You’ve been doing the diaper thing for years. Simply put, you’re a super-duper diaper-changing champ. But your baby is a toddler now, which means it’s probably time to think about the next big milestone — potty training.
Just like everything else having to do with raising kids, your potty training experience will be unique to your child. Some toddlers take to potty training quickly and easily and they rarely have accidents. Others struggle with the process of transitioning from diapers to underwear, so potty training takes a long time. You won’t really know until you try it.
I vividly remember potty training both of my boys. As a new mom, I tried with my oldest son when he was three. After a few days of non-stop pee messes, I realized he was not ready to potty train at all. The concept wasn’t making sense to him, so we waited. We tried again a few months later and he figured it out quickly. In fact, he hardly had any accidents. Let’s just say my younger son’s potty training journey was the exact opposite. Accidents galore! I was convinced he’d be in pull-ups forever.
Steadfast & stress-free
The best potty training advice I got from my pediatrician was to remain committed and calm. My anxiety about potty training was my own, and getting frustrated with my son wouldn’t be helpful. In the early stages, if we weren’t going to be at home with guaranteed convenient access to a clean toilet, I put him in a diaper for ease. Making small adjustments like that worked out just fine.
Is there a right age to potty train?
The truth is there isn’t a magic number for potty training. It depends on your child. Remember, your child has to be physically ready to potty train, which usually happens between age 2.5 and 4 years old.
Know the “go”
Potty training is easier if you can anticipate when your child may feel urges and need to “go.” Most moms start with gentle “do you need to pee?” reminders every two hours, because toddlers urinate four to eight times per day. Your toddler’s bowel movements will also have a pattern, but that varies more from child-to-child.
Setbacks happen
If you’re making progress with potty training and your child seems to backslide, that’s normal. Children often have some “setbacks” while they’re trying to master new self-help skills.
Daytime dryness, but nighttime wetness
If you feel like your almost potty trained tot will be in pull-ups forever, just continue to be pleasant and patient. Nighttime dryness is usually the last piece of the potty training puzzle and it can take a while. You can’t rush your child into sleeping through the night with a dry diaper. When he or she is ready, it will happen.
It’s a no-frills affair
There are countless tips and tricks about potty training, but no matter how you go about it, it doesn’t need to be fancy. You don’t have to throw targets (Cheerios) in the toilet to encourage boys to aim or buy fancy potty chairs. Training pants, a potty ring and perhaps a small step stool is all you really need.
Whether it’s life with or without diapers, our Boudreaux’s Butt Paste® mamas are the booty experts. Do you have helpful potty training to share? Let us know in the comments section on our Facebook page.
