Potty training...its easy!!!

YOU need committment.  Its that simple.  Take a week off work, take the phone off the hook for the first couple of days.  Tell family and friends the door is closed this week.  Dont go out anywhere on the first three days.  You need to concentrate fully on potty training.

This method is tried and tested on my 6 kids and 4 neices and nephews and friends twins.  both were boys and girls, both sexes were the same.  Although girls were faster to master the number 2's for some reason?!

The age of the toddlers  between 2 years and 2 and a half years.  Any younger and they dont quite understand their own bodies (some do and can be taught but most dont fully potty train until this age anyway so I found it pointless to train earlier than 2, why stress yourself needlessly?)  Over 2 and a half the kids start developing a stubborness that may take longer because they like to do what they want when they want.  I have found this age gets the perfect results.

Potty train in the summer months.  Just like adults, kids want to pee when cold, you need to take out the cold factor.

Also when night training, it is important to try and keep your toddler as warm as possible.  The cold contributes ALOT to them peeing the bed.  And like us again they always want to pee in the morning.  Get up before them in the first week, take that diaper off before they are fully awake and on the toilet to have a pee.  Start the morning on a high!

I know this works if committed to potty training. 

The first day is the hardest.

What you will need is a toilet seat insert and step.  Dont buy a potty, it is not practical for when you are out shopping or at a friends home, they may not have a potty that your toddler will be comfortable with.  If you train them on a smaller version of a normal toilet they will not be frightened using it.

Also dont buy a toilet seat insert with bells and whistles.  You want this done quickly and smoothly....no distractions. 

Day 1

Goal - to catch a pee in the toilet, to throw away day diapers

Get up early and wake up toddler.  Take them straight to the toilet.  Check diaper, is it wet and cold or wet and warm...or hope of hopes DRY?  Check time on clock.

This is the best chance of catching a pee.  If your toddlers diaper is dry, they havent peed so you have a very good chance.  Keep them on the toilet trying all tricks to make them pee.  run water, dribble the flusher so water dribbles, even a bowl of water and play with it making dripping water sounds.  Toddlers are like us, water makes us want to pee.

If you are the lucky 1/10 mother who manages to catch that pee first thing in the morning...you are in for a fantastic potty training experience.

If you arent so lucky and the diaper is wet and warm, chances are your toddler has just peed.  Dont despair, keep them seated for a good 5 mins and then check the time and start your morning as normal.

DO NOT PUT A DIAPER ON THEM.

Your day is going to be diaper free.  Get a bucket and rags ready for the day and alot of clean big boy / girl panties.  KNOW that accidents are going to happen.

If nothing happened in the toilet in the morning, every 20 mins take them and sit them for 5 mins.  If they have an accident restart your clock and take them again in 1 hour and then every 20 mins.  YOU must keep them on the toilet.  Fill the bathroom with toys and books.  As the day goes on you AND your toddler will get frustrated with going to the bathroom.  YOU MUST PERSEVERE.

nap time

Lay them down after they have peed...hopefully after they have been on the toilet, if not when they have had an accident.  Do not put a diaper back on them.  When they are nearly going to wake up, gently get them up and take them quickly to the toilet. Leave them there as long as it takes, if they woke up dry.  They will have to pee, this is the big chance.  Try all the water tricks from this morning.  Dont let them get up....this is important, they are going to pee, they want to pee...they are just a little scared at the whole process.  Gently hug them as they sit.  the hug is for them but also to keep their butt on the toilet.

When you have caught that first pee....CELEBRATE.  I mean break out the party, jump up and down and REALLY REALLY REALLY make them feel a winner.  Do this EVERYTIME they pee in the toilet.  Reinforcement of what a great job they have done as a big boy / girl has to be ongoing.

Always note the time after they have an accident or go to the toilet.  This is important.

After an hour...get up and talk about how wonderful and big they are now at going to the toilet...lets go again.

Repeat this until they go every time you take them for three times...Always celebrating after each pee.

After the fourth hour....ASK THEM if they want to go.  If they say yes, take them....if they say no, tell them "ok my big boy / girl you just let me know when your ready"  Ask them again in a hour.  Always be excited about them going.

This is a process, it is letting them understand their body and learning to recognise the urge.  Ignore any accident that may occur at this time, if they do have an accident, just return to taking them on the hour...its NO BIGGY.

If you have reached your goal....pat yourself on the back and give yourself a medal.  You have just done the hard part to potty training.

If you havent reached the goal...you have not committed yourself to potty training.  You have been distracted or allowed your toddler to dictate terms.  Your child maybe too young and not equipped to understand the processes or too old that he / she is too stubborn.

You have to start the whole day over again.  Persevere on the first day and you wont have to repeat the whole day.  This works, if  your child has not mastered peeing on the toilet on this day of persevering, then wait a couple of weeks before trying again.

Stay tuned for number 2's 2nd day training, ending night diapers and taking the fear out of going shopping with newly trained toddlers.