Potty training is a big stage of the early childhood. This means becoming a “big kid” and no longer wearing diapers. It is therefore something that the child will look forward to. Many parents and nannies want to facilitate this transition and we have gathered some tips to help you in this process.
Choosing a method is difficult, especially for the new moms. If you have an experienced caregiver, she can advise you and you should take advantadge of her experience. Moreover, whatever method you choose, you will have to work closely with your nanny so choosing an approach together is certainly a good starting point.
We will first review the basic elements of the two main techniques for potty training before sharing some tips you can use to facilitate your child’s learning curve.
The two main methods are either to wait until the child asks to use the potty because he does not want to wear diapers anymore, or to give him the habit of going on the potty at regular intervals starting at the age of 18 months to 2 years old, congratulating him copiously when he uses it.
It is clear that wearing diapers is something that every child will grow tired of, but he will not be able to use a pot before he has control of his bladder sphincter, the muscle that holds the bladder. A good indication that he is ready is to check if can go up and down the stairs. Eventually, there will be a time when your child will ask to use a pot. At this point, your role will be to encourage her initiatives and praise her to reinforce this behavior. It is key that the nanny and all the persons involved in the child education also congratulate the child.
However, some parents prefer to take the lead and teach the child to use the potty before he asked for it. The concept here is to put the child on the potty at regular intervals, every 2 hours so that if he needs to relieve himself at these times, he will use the pot. Your congratulations, and those of the nanny, will then encourage the child to repeat this behavior. According to mothers’ testimonies, it is more convenient to start this training during summer season because of the frequent “accidents” that may occur.
Whatever approach you and your nanny select to use, it is very important to create an enabling environment: to place a pot in every toilet of the house, to have paper accessible to the child, a stool for him to wash his hands, and so on. Do not forget to make him wear clothes that he can easily get out of alone. And of course, praise him when he uses the pot.
This being settled, put in place a system of celebration to strengthen your support. Positive reinforcement is a key element in the rapid success of the child. You can create a chart with stickers for your child to put on every time he uses the pot. This is where communication with your nanny will be key to give the child a consistent experience and share his success stories to be able to repeat the conditions.
In conclusion, there is no silver bullet, but a positive, encouraging and consistent approach, used by both you and your babysitter is undoubtedly key to potty train your child.