So--- it's happening. If I'm being honest, potty training is one of the things I was most anxious about in parenting. Learning to use the potty can be a really stressful experience, for both you and your toddler.
Toddlers often fight this process because they are trying to assert themselves and maintain control. And it makes sense right? They want to be their own people. So when you tell them you want them to do something, it can backfire and tap into that impulse for them to want to do the opposite. Cue a whole lot of frustration for both your child and you.
So is there any way to make the process less nightmarish? For one, ensuring that your child is ready to start.
Here are three important things to look for to know your child may be ready for the potty:
Are they physically ready? There are a number of physical readiness skills you’ll want to look for while deciding whether or not your child may be ready for potty use. Is your child aware and in touch with his/her body ie: telling you they have to go to the bathroom or that they just went while wearing a diaper? Can he/she pull down his/her pants independently?
Are they interested in the process? Maybe your child likes following you into the bathroom, asks questions about underwear, or is interested in books about the potty. These are definitely signs that he/she may be ready!
What else is going on right now? Zoom out and look at the full picture. Is a new sibling on the way? Did you just move into a new home? It’s hard to find a “perfect” time to start, but additional transitions can make things more complicated.
I see this as a marathon and not a sprint, so be sure to look out for potty post part two, where I’ll share how we approached this process
. In the meantime, check out my list of materials that have really been helping us through the potty learning process!