. In the big scheme of life, this is one of those times that you will look back on in amusement one day in the future. For now, grin and bear it.

Potty Training Essentials Here

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Happy potty training!

Updated January 2023

 

 

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What is Pre-Potty Training and Why You Need to Do It?

What is pre-potty Training?

Wouldn’t it be great if you just brought your toddler to the potty and he or she instinctively knew what to do? It’s not happening. You will need to potty train your child before they know how to use the toilet. This process will be a test of your patience and it may get frustrating. Yet, it’s an inevitable process that every parent will need to go through.

Most people have a rough idea of what potty training is but they mistakenly assume that all one needs to do is show a child how he/she should use a potty and he/she will readily start cooperating. The truth of the matter is that you will need to pre-potty train your toddler.

Basically, it’s like warming up before the grand event. A child that is starting to  be potty trained should be able to hold their urine at least for 15-30 minutes. They’ll also be able to follow 1 to 2 directions of yours at a time. Your child should also be aware when he/she is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.

What do you need to do?

You will need to be on the lookout for the signs mentioned above and once you notice them and finish jumping for joy, you will need to start having practice sessions with your child. Teach them how to pull down their pants and pull them back up on their own. Teach them about the use of the potty chair or potty seat adapter. Let them practice flushing the toilet if they are using the potty adapter seat. Let them read and watch videos about using the potty to get them mentally ready to begin potty training. The video below is a great example of a pre-potty training tool.


You will need to encourage your toddler during pre-potty training and be excited about it. This is a slow process and if you lose your patience, show signs of irritation and anger, your child will pick up on the negative energy and the whole process will be stressful. In some cases, your child may be reluctant and uncooperative, so be patient and reinforce the anticipation of potty independence.

Be Reassured

Exercise patience and be cheerful about it. Rest assured that your child is not going to end up a teenager in diapers. Pre-potty training prepares your child for his new milestone. The potty training period you will be going through will pass by quickly and you may look back on it in amusement one day.

P.S. What is a good way to pre-potty train your child?

P.P.S. Do you have a  video that helps with potty training?

Potty Training Essentials Here

Happy potty training!

Updated January 2023.

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Potty Training Tools

Choosing potty training tools

After you have observed your child and decided that your child shows interest and is physically ready to start potty training, you will have to choose potty training tools. It is good to have your child participate in helping to choose potty training tools when possible. They can help pick the colors, style and types of tools needed. Even though they may like a particular item, it may not work well in your home setting so you have to use your best judgment as well.

After you pick your potty training gear, you should feel free to change the tools you have already chosen if they do not seem to help you reach your goal of toilet training. For example, I and my eldest son picked out a cute blue potty pot that had a cute puppy face on it. He ended up just sitting on it for playtime and did not actually “potty” in it. I had to move to the toilet adapter seat for the adult toilet for him to take his toilet training seriously. He needed the adapter seat on the toilet to differentiate play time from toilet training time.

Potty, Potty Chair or Portable(adapter type) Training Seat?

This is really up to your preference and what is easy for your child. The actual potties come in various sizes, colors and shapes. Basically it is like a bucket to sit on and catch the waste, feces or urine. You then empty the waste contents into the toilet and clean the potty. If you don’t mind cleaning the potty every time your child uses it, it is comfortable for him to sit on, he actually goes on it and not play with it, you may prefer this choice.

 

 

The potty chair is the potty placed into a chair. The chair has an opening where the pot fits in. The advantage to this set up is that the potty does not move around on the floor. It is stationary in the potty chair. Your child can sit on it easily without it moving around and he can sit for long periods since he can sit comfortably with back support. Some potty chairs have arms on them so he can rest his arms while sitting and waiting for his package to arrive. The disadvantage again is the clean up afterward which you may have to do many times a day, depending on your child’s elimination pattern.

 

                                                                                      

 

Advantages and disadvantages of potty seats

The portable potty seat is a portable potty ring, potty adapter or seat reducer that fits into the adult toilet.This makes the toiler seat size fit little bottoms comfortably. Your child can sit on the toilet without feeling like he will “fall in.” The advantage of this is that you can skip the step from potty or potty chair to adult toilet. You can also skip the continuous cleaning and sanitizing the potty after each potty trip because you just flush the waste down just as when the adults use the toilet. Your child can get used to using the toilet without fear sooner.

The disadvantage is that your child may need help to sit on the toilet where with the potty or potty chair, he can sit on it himself. It may be difficult for him to reach the seat since it is higher up off the floor where potty seats are at his level. To compensate for this disadvantage, there are little potty ladders and step stools to help your child reach the toilet seat safely.

Potty Training Ladders

If you opt for the potty training adapter seats, you will need to make sure your child can get on the toilet safely. Using the toilet adapter seat means he may go to the toilet more on his own. You should purchase a potty training step ladder or step stool. They can be either attached to or placed directly in front of the toilet that your child uses. They are usually made of plastic. Some are made of plastic or wood. They have a skid-proof base and are available in a range of colors, designs, and sizes.Place a nightlight or some form of illumination on his path to the bathroom just in case, he has to use the potty during the night. That way he can see how to climb the potty ladder or step on the stepping stool to use the toilet.

Potty Training Motivations

Children love to have fun. Adding fun to potty training will make it easier and entertaining for your child. With toddlers, one has to guide them with positive motivation. One way of doing this is with incentives or rewards that boost their willingness to learn new things while also building up their self esteem.Along with praise, your child may also like to receive a little reward when using the potty. You can give him a cookie or a little of his favorite treat or a little prize that you can keep in a prize jar or prize box that you can create together. Sticker charts are a great reminder of your child’s progress to reaching his goal to potty independence. Place one where he or she can touch and see it. Place the stickers where they can get them and place on chart.

Optional Fun Tools

Part of the process of potty training is timing when to go. You can take your child at regularly scheduled times such as hourly, before or after meal times or some other set time you have determined works for your child. One of the innovations of today that we did not have when I was potty training my children is the potty watch. Today’s potty trainee can have his own watch to let him know when it’s time to go. This innovation helps with the challenge of reminding your little one it’s potty time. The Potty Watch does that for you. It alerts your child with flashing lights, music or ringing sounds that grabs their attention. It alerts them from 30, 60 , 90 minute intervals letting them take a break from playtime to go to the potty. At the same time, it is fun for them because of the flashing watch and music telling them to go and they will have fun on the way to potty.

Potty Training toys

Potty training toys and books to reinforce the potty learning steps. Toys can illustrate using the potty with dolls using toy potty seats. Books about potty time can be used to encourage your child to use the potty. They can even look through these books with colorful pictures while sitting on the potty.

 

Potty training is a journey that is unique for each child. What you used for one of your children may not work for your next child. But with consistency and the proper potty training tools that work for you and your child, you will be successful and your child will be potty independent before you know it!

Potty Training tools

P.S. What is the most helpful potty training tool you use?

Which potty training tool do you feel is most important?

What do you think about gadgets like the potty watch?

Please share this post,  and share your thoughts  in our comment section.

Happy potty training!

Updated 2023

 

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Should You Bribe Your Kids When Potty Training?

What is Bribing?

Well first we have to define what is meant by bribe? According to dictionary.com bribe means “persuade (someone) to act in one’s favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.” Bribe does not have a “good” connotation. The gift of money or other inducement also gives bribe a bad sound. We do not want our children to think that they will receive something of material value to do things for themselves.

Are material rewards sending the wrong message?

If we give them something like material things whenever they accomplish something, they are receiving the message that they will always receive material rewards for doing the “right” thing. This would set them up for disappointments in life as sometimes no one even knows you have done the right thing except you. You will not receive recognition or material rewards except knowing you have made an accomplishment. We do not always receive awards and gifts for doing things. We should derive reward just from the accomplishment itself.  Some parents give children toys every time they make a potty success. That is a bit much.

Watch this video for some tips.     

What Do We Do?

But at the same time, we do not want our children to feel that they have not done something that is laudable. The should still gain a sense of accomplishment which motivates them to continue and progress. We can  accomplish this by giving them little motivational words of praise, hugs and small things. When potty training, we can give them things like stickers to put on their potty charts.

Acknowledgement is key

Give them a hug when they make it to the potty in time. We should not make it a very big occasion for everything they do, but some acknowledgement is key to them growing up with a sense of self worth. This will keep them striving for some progress and give them encouragement to accomplish their new tasks. With everything there is a balance. Rewards and praises are no exception even with potty training.

P.S. Do you think it is good to reward your child when they accomplish a goal?

Is there a difference between rewards and bribes?

Should children always receive material rewards?

What do you do when your child reaches a goal or accomplishment?

Please comment and share .

Updated January 2023

 

 

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Tips for Potty Training Boys

Are Boys More Difficult to Potty Train?

Contrary to a commonly held misconception, potty training a boy is not more difficult than potty training a girl, except for teaching boys to stand up while voiding. You can start him sitting on the potty chair and just teach him to stand later. Also based solely on my own experience with three sons and one daughter, boys seem to be less interested in becoming diaper independent. My sons all took a lackluster view of getting potty trained than did my daughter. She was very interested in becoming a “big girl” and going to the bathroom by herself.

My last son was potty trained at two and going to the bathroom very well. But if he was engaged in a game of playing and running outdoors, he would not want to stop his fun to go to the bathroom. He tried to “hold it” and would have an accident. So every child is different and you will find out what motivates each of yours with time, patience, trial and yes, errors.  But fear not, here are some tips for potty training boys from my research and experience.

 

 

Is He Ready?

To be successful at potty training boys, you should start when he shows signs of interest in being a “big boy” that can go to the bathroom on his own. He must be physically mature enough to utilize fine and gross motor skills to use the potty seat or the potty adapter seat on an adult toilet safely. Some boys may be ready at 18 months- 2 years old. Others may be ready earlier. Observe your son and encourage him to try potty training. Do not feel discouraged if you start potty training and discover he may not be exactly ready.  You can start again a few weeks later.

Concentrate on Timing

Do not begin potty training your son during a big change or new event in his routine, such as the birth of a new sibling, a recent family relocation, a recent loss of a parent or loved one through death or divorce. Make sure his environment is as stable as possible. Observe his interest in emulating the adults doing daily tasks in the household. When the timing is right, gather together the equipment you will need.

The Proper Equipment

Gathering together the proper equipment is also essential to potty training boys successfully. The proper equipment may take some time to find with some trial and error. Each child is unique and what may work for some may not work for others. Finding what “clicks” with your son may take some purchases before you get what makes him comfortable. Some experts advise to buy a potty chair where your son can lean forward with feet touching the floor. This position they contend is helpful during bowel movements. They also suggest to buy a child size potty chair which may be more comfortable for him.

These suggestions did not work for any of my children. The toilet adapter seat placed on the adult toilet worked best for them. Buy two of them. One for home and one for travel.They knew that this was not a “playtime” seat. When they sat on it, they knew it was time to potty like mommy and daddy did. We used a little step stool made for the toilet to help with potty training. This can be left in place so a child can go onto the toilet safely.  But in the beginning, you will be there to assist him.

 

 

Have several pairs of cloth training pants ready for changes. You can also use pull ups but use them as if they were cloth training pants. If he has an accident, change the pull-ups just as you would the cloth pants. Do not let him walk around with wet or soiled pull-ups. He will think it is ok to go in his pants.

 

Establish a Schedule for Potty Training

Begin in the morning when your son wakes up. Place him on the potty, then give him his daily hygiene. Take him to the potty at 1 hour intervals throughout the day. Soon you will discover when he is most likely to need to potty. Watch for ques that he may need to use the potty. Then you will establish his routine for voiding and bowel movements.
If you need to go out, check for access to public facilities and take a seat adapter with disinfectant wipes. Once you get your son into a routine, you can plan your trip where he can go before leaving home and return home in time for the next potty visit.

To help establish a schedule for potty training, provide water and juice at regular intervals also. This will help with when he is most likely to need the potty. After your son uses the potty, give him little rewards and praises. Stickers, games and charts give him a feeling of progress and accomplishment. Do not punish him if he has a toilet training accident. Encourage him to try to do better the next time.

You Can Do It Together

Potty training boys is not any more complicated than potty training girls.To be successful, you should start when he is ready and interested in going to the bathroom like his mom and dad. Focus on beginning potty training when your son is secure in his daily routine and home environment. Find the right equipment that works for him and your family routine. Establish a schedule. Provide incentives to encourage him along with his potty training. Never make him feel ashamed or punish him for having toilet training accidents because they will happen.

Utilize videos and fun picture books about potty training which will make it easier for your son to process the new information. Most of all, take your time. You can always regroup and start again after a short break. But whatever you do, be consistent. By utilizing these tips for potty training boys, you can do it together. You can be successful at potty training your son.

 

Do you think boys are more difficult to potty train? Share your thoughts in comments.

What tips do you have to potty train boys? Please share in our comment section.

Please share this post with helpful tips to fellow potty-trainers.  😉

Potty Training Essentials here for all your potty training needs.

Updated January 2023