Potty Training Preparedness
with
Kathy Moore
Sooner or later, every parent is faced with the task of toilet training a toddler. Follow along with this potty training checklist and learn how to tell if your child is ready to make the big step out of diaperland.
Transcript: Potty Training Preparedness
Hi, I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Sooner or later, every parent is faced with the task of toilet training a toddler. We are about to embark on this journey with our second child and I've been going through my checklist in order to get ready for what I hope will be a smooth passage out of diaperland.Potty Training Readiness
If you are facing the same situation you might want to follow along with my potty training readiness checklist. A first step is to assess your child for signs that he is disposed to give up diapers.1. Does he know when he is wetting himself?
2. Is he dry when he wakes from a nap?
3. Does your child show any interest in growing out of diapers?
If you answered yes to two of these three questions, your child may be ready.
Potty Training Home Checklist
Now it is time to assess your home.1. Do you have a child's potty-chair or a step-stool to make it easy for your little one to get on the toilet?
2. Is the door to your bathroom easy for a child to open?
3. Have you made arrangements to make it easy for your child to wash his hands after going to the bathroom?
4. Are you dressing your child in clothes that are easy to remove when it is time to go?
Preparing for Potty Training
Last but not least you need to assess your own readiness to undertake toilet training for your child at this time. Experts agree you should avoid trying to train your child if there are other stressful activities going on such as a move or change of childcare provider or especially the arrival of a new sibling.It is a good idea to coordinate your potty training effort with your childcare provider so everyone is on the same page.
Communicating With Your Kids
Before you begin toilet training conduct an awareness campaign by telling your child each time you use the toilet and announce the steps as you perform them. This way your child will understand what is involved from start to finish.Lastly, every mom I know who has toilet-trained a child has a story to tell about some potty training accident so prepare yourself for some mishaps. Keep a sense of humor and offer positive encouragement to your child along the way.
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