Potty training techniques

Potty training techniques:

Once you have decided on when to start potty training, and have introduced the idea to your child, you will need to decide on the best time to start the training itself.

Ideally, try to chose a time of year when the weather is relatively warm. It is easier to have your child with no clothes on, at least the bottom half, during the first part of the training.

Chose a time when your lives are relatively stable, with nothing much else happening, such a visitors staying, birthdays, Christmas etc. Potty training techniques always work best when everything is calm!

Try to organise yourself in advance for at least a few days, so that you don't have to go out shopping or any other long excursions.

Of course it is not possible to arrange for the perfect conditions and it is always possible to work around commitments you cannot avoid.



Decide on the day you are going to start, and let everyone who lives with you know so that they can help, or at least not hinder your efforts!

Explain to your toddler that they are bigger now and can start to use the potty. Introduce a potty training chart.

Make sure you have a potty in the room where your child spends most of their time.

I highly recommend using a potty boy doll or a potty girl doll to demonstrate sitting on the potty. These dolls are the best for your child to understand the process and to play-learn in a safe way. You can also have this doll sitting on the potty at the same time as your child. The doll can have accidents, successes and rewards to reinforce what you are doing with your child!

Potty training techniques don't work all the time: your child will almost certainly have an accident. If he does, take him to the potty afterwards, and talk to him about peeing in the potty, not on the floor. Above all don't be cross with your child.

Sooner or later, your child will wee in the potty for the first time! This will be the time to make a big fuss, fill in the potty chart together, have a dance together, or some other fun way of showing how great you think your child is.



Continue with this method throughout the day and the following few days. Some children will learn in a very short time, others will take longer, but all children will respond to this positive approach.

It is unlikely your child will be able to stay dry at night yet, so continue to put a diaper or pull-up on your child until much later, when your child is reliably dry by day.

Once you feel your child has understood, and is using the potty at least some of the time, they can practise pulling down underpants. Make sure you dress your toddler in something loose and easy to pull down.