Your toddler is ready to ditch the diapers and start going “potty” all by himself, but you have no idea where to start. For many people who have not had to deal with it, this may not seem like a big deal. But it can be, especially when despite your efforts to train him, your toddler repeatedly soils himself. Toddlers are “new”, are learning all the time and discovering their environment and themselves, and learning to go potty may turn out to be a challenge for them too.
To get you started, here are 2 tips:
1. Switch from diapers to pants
To help your toddler make the mental switch that he should now start using the toilet like the rest of the family, whenever you can, dress him in panties as opposed to diapers. Gently talk to him about it – that he is now wearing panties because he is a “big” boy and can go potty all by himself. Explain to him that if he needs to go, he should let you know and you can help him take the panties off and hold him over the potty. In the initial days, always be there to help him along, as he may get frustrated when he cannot get the panties off by himself.
2. Holding your toddler over the potty
The other thing you can do to help your toddler, is hold him over the potty each time he has a motion. You have already switched him from diapers to panties, and when he feels like going potty, he may let you know. Take off the panties for him and hold him over the potty until he is done. As you do this, make sure to explain to him what you are doing and why it is important – remember children learn a lot from the explanations we give them, so this, coupled with holding him over the potty, will help him get the hang of it soon enough.
Many parents struggle with this aspect of bringing up a child, but keep in mind that all children are different and learn at different paces. With the above 2 tips, one child may learn to go potty by themselves within a week but it may take another a year, even within the same family. The important thing to do is make sure you do not put undue pressure, even when you feel you are losing patience. Remember, at some point, he will definitely get the art; you just need to keep holding his hand as he masters the skill.
