Adding an element of fun to potty training can help make the process much easier
As any parent knows, the first few months and years of your child’s life is a voyage of discovery for both them and you alike.
And one of the hardest parts of parenting is to know when to start new stages. Striking a balance between what is recommended and what is right for your individual child can often be tricky, especially when you are facing a certain amount of reluctance along the way!
One particularly challenging episode can be the transition from nappies to the potty. Whilst starting your infant too early can lead to confusion, it is important not to leave it too late either. Children will also be a lot more open to this new experience if you can make it fun for them at the same time.
And here are some top tips from the Pull-Ups potty training expert Heather Welford:
Keep the potty close by (one upstairs and one downstairs is useful)
If you’re having a lot of accidents, and your child seems unbothered about the whole business, then it’s fine to go back to nappies for a little while. It’s not a ‘failure’ or a ‘disaster’ – just a little set-back that happens to lots of parents and toddlers
Make sure clothing is easy to manage for quick responses – let your child wear jogging bottoms or leggings, rather than anything fastened at the waist with zips and buttons
Stay calm and encouraging when your child doesn’t get to the potty in time, or if he forgets all about it – it’s normal, and your child’s not being naughty
When your child does a poo or a wee in the potty, even if you think it was mainly luck (it might be!), be positive and show how pleased you are. Reward sticker carts work really well here.
When you’re away from home, visiting, or shopping, or anywhere there are public loos, help your child get used to using the toilet, so you don’t have to carry a potty with you everywhere. Your child will need help to stay sitting comfortably, and little boys may need lifting up to ‘stand and aim’
Once you’ve decided the time’s right, take your child out of nappies in the day – Pull-Ups look like normal underwear, but cope with accidents well.
Keep potty training fun and enjoyable – the Potty Dance helps a lot with this
In order to help give those of you who are daunted by the subject a helping hand; Pull-Ups is launching the Potty Dance, a fun teaching tool that will have toddlers dancing along. One lucky potty dancer will even have the chance to win a dream family holiday to Disneyland, Florida, by submitting their own dancing video online.
Milkshake! TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson believes that children learn best through play, “Learning to potty train can be a tough time for you and your child...The music [in the dance] is great to sing along to and the dance moves are so simple – so you and your little one will pick it up in no time!”
Potty training expert Heather Welford agrees, “ The potty dance is a great learning tool for parents to help with potty training as it makes using the potty fun, and just as important, it helps children remember what to do – “.
For those of you who need some extra help training your little ones, Heather/Naomi have put together some top tips to help you along.
