Learning to use the toilet is a big step for a child. While the process may seem difficult, staying positive and being supportive can help.
Parents and caregivers should follow their child’s cues and remember that the child will get the hang of it at his or her own pace. Talk to your child’s pediatrician, if you have questions or concerns about the process.
When potty training starts, choose your words carefully. Use positive words to talk about body parts, urine and bowel movements. Avoid negative words like dirty, naughty or stinky.
When training starts, pick a potty chair. When children sit on it, their feet should be able to reach the floor. Books or toys for “potty time” may help make this time more fun.
Adults can model behavior by letting children watch them use the toilet and wash their hands after.
When children feel the urge to poop, you might notice grunting, squatting or freezing. Children’s faces may turn red while pooping. Explain to your children that these signs mean a poop is about to come. It may take longer for children to notice the need to pee. If your child tells you about a wet diaper, praise him or her for “using their words.”
Here are more potty-training tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Talk about how the child will be in charge of his or her pee and poop.
- Read children’s books about using the toilet.
- Give the child as much control over the process as possible, including being in charge of the cleanup.
- Make trips to the potty chair a routine.
- Switch to big-kid underwear when toilet training starts.
- Teach the child how to wipe carefully and wash his or her hands well after using the toilet.
Avoid treats and punishments because they can distract rather than encourage. When your child succeeds, be specific about why you are proud. Say, for example, “I am so proud you are able to use the toilet so well.”
Children who are toilet training may test their limits by holding back bowel movements. Try to stay calm about toilet training. Remember that children control when and where they pee and poop. Power struggles, begging, pleading, rewarding and punishing keep children from managing their own toileting.
For more information about toilet training, visit HealthyChildren.org at https://bit.ly/3R0RqR3.
