Potty Training Secrets for Your Baby

Posted on 10. Apr, 2009 by TheCuteKid Photo Contest in Baby Center, Parenting, Toddlers

Potty Training Secrets for Your Baby

By Michelle Bruns

I know that every child is different, but for me, ditching the diaper was one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced so far as a mother. Don’t get me wrong, the fact that I did not have to change another diaper was music to my ears and potty training was a breeze. But, then along came number-two… poopy training.

I did not know that training your kids to use the toilet was a two-part mission…and that number two is twice as challenging for some tiny tots. The fact of the matter is that teaching toddlers to control the less-talked-about bodily function is a completely separate concept to learn.

In research published by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2004, about one-quarter of the toddlers studied experience “stool toileting refusal.” The fact that they withheld their stool resulted in constipation and/or hardening of the stool, which caused discomfort, which resulted in fear of moving their bowels the next time. This is a vicious cycle that affected as many as 93 percent of kids in the study. It’s no wonder so many toddlers are on the same “say no to pooping” bandwagon!

Although every child is different, here are five tips from moms and experts alike to help make the other half of toilet training a success.

1) Distract with Books

Whether you choose to read your tot his favorite book or pick up one that talks about the duty at hand, the distraction just may be enough to relax him, allowing him to take care of business. Books like Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi and Too Big for Diapers by Random House seem to put some humor in this sometimes stressful step for kids.

2) Bribe, er, Reward for Progress

From stickers to toys to candy, teaching toddlers that doing their duty in the toilet can be a positive experience. From surprises in gift bags to baskets full of “poopy prizes,” the motivation to get the deed done can use a little encouragement.

But, the top reward that parents see success with seems to be the sticker chart. “For my potty training, my kids were into stickers. So we got them a sticker book,” said Arlene D., mother of two from Southlake, TX, “So they get one sticker for pee-pee and two stickers for number-two. Then, at the end of each week, if they have the page filled with stickers, they get rewarded with a trip to the dollar store where they can choose any toy they want. (Yes, any toy!) And Mommy promises not to say no.”

3) Cover Your Bases

There are many options for your toddler’s tushie where toilet training is concerned, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. I’ve heard about many toddlers tackling potty training like a pro, but when it comes to their poop, they’re running for a pull-up. My personal favorite is the training underwear, which looks and feels like big kid underwear, but holds a lot more thanks to the extra padding front to back right down the middle.

4) Small Toilet or Toilet Ring

Many children fear the insecure feeling of balancing on the big toilet seat. Try opting for the potty chair, just like with their wee beginnings, or purchase a toddler-sized toilet seat ring that fits right on top of the regular toilet seat. These bring the big scary toilet a little closer to their size.

5) Don’t Push

No pun intended here. But, as my personal research supports, the more you push them, the more they resist. Ultimately, it can become a control issue. We choose what they eat, what they wear, when they play. When and where they do their number-two is a task in which they hold the reins.

So relax, be supportive, and know that just when you think he’ll never stop having accidents, he’ll be the prince of the porcelain throne before you know it.

Besides toilet training, what other dreaded parenting duty do you wish could magically take care of itself?

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Tags: baby advice, Baby Center, how to use a potty, Parenting, potty train your baby, potty training, toliet training, toliet training baby