Tips for Successful Potty Training
You may be one of the many parents frustrated because your three and a half year old still isn’t potty trained. He may not seem to have any interest in getting rid of his diapers whatsoever. Don’t worry – I guarantee that he’ll be potty trained by his wedding! Seriously though, for most every toddler, potty training is a problem that seems insurmountable now, but in no time at all it will be resolved.
According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no set age at which toilet training should begin. They advise that the right time depends on a child’s physical and psychological development. Between 18 and 24 months, children often start to show signs of being ready, but some children may not be ready until 30 months or older. They also advise parents that if their child resists strongly, it is best to wait for a while.
Don’t be discouraged if you have a head-strong 3 1/2 year old, because there are some things you can try. Take your child to the local store that sells underwear with characters on it. Visit the underwear aisle and explain that he is a big boy now, and big boys are very lucky because only they can wear big boy underwear. Tell your son that he is especially lucky because you brought him to Target, or whatever the store is that you chose, where they have lots of underwear to choose from. He can pick whatever he wants…. Batman, Power Rangers, Spiderman, Bob the Builder, etc.
As soon as you get home, he can try on his new undies. If he can go a whole hour and stay dry, he can wear them all day. He needs to use the potty first, to help him stay dry for a whole hour. At the end of that hour, you’ll remind him to use the toilet again, and try for another hour.
Create a sticker chart and each time he successfully uses the toilet, place a sticker on the chart. When he reaches ten stickers, give him a special treat, such as a trip to the ice cream parlor, a small toy, a lunch at a restaurant, etc.
If he can’t make the first hour, try to understand his state of mind. Why do you think he didn’t make it? Was he engrossed in a TV show or game? Is he just really not interested, even with the new cool underwear? If it’s the former and he really wants to try again, let him. Make the time frame a half hour this time and remind him at that point to try to use the potty. If he just really isn’t ready, don’t push it. Tell him that you’ll wash the underwear and put it in his drawer, and you’ll try again next week.
If his friends are already trained, encourage a play date where he’ll see them use the toilet. Sometimes that’s enough to spark interest. By 3 1/2, when he decides he’s ready he will likely be very successful very quickly. It’s probably not that he has bladder control issues, more that he needs to decide for himself that he’s ready.
If your climate is warm, take advantage of it as a great time to train, because you can be outdoors where it’s easier to clean up accidents. Potty training takes time and effort but you have to persevere.
