Potty Use During Outings

As soon as things start to look up during the potty training process, there is the dreaded thought of going for an outing. Home and daycare potty training is one thing, but throwing in the idea of using or finding a public restroom can be tricky. You are at the park having a great time or shopping at the grocery store and then you hear the inevitable words “Mommy I need to potty.” This can be a race to the finish line and often times overwhelming, until you and your child get the hang of it. Although, you may find that outings are limited or shorter, you do not want to be confined to your home during the potty training process. Preparation and strategic thinking will serve you well during outings.

• Trunk it: always have wipes, a change of clothing, socks and even shoes in the trunk of your car. Or keep these items in your carry-along bag.  Accidents will happen, when they do don’t panic because you will have what you need to handle the situation.
• I Spy: before getting involved with the purpose of your outing locate the restrooms and consider stopping for a quick try at toileting, beforehand. Strategically sit near the restroom in restaurants or play near the restrooms at the park. You will thank yourself when it’s time for your child to “go.”
• Keep it clean: at some point your child will have to use the potty in an undesirable location. Consider getting disposable seat covers or a portable potty seat. The fold up seat is great to have in a zip lock bag with a small tube of travel spray disinfectant.
• Pull-ups: when in doubt, use pull-ups until your child is farther along in their training. This will not hinder the training process in the early stages, but be reasonable with the use of pull-ups as your child and you become more confident.

Your child is getting closer and closer to potty training success. In addition to consistency during daily training; preparation is important when taking an outing or traveling. With our busy lives, potty training will have to go on the road at some point. As always stay calm. Happy Travels!

Feel free to take a look at the one on one coaching services that I provide and contact me at mybabycoach.co@gmail.com with any questions.

My Baby Coach, putting a positive spin on parenting

Potty Training-Overcoming Refusal

Congratulations!  So far your child has been introduced to the concept of potty training and you have established strategies to motivate your child through, Part I and Part II of My Baby Coach’s potty training series.  A major challenge that many parents face through potty training is when a child refuses to proceed with training.  There are many reasons why your child may refuse the potty, which range from inconsistency, a negative experience, or they may not be emotionally or mentally ready.

During potty training there will be accidents and times when your child resists-this is normal.  Children can also develop fears about using the potty, such as the sound of the toilet flushing, painful bowel movements, or negative interactions.  To establish the cause for refusal; observe and take mental note of the times when your child resists.  You may find a pattern of behavior that is delaying the process.  It is important to encourage and reassure your child when accidents happen and avoid forcing your child to use the potty when they refuse.  Once you have determined what the refusal triggers are, focus on overcoming those challenges.  For example, if you notice that your reactions may be negative during the process; stay calm, encouraging and do not push the issue.  If your child seems fearful of the toilet or flushing try a potty chair or think of a fun flushing the toilet song/game.  Find out what motivates your child through incentives and make the process fun.

Consistency is key, potty training needs to be a part of your child’s schedule several times a day.  If you take days off from training, so will your child.  Children who are in day care may have a more challenging time with training when consistency is not in place.  Maintain good communication with your child’s teachers to stay consistent from home to day care.  If your child is wearing underpants at home and pull-ups at day care this creates confusion for your child.

Get your child more involved with their own self-help skills.  Pull-ups are a good start, but some would suggest going “cold turkey”-meaning regular use of underpants.  This helps children to be more aware of cause and effect, thus making them more likely to recognize sensations and the result of wetting their clothes.  Of course this strategy has it’s “pit falls” as it can get messy, but your child can also be included in the clean-up process as well; with positive encouragement of course.

For children who have completely refused to proceed with potty training, stop the training for a few weeks and continue with the introduction tips from “Potty Training the Introduction.”  When you think your child has regained interest, start the process again.

Thinking about your child, potty training may be the biggest responsibility that they have had thus far.  It does not come easy for most children as there are many facets to their development, which play a role in the challenges of training.  Toddlers are learning about themselves and the world around them.  They are constantly making connections, processing, practicing and mastering skills; this same notion is applied to potty training as well.  Avoid comparing your child to others or putting high level expectations on an individually paced transition.  Your child can be successful at potty training with positive guidance, encouragement, and consistency.

Feel free to take a look at the one on one coaching services that I provide and contact me at mybabycoach.co@gmail.com with any questions.

My Baby Coach, putting a positive spin on parenting

Motivating Your Toddler Through Potty Training

In my last post “Potty Training the Introduction” several pointers were provided for beginning the potty training process.  Now that your child has been introduced to the concept of potty training; you may have determined if your child is ready for the full blown training.  If so, continue with the introduction tips and stay consistent.  Consistently plays a key part in the potty training adventure.  There will be times of success and challenges.  Each child is different and finding out what motivates your child will increase their success.  Motivating your child can range from positive reinforcement to getting help from Dad or a sibling.  Tailor potty training to fit your child’s needs:

• Encouragement: children need positive support through the potty training process.  Find many opportunities to encourage through verbal praise, hugs, and kisses.  Be creative and come up with a potty song and dance.
• Sticker system: create a chart and add stickers of their choice to it each time your child uses the potty.  Keep this chart posted in the bathroom to aid as a visual for successful potty use.
• Avoid boredom: have a special set of toys or books ready and available while your child uses the potty.  Preferably these toys are only used during potty attempts as an incentive, but will also keep your child occupied through the process.
• Goodie bags: fill a bag with a variety of small rewards.  Let your child reach in and grab a special surprise after successful potty attempts.
• Fun activities: there are many fun activities that your child loves, which can be used as a means to motivate them.  If they love to paint or listen to their favorite songs; use this as motivation and talk about this incentive as you encourage potty use.  For example, “Would you like to paint? Let’s go potty and you can paint.”
• Go shopping: take a trip to the store and let your child pick out their own special underpants or small rewards for their “goodie bag.”
• Treats: some would suggest giving your child candy incentives, but this can be an unhealthy choice to give candy after each potty use.  A great alternative is frozen treats, such as homemade fruit/veggie pops or frozen fruits.  Or save the healthy treats that they really enjoy for rewards.
• Let someone else help: it’s always a great incentive to let Dad or another loved one encourage and assist with potty training.  This is a great way to motivate your child, so they know that everyone is rooting for them.
• Science: this may sound strange, but add blue food coloring to the water to create a light blue color.  After your child uses the potty they may be surprised to see that the water color turned green.  This is also a great motivation for little boys to aim into the toilet.

Motivating and maintaining a positive perspective about potty training are the best approaches to a successful outcome.  The adventures of potty training can be challenging and it takes time for a child to grasp the concept.  Avoid negative reactions to keep your child on the right path through a difficult developmental skill.  Make this process fun and exciting with the expectation that there are going to “up’s and down’s.” Most of all, they will get it and as they move on to another childhood adventure you will look back on the potty training days and just laugh.

Feel free to take a look at the one on one coaching services that I provide and contact me at mybabycoach.co@gmail.com with any questions.

My Baby Coach, putting a positive spin on parenting

Potty Training the Introduction

Potty training can be a challenge for parents and for children.  Let’s face it there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with using the potty.  For about 2 years  your child has been living freely in regard to bladder/bowel control and there is no stopping a toddler on the go.  A child has to be emotionally ready and have developed motor skills for potty training.  Children may be ready for potty training between 18 and 30 months, but of course this varies depending on the child.  Looking for the signs of readiness are important to determine if your child is really ready, such as dry diapers, better bladder and bowel control and even a great interest in using the potty.  Children should move at their own pace during potty training and should not be forced; to prevent negative associations with a process that can be frustrating for them. Before starting with potty training it is a great idea to begin with an introduction of the concept:

• Modeling: this may seem like an awkward suggestion, but children are the ultimate imitators.  Just as you model other concepts, you must model toileting.  Allow your child to learn about the steps involved with toileting as they observe you in the process. If you have a boy, encourage dad or brother to show them what to do and vice versa for girls.  Take this time to talk through the steps.
• Make it fun: find opportunities to focus on the great points of toileting such as flushing the toilet, being a big girl or boy, and of course getting to wear the special underpants.
• Resources: there are a variety of books, videos, and games to assist with potty training and to get children excited about it.  The website Amazon.com has a great list of potty training books that you can order used or new.  Visit this link for a great potty time game with Elmo from Sesame Street your child will love it.
• Everyone does it: when talking to your child about the concepts of toileting, find opportunities to tell them that everyone pees and poops; even animals.
• Get the potty seat ready: have a seat ready to go for experimentation and trial runs.  Remember this is just the introduction stage; go with the flow.  If your child shows interest, follow through with them during the process, be encouraging, and stop when the interest is over.
• Dress up time: find a doll or stuffed animal that your child can practice dressing and taking to a pretend potty.  Play with your child and encourage them to act out or talk through the steps of toileting.  Use this tool as a way to help your child recognize their own sensations to go to the potty and allow your child to practice pulling up/down their own pants.
• Bathroom changes: begin changing your child’s diapers in the bathroom.  This will help your child in associating toileting with the bathroom.

Congratulations to all of the little one’s out there who are getting ready for their next endeavor!  This is a very courageous time for toddlers and can be just as frustrating.  Toileting is a learned behavior, it has to be taught.  Easing your child into the process and following through with consistency and encouragement are the keys to success.  Providing your child with a variety of tools and positive guidance will assist through the gradual potty training adventures.  This is the first of the potty training series; with more information on various aspects of the topic to come.

Feel free to take a look at the one on one coaching services that I provide and contact me at mybabycoach.co@gmail.com with any questions.

My Baby Coach, putting a positive spin on parenting