Tips for Potty Training
Whether you are a parent or caregiver, potty training is challenging but rewarding. Successful potty training involves work, from understanding nutrition to choosing the best techniques.
Thankfully, we’ve compiled tips for potty training that can transform the process, making it manageable for you and the children you’re teaching.
Understanding Potty Training For Toddlers
Understanding the purpose of potty training and the basics behind it sets a good foundation. The purpose of potty training is to help a child recognize when they need to urinate or have a bowel movement and respond to their body’s signals accordingly. This includes correctly using the potty — and eventually the toilet.
When Should Potty Training Start
In the United States, the average age children start party training is between 2 and 3 years old. This is an average and will be different for each child. A health care professional may ask about potty training at a child’s 18-month well-child checks and again at their 2- and 3-year visits. Though milestone awareness is essential, knowing the signs of potty-training readiness is more important.
Recognizing Signs of Readiness
A child should be physically and emotionally ready to potty train. It is challenging for children to learn how to use the toilet if they aren’t first aware of their body’s urges. Potty training before the child is ready can lead to frustration on your part, feelings of anxiety, more accidents, and a greater risk of regression.
Physical readiness happens at its own pace — you cannot force or rush it. A sure sign that a child is physically ready to potty train is beginning to recognize that they need to urinate or have a bowel movement. The child may verbally express their needs or indicate them non-verbally by stopping play or tugging at their diaper. Another sign of physical readiness is staying dry for up to two hours.
Developmental or emotional and behavioral signs of readiness include:
- Walking to and sitting on the potty unassisted.
- Pulling clothes down.
- Following simple instructions that involve two or more steps.
- Communicating their need to use the potty.
- Imitating behavior such as sitting on the toilet.
- Showing an interest in the potty.
Common Challenges During Potty Training Readiness
Potty training is rarely a smooth and hassle-free process, void of accidents or resistance. It is a journey full of common challenges that each parent, caregiver, and child may occasionally experience.
Even when a child is ready, common potty training issues occur, including resistance, accidents, and unawareness. Though common, it is vital to be proactive but patient, reassuring and kind in addressing these challenges.
Under some circumstances, potty training regressions are also common. Regressions can happen with big life changes like getting a new sibling or moving. Always visit a health care provider if you are worried about any kind of regression.
Exploring Potty Training Methods
You can choose from a few primary potty training methods, including parent-led and child-oriented approaches.
In parent-led potty training, you watch for the signs of readiness and then start a training schedule of leading the child to the potty every 2 to 3 hours and encourage potty time after every meal or snack, drink, and before bed. This method works well for establishing a routine, but the downside is that the child is not initiating visits.
With child-oriented potty training, parents wait for children to start sharing that they need to use the bathroom. Child-led potty training is considered a low-stress method as it relies on the child’s complete readiness, initiation, and independence.
For both methods, it is vital to remain encouraging. Use positive reinforcement, offering praise and other appropriate potty training rewards for achieving milestones.
Essential Potty Training Products
The right products and accessories make potty training smoother. You can equip yourself with pediatrician-approved training books and a quality potty. The best options have nonslip features and a removal bowl.
Additionally, transitioning from diapers to training pants is a great step before getting regular underwear. Stocking up on supplies like wet wipes and disposable bags is also an absolute must.
The Role of Diet and Digestion in Potty Training
Children at a potty training age of 2 to 3 need approximately 14 grams of daily fiber. Prioritizing healthy breakfasts and kid-friendly lunches, dinners, and snacks is vital to ensuring your child gets proper nutrition that aids bowel movements.
These ingredients and the Nurture Life Meals that contain them are fibrous, nutritionally balanced, and delicious:
- Apples: Apples are a good source of soluble fiber called pectin. Pectin can help increase the frequency of stools and soften them — making apples an excellent choice for potty training toddlers. Nurture Life Oaties Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats contain apples, butternut squash, and oats for extra fiber, nutrition, and flavor.
- Beans: Beans contain soluble and insoluble fiber, and garbanzo beans contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium. This yummy Presto Pesto Ravioli with chicken and carrots uses a wonderful pesto made with a blend of garbanzo beans, spinach, basil, and parmesan.
- Sweet potato: Sweet potatoes offer fiber and other essential vitamins and minerals. These Banana Pancake Puffs feature sausages and sweet potatoes.
- Avocados: Avocados are a good source of fiber and healthy fat. The Nurture Life Berry-Full 3-pack is packed with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. They contain hidden avocado and kale.
- Oats: Oats are an exceptionally healthy meal that contains soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as protein and iron. Our Oatmeal Raisin Mighty Bites combine sweet raisins with fiber-filled rolled oats for a naturally sweet and nutritious treat.
Ensuring your child is properly hydrated is also key to successful potty training, as water helps soften stools and encourages regular urination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Potty Training
Exploring the answers to these frequently asked questions on potty training can help ease the process for you and your toddler.
What Is The Average Age a Child Should Be Potty Trained By?
According to UC Davis Health, most children complete potty training by 36 months. Remember, each child is different, and their journey may vary.
What If My Child Refuses to Use The Potty?
Children resisting the potty can be quite a normal challenge. Be patient, and do not scold if the child has an accident. You can also prioritize dietary fiber with kid-friendly meals that ensure the child stays regular. Visit your health care provider if the issue persists and starts leading to increased anxiety or constipation.
How Long Does Potty Training Take?
On average, the potty training process takes about six months. Again, this differs for every child. Additionally, girls often learn faster than boys, while firstborn children can take longer than younger siblings.
Choose Nutritionally-Balanced Kid-Friendly Meals from Nurture Life
For parents and caregivers, equipping yourself with potty training tips, providing the right foods and offering support and encouragement is key to making the process as stress-free as possible.
At Nurture Life, we offer snacks, smoothies and meals designed for babies and children. Our meal plans and resources simplify meal times and help kids embark on an exciting and wholesome dietary journey. Parents can also have peace of mind knowing that chefs and registered dietitians create our meals to ensure high dietary standards.
Browse our menus and pricing options to sign up for a meal delivery service that suits your family.