Olá, mamães! Potty training a child is a mission that usually stresses out any saint. However, we can guarantee that the right tips help simplify this process. After all, every child is different, and the task presents some obstacles. But with patience, care, and a lot of love, the little one will learn to control their physiological needs. Have you ever thought about living without having to deal with explosive diapers? Well, that's possible! To not leave you alone in this mission, we have gathered important tips for a successful transformation. Will you miss out? Check out our complete guide and find out what to do!
The right time for potty training
Everything in life has its right time, and potty training is no different. Rushing to remove diapers from the routine will only make everything more difficult. Ideally, the child should already have some maturity to understand the process. If they are not ready to learn how to "hold" their pee or poop, even the greatest efforts will not be enough. Therefore, it is necessary to wait. According to pediatricians and other specialists, 2 to 3 years old is the recommended age. But how do you know, exactly,
when to start potty training?
Notice the signs
Believe it or not: the child will send "signals" if they are ready for potty training. If the little one seems uncomfortable with the diaper or warns when they need to pee or poop, it's a sign that it's time to start thinking about the change. Other signs include when they go to the bathroom at specific times or have certain habits, such as squatting to defecate, even with a diaper on.
Choose the right season
Another tip has to do with the time of year. Our recommendation is to bet on
summer. With high temperatures, you don't have to worry if the baby gets wet or if you need to change clothes. In addition, the season is great for letting the little one feel comfortable and with fewer clothes — even naked, at home. Potty training, this way, is even simpler.
Don't rush
As we said, there's no need to rush with this kind of transformation. Patience is essential, so keep an eye on the signs, calmly. Understand that, at some point, the child will show they are ready. Also, avoid comparisons. Just because your friend's aunt's niece's child got out of diapers at a certain age doesn't mean your child has to. Only parents can decide when is the best time. Trust your gut!
The role of parents in potty training
When you learn how to potty train, you realize that the process is not automatic (if only!). Effort, dedication, and parental participation are indispensable. Although some people delegate the task to school, this is a mission to be carried out as a family and at home. To understand why it's necessary to get your hands dirty (that's right...), see what the parents' role is at this stage.
Instill confidence
It's natural to feel tired when cleaning up the messes that come with
bedwetting or around the house. But for the child, the process is also challenging. They will have to learn to control functions that they didn't quite understand before. If they don't feel confident, it will take a long time to succeed. The parents' mission is precisely to provide the necessary confidence. Showing that the little one is capable and that you are together makes a big difference in the results.
Offer support and encouragement
When you understand how to potty train your child, you'll become a kind of "bathroom cheerleader." Every hit in the potty or toilet will be a reason for joy — and that's important for the child. In addition to understanding and patience, parents should encourage, teach, and celebrate small victories. With these feelings, your child will have what they need to face the transition.
Give rewards
In addition to everything, parents should reward the effort of learning. This is not about buying a toy and paying in 10 installments on a credit card. The trick is in simple things: a kiss, a tight hug, and a trip to the park already work wonders. With this stimulus to act correctly, your child will use the confidence built towards this important transformation.
Daytime vs. nighttime potty training
Not all potty training is the same, you know? In the beginning, the child wears a diaper at all times. But, to start, it's best to begin with daytime potty training. In this process, you should leave them without a diaper during the day and only put it on before going to bed. Nighttime potty training means your child sleeps without a diaper. To do this, we recommend taking the little one to the potty or toilet before going to bed. The idea is to strengthen the habit of going to the bathroom before lying down. Explain that if they want to go to the bathroom at night, they should call you. When they wake up, take the little one to the potty immediately. This creates another important habit and shows that there are specific times to go to the bathroom. If the bed is wet in the morning, reinforce training during the day. Ideally, you should only move on to this phase when daytime potty training is consolidated. Do not try to do both at the same time to avoid complicating the stage.
Potty training the right way
Now that you've prepared for the transition, it's essential to know how to potty train. Since each child has their own needs, it's worth keeping an eye on what works best. But figuring out where to start is a big help, isn't it? To simplify this process, we've gathered some practices that help achieve a better result. Let's go?
Talk, talk, and talk
You can't just take off the diaper and expect the child to know what to do. You need to talk a lot and explain the goal. Maybe they won't understand everything right away, but dialogue is important. Explain that you will try to remove the protection for a few hours and that your child should let you know when they want to go to the bathroom. Make this moment a partnership so that it works!
Take the little one to the bathroom frequently
You asked — okay, almost begged — your child to tell you when they need to go to the bathroom before peeing or pooping. But, at least in the beginning, you can't trust that there will always be enough time. So, we recommend taking the little one to the bathroom frequently. In the beginning, it's worth taking them every hour. Then, you can wait two hours. If they have a more or less certain "poop time," even better. Go to the bathroom with them and tell them they can do their business. If they don't feel like it, don't force it and wait for the next time — or if they ask before.
Create the right environment
Going to the bathroom can be fun! One way to potty train is to create the perfect environment for this transition. Invest, for example, in a colorful potty, a different toilet seat reducer, and a lot of comfort. Also, bet on toys for the moment and even themed stories. By transforming bathroom time, everything becomes lighter, and the little one adapts better.
Teach how it's done
If the child's entire experience is summed up by diapers, it's natural that they don't know how to go to the bathroom, isn't it? So, it's necessary to teach. Show them the correct position and how they should do it, without forcing. It's also worth showing how mommy or
daddy go to the bathroom and how you act. This conveys security and awakens the desire to imitate. After the first training sessions, teach them to call when it's time to clean up.
Celebrate a lot and praise
Creating an atmosphere of trust and support is fundamental in the potty training stage. If the little one manages to do their business in the toilet or in the special potty, celebrate a lot. Celebrate, congratulate, and throw a big party. This will give them the encouragement they need. When it doesn't work out, don't show frustration. Thank your child for trying and say that next time, you will succeed. Just don't stop being firm!
Use positive reinforcement
When teaching anything, our tip is positive reinforcement. Instead of orders and threats, creating a positive atmosphere offers better results. How about using that? Adopting a
potty training chart is the perfect bet. In it, you can add various tasks, such as alerting about going to the bathroom, sitting on the potty, washing hands, and flushing the toilet. For each one completed, the little one receives a star. When they complete a row, they win a prize, such as ice cream or a trip. This encourages them and recognizes their efforts. Learning, then, is strengthened!
Time to leave the house
So far, we've talked about the process within the home. But what about when the little one leaves the house? How to deal with that stage? Your child's potty training will not be a problem at this point if you act correctly. Our first tip is not to dress them in panties or underwear. These intimate pieces bring the same sensation as a diaper and can encourage them not to control their urges. That's not what we want, right? Also, go to the bathroom before leaving the house and take them with you. You will set an example and help them understand the importance of doing their business before leaving. When you cross the door, take the little one to the bathroom a few times and ask them to let you know if they feel the urge. Increase the time out of the house with each successful day of training. And since a prepared mother is worth two, it's essential to have at least one change of clothes. If they can't control themselves, you can change their clothes. Just don't use a diaper to go out during the day, as this can compromise the process.
Potty training mistakes
We can't say that learning how to potty train isn't tiring. Sometimes, it feels like it won't work out. And, given so many obligations, it's common to slip up and make some mistakes. It's not always possible to avoid a failure, but it becomes easier when we know them. To prevent them, we show some common mistakes and their origin. Check it out!
Fighting with the little one
Potty training is trial and error. One day it will work, on many others, it won't. There will be times when the warning doesn't come in time, when they don't do it in the potty, or when they have an accident. Nobody likes pee on the floor or poop in their pants, but it happens. The mistake arises when you decide to fight. It's something that causes pressure and makes them feel even more ashamed. The result? Blocks,
child tantrums, and greater difficulty in going through the process. Instead, being patient and firm is the best way.
Interrupting the process
After a while, changing diapers is an almost automatic task. But learning how to potty train takes time and has its challenges. So, many moms consider giving up halfway. The problem is that interrupting everything is harmful and also makes the little one insecure. Unless there's a strong reason, like when the child gets sick, it's not worth stopping out of nowhere. Stay firm towards diaper independence!
Having too many expectations
We've said it here, but it's worth repeating: each child has their own path. Some take
3 days to potty train. Others take weeks. You can't predict or make plans. After all, you already know that life laughs in the face of most of our plans, as mothers. When you have too many expectations, the little one feels pressured and can even get stuck. And that's when potty training doesn't happen. Instead, try to take the process easy to get better results.
When to ask for help
Have you followed all the tips, taken the opportunity to
learn from mistakes, and still, the change is not complete? Even if it's a
challenging child, there's nothing wrong — you just need a little extra help. It's worth talking to a pediatrician, for example. Sometimes, nighttime bedwetting has to do with an easily treatable health condition. The specialist can also help if physical discomfort appears or if the correct movements are difficult to perform. Is everything okay with the physical part? Then, we recommend seeking help from a psychologist. Perhaps there is a blockage that, with support, will be undone. Then, it's just a matter of running to embrace it. And if the little one is already in daycare or school when you start the process, ask the school teachers for help. Talk about the procedure and how potty training your child has been working. This way, it is possible to reinforce learning. However, prefer to start the stage during the holidays, so that going to school does not hinder what has already been taught. With our tips, mom, you already know how to potty train. Now, it's time to prepare to achieve the desired results. Stay strong and let's go for it! Do you know moms who are starting or are already at this stage? Share this post on your networks, tag your friends, and help with this transition!
