First Steps to Potty Training

August 31st, 2009 Filed Under Baby Potty Training

Potty training – it’s all about attitude. Not only is it about the child’s attitude towards training, but your own as well. And there are a few things to remember while on this journey.

We’ve all heard the saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. The same holds true in potty training: You can lead your child to the bathroom, but you can’t make him use it. This is where the proper attitude comes in play. Just like eating and sleeping, you cannot force your baby to be dry or clean. What you CAN do is set up the proper atmosphere that will in turn help your child train him/her self.

It’s important to remember to keep the approach to toilet training exciting rather than a dreaded task. Accomplishing this will help the child feel like they are doing something that “big kids” do. Children have an innate sense that they want to be grown up, so if they feel like they’re “big” for going on the potty, they’ll want to continue the action.

Don’t rush it. There are some children that train at a very early age. This cannot be so for all children as potty training is a skill that is learned. A child has to be aware of the fact that they need to go to the bathroom. Making the connection between the sensations of what is happening in their body is different for everyone. Responding to those urges would be another step, requiring the child to leave whatever it is they are busy doing to run to the bathroom. Some children get this right away, but for others, it just takes some time. So along with a good attitude, patience is a must as well.

Before you begin this important step away from babyhood, it is important to first establish if the child is ready. Also, it is just as important to make sure the caregiver is ready as well. Do not choose a time to potty train that is a busy time, such as around the holidays. Timing is everything on your part and the part of the child.

Read books, look into different types of training and figure out what will best suit your child. There are so many resources available. Finding a method of training that clicks with you and your child will lead to calmer and more productive training.

Fantastic resources for potty training can be found at drpotty.com (http://drpotty.com/) Find your child’s Potty Power Heidi Ball is a freelance writer.

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Author: Heidi Ball