6 Important Potty Training Tips

Potty training is rough for some families, but it doesn’t have to be. It might take some time, but with some helpful tips, you can get through the process without a lot of stress. These tips might help.

1. Start early

There is a wide range for ages when it comes to potty training; anywhere from 15 to 36 months. 22 months is usually the magic number. Just before two years, kids are usually ready biologically and cognitively to handle it. If you wait too long, it can actually become more difficult because the child has grown too accustomed to diapers and they develop potty training fears.

Many parents are surprised at how young a child can catch on to potty training. They may not “get” the whole process right away, but you can start small by letting them get used to sitting on the seat, flushing the toilet, washing their hands, etc., so these steps are familiar when it’s time to really learn to go.

2. Potty train over the weekend

It’s important that you start training when you can devote 100% of your attention to it. You can’t potty train in the morning, use diapers at the sitter’s, and then train at night. You’ll send mixed signals. It has to be all-or-nothing. Avoid making plans during this time.

3. Start with some visuals

It helps to show your child some potty training books before the process begins to familiarize him or herself with the process. They like to mimic other kids and their favorite cartoon characters. When you start training, they will recall the books and feel comforted. Make sure whichever book you use has a healthy, positive message. They even make smartphone apps that help.

4. Stay committed to the process

Once you start, don’t stop at the first sign of trouble. You have to be fully committed so your child understands that this isn’t temporary; this is the new method. Rough days will pop up, just push through with a smile on your face.

5. Have some fun!

There’s no reason your family can’t have fun while potty training. In fact, it’s a great way to remove the stress. Have fun, make jokes, and be sure to give plenty of praise. Praise gives children something to work towards and look forward to. They will repeat behaviors if they think they can get you to praise them.

Throw out the diapers

Don’t leave any diapers around for you or your child to turn to when there’s trouble. You have to make it clear to everyone (yourself included) that potty training is the new way of doing things. There’s no turning back, even during busy days with lots of errands, long days shopping or out in public, or exciting playdates.

Written by Stephanie Parker from Sleepingbaby.com, inventor of the Zipadee-Zip

The motto for Sleeping Baby, makers of the Zipadee-Zip, is: “Inspiring Dreams One Night at A time,” and that, in a nutshell, is how it all started…with one little dream that has since become the Parker family’s reality. When Brett and Stephanie Parker’s daughter, Charlotte, was born, the feeling that welled up inside of them was indescribable; they never realized until first looking into those baby blues of hers that they were even capable of that kind of love. When it was time to transition baby from swaddling, the Parkers tried every sleep sack on the market and every swaddle weaning trick they could find for nearly two weeks and nothing worked to get baby Charlotte to fall and stay asleep.

Stephanie became determined to restore sleep and sanity to their household and set out to find a solution that would soothe Charlotte’s startle reflex and provide her the cozy womb-like environment she loved so much but still give her the freedom to roll over and wiggle around in her crib safely. Out of sheer desperation and exhaustion, the Zipadee-Zip was born. The first Zipadee-Zip(R) Stephanie put together on her little sewing machine worked like magic!

To date tens of thousands of Zipadee-Zips have been sold and all from word-of-mouth marketing. It is so rewarding for the Parkers to see other parents and babies getting the sleep they both need and deserve!

For more information, visit sleepingbaby.com.

Interested in writing a guest blog for Sleeping Baby? Send your topic idea to pr@sleepingbaby.com.

All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Sleeping Baby makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, current-ness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.