It is up to the parent to decide if potty-training will be a positive transition for their child or if it is going to be a miserable struggle. Before the idea is introduced and the panties/underwear are bought, it is important for the parent to be mentally and emotionally prepared for this transition. {See the article, “Getting Ready to Make the Transition from Diapers to Panties or Underwear”}.
After you, as the parent, are prepared, it is very important for you to introduce the idea to your child in a creative and positive way. The way you begin this transition will have an impact on the whole process. Before you begin, realize that it is possible that your child may not be ready yet. If an attempt is made but your child is strongly resisting, or you see that your child is not ready for this, you need to know that it’s okay to stop and try again in a couple of months. Remember, this is a transition your child must make, so you as the parent need to assist them so that the transition can be a positive experience for all involved (especially your child).
Here are a few tips on how to introduce the idea to your child:
1. First of all, consider their age. Some children are ready at 18 months, while others may be well over 2 years old before they are ready.
2. When you’re changing your child’s diaper, casually start mentioning to them that they are getting bigger and they may want to try using the potty sometime soon.
3. After mentioning it a few times, go to your store of choice with your child. Look at the different potty chairs available before you bring it up to your child. After you have seen the ones you are happy with, get them off of the shelf and show the different ones to your child. Let your child pick it out – picking it out themselves will give them more of a feeling of ownership (and they are more likely to want to use it).
4. Next, go to the children’s clothing department. If you have a little girl, let them pick out the cutest panties they can find; if you have a little boy, let them pick out the kind of underwear that will make him feel like a big boy. Let your child hold the panties/underwear in the cart (I suggest buying 3-4 packages so you’ll have plenty on hand when your child is ready to begin potty-training).
5. When it’s time to pay for the potty chair and panties/underwear, let your child hand the cashier the money. He/she will feel like a really big boy/girl if they are able to pay for it themselves.
6. As soon as you get home, get the potty chair out of the box and put it in the bathroom. Get the panties/underwear out of the packages and immediately put them in the dresser drawer.
7. Put your child in your lap and tell them that they can tell you when they want to try using their new potty-chair. They may want to try immediately, but if not, don’t force the issue. Let them try when they are ready.
8. If some time passes and they do not want to try, you may ask them if they want to just sit on their new potty chair. Remember, there’s not rush – let them go at their own pace.
9. Some may immediately understand and catch on, but many children take a while to get used to the idea.
10. Some parents find it helpful to buy a kid’s book for them to read about using their new potty-chair.
At this point, some kids may use their potty-chair without any reservations. Others may act afraid or unsure about whether or not they want to. Others may want to, but forget throughout the day that they need to go to their potty-chair. If your child is having some difficulty with this potty-training business, see the article “Fun and Practical Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Resistance to Their Potty-Chair “
