Ditch the Diapers and Find Your Freedom Today!

Won’t go potty at home?

No worries, we’ve seen it before.

You find yourself in the flow of toilet training and everything seems to be progressing according to plan.

The entire family is thrilled because your resident toddler has demonstrated a clear understanding of when to use the potty, with both consistency and regularity…except at HOME.

Thatʼs right, your child is potty trained at daycare or preschool, but refuses to go potty at home.

This trend tends to occur with children closer to two years of age and though it could possibly be a maturational issue, here are things to keep in mind.

1. There may be pressure at school to use the potty, itʼs “Just what all the kids do.” Try incorporating the same behind your own four walls if you want to get your child to go potty at home.

2. Mimicking others is a terrific incentive as opposed to parent pressure. Take your child with you when you go potty at home and show them exactly what you would like for them to do.

3. My teacher says, “….” this is a classic case of “My child will do anything his teacher asks, but the parent? Forget about it. Tell your child that their teacher will be so so proud of them for using the potty at home.

4. Being a solution finder is key rather than to ruminate on the problem. Think of a list of three possible solutions rather than dwelling on all that’s gone wrong.

5. Communicate with your child and keep it neutral and free of pressure when approaching the potty training topic. something like, “Wow that is so awesome that your go potty every day at school. Your potty is waiting for you when you are ready to go potty at home.”

In addition, make sure to discuss your home experiences with your child’s day care providers and teachers. These conversations can often be enlightening.

Never be afraid to ask general questions or to inquire about the routines and key words used as signals to prompt children to go to the potty.

At home, remember, if your child is taking this huge milestone with some success, celebrate, ease up on the gas and your child will come around eventually.

Of course, this is more likely to happen once the mindset is established and the pressure is lifted and replaced with patience.

Your child will be going potty at home in no time!

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

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Potty train in no time? Sure!

A friend recently went through the realization that she had too many children in diapers and finally decided.

No More!

She has 5 children: 2 year old twin girls, a 3 year old son, a 4 year old daughter, and a 6 year old son. There is no grass growing under this friend’s feet, I can assure you.

She has had amazing success with  her first two children and could potty train in no time, but child number three isn’t too thrilled about the attention the twins are demanding and now he is holding his ground and refusing to ditch those diapers.

It has grown into a power struggle, as he has quite clearly (both cognitively and physically) proven himself capable.

Here is how our friend trained her final 3 toddlers to potty train in no time at all.

1) Just do it. She immediately started the process with the twins and was able to see there is power in numbers. The 3 year old was not about to be outdone.

2) Keep your eye on the prize. She has a clear understanding of how liberating it is to finish the potty training process since she has two older children that she was able to successfully potty train in no time twice before.

3) Accentuate the positive. She was able to capitalize on the positives as her twins were working their way through the potty training process.

The older one is getting jealous, eager for positive praise himself, and quickly started to concede to the bathroom business.

4) Don’t fall victim to power struggles. Rather than getting into a power struggle with the three year, Mom simply treated him as she does the twins – as a work in progress, first getting the elimination of number one down and then working as a family to sway her son through positive specific compliments on the behaviors she most wishes to see.

For example, getting him to make number will take some coaxing, but the response he receives when the whole family praises his effort is the specific behavior to capitalize on.

5) teach ownership. Once it is established that HE is the big boy and making it happen in the potty, ownership takes the place of the power struggle.

6) Be Forgiving. Even if he has an oops, celebrate the fact that he is trying or “act as if” to move him along. Ensure that all caregivers are working toward a common goal.

7) Teach independence. Encourage the children to dress independently. This will not only boost their self esteem, but it will help to speed along the potty training process by putting them in charge of that which they can do themselves.

8) Capitalize on time. If you have vacation time or can build in a long weekend – go for it!

Consistency and time on task can be invaluable.

Yes, some people seem to have it made in the shade when it comes to potty training, but you can potty train in no time too.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!

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Potty training problems?

No more!

Your child has already clearly demonstrated that he or she is perfectly capable of eliminating in the potty, yet after 3-4 weeks they have started having accidents all the time.

It is not unusual for a child to have set backs and potty training problems, but it should be expected that follow-up and restatement of expectations are going to be necessary.

Children have a tendancy to test the parental limits. The boundaries and potty training are a terrain they are often especially eager to test.

Here are the 7 most common potty training problems.

1) My child will go everywhere except at home.

Children are curious and often love to explore new bathrooms, yet if they have already demonstrated a clear ability to use the toilet, they can be expected to do it anywhere.

Keep your child home.

This is one of the easiest potty training problems to avoid.

2) My child will go at home, but no where else.

Explain to your child that fun adventures outside the house will be far more difficult to manage until their potty training is truly complete.

Use boredom as a tool to achieve success.

3) My child goes number 1 without problems, but is still eliminating #2 in the pants.

Bowel movements are more difficult for children to master than simple urination.

Be patient, use clear and positive reinforcement, and this problem will eventually work itself out.

Don’t be afraid to use a carrot and a stick to eliminate potty training problems.

4) My child was potty trained until the new baby arrived.

This sort of regression is extremely common. The best defense is a good offense.

Let your child know how important they are and never forget to tell them that being older and more capable makes them special. After all, the baby cannot use the potty.

5) My child still wears a pull up at night.

This too is quite common. The best way to deal with the difficulty is to put it in perspective.

Your child is out of diapers during the day, thus you have made progress.

Soon enough they will be dry throughout the night and you can ditch the diapers forever!

6) My child sits and sits and then as soon as he gets up he wets himself.

Teach your child to be patient, but also try a few old tricks to get the juices flowing.

Try running water in the sink or dipping their hands into a small bowl of warm water to help initiate their flow.

7) My child refuses to try, sits, screams and cries anytime we go near the bathroom.

This is a behavior issue and is best dealt with in the same consistent manner that you would use to quell any other negative behavior in the house.

All potty training problems have a solution, most are easy to find. The most important thing to remember is that potty training is a process, not an event.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!

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If you want to potty train now, and feel you’re ready to fully commit to potty train your child, the best strategy is to do some preliminary reading and then clear your schedule and plan to spend an entire long weekend with all three days focused on potty training.

Deciding to potty train your child is only the first step. You have to remember…

Potty training can be demanding.

It would be wise to cancel regular weekend activities, and make sure your potty training partner can be around all the time for at least the first two days to help out.

10 Ways to Plot Potty Training on the Calendar

1. Two to five weeks before your the weekend when you will start to potty train your child, start educating your toddler about using the potty by reading books, watching potty dvds and modeling your most desired behavior.

When you or an appropriate family member needs to use the bathroom, take your child along so she can observe how you pull down your pants and underwear, sit on the potty, pee or poop into it, wipe yourself, pull up your pants and underwear, flush the toilet, and wash your hands.

It is reccomended that the same sex parent initiate the modeling, but this may not always be possible. However, do not traumatize your child either. Be judicious.

2. Show your child a stack of diapers and explain that starting Thursday (or whenever you schedule your three days to begin), there will be no more need for diapers and that the toddler can wear underwear or be naked, but the bottom line is he will be diaper-free.

This goes over well when parents present this as a fun and exciting event.

On day one get up with your child as soon as he wakes up. Then for the rest of the day, have him wear underwear.

You and your potty training partner will spend the day taking turns watching your child for signs that he needs to pee or poop. When he starts to go, immediately get him to the nearest potty.

4. Any time you or your partner needs to use the bathroom, take your child in with you.

Demonstrate how you pull down your pants and underwear, sit on the potty, pee or poop into it, wipe yourself, pull up your pants and underwear, flush the toilet, and wash your hands.

5. Celebrate your child’s success any time he tries to get it in the potty even if it is a tiny drop.

You can also give praise, high-fives, do a potty dance and so on. After ten to 12 times of successful elimination you can expect your child to start making a move to the bathroom with more independence.

If your child has an accident say “It’s okay.”

Keep the contact clinical and ask the child to clean up and reassure him that accidents do happen. We just try harder next time.

Before nap and bedtimes, tell your child it’s time to go potty (never ask your child, because he will usually say no). It is okay to put a diaper on your child before he goes to sleep, unless you feel confident that he’ll remain dry.

When you talk about it as to not confuse your child tell him that the diaper is “Just in case.”

Putting the underwear on over the diaper celebrates the underwear and the diaper will feel less confusing in the potty training process.

8. On day two follow the same routine for day one. The only difference is that on day two you may want to venture out together for one hour or so in the morning or afternoon.

Make sure you have monitored the fluid intake and then wait until your child pees in the potty before going on an adventure.

The adventure can also be the carrot on the stick to eliminate quickly. Then make sure you depart immediately.

9. When you leave the house, have your child wear loose pants and be prepared for an accident with extra change of clothes and underwear (don’t forget socks).

10. On day three, follow the same potty training routine as you did for days 1 and two, except now try to go on two outings with your family.

An hour in the morning like a walk and another hour in the afternoon. Make sure you have your child eliminate in the potty just prior to leaving the house.

By the end of the weekend your child will have a sense of a routine set, but caregivers and anyone involved with your child after the long weekend will need to stick to the routine with consistency for continued progress and success.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

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Potty train fast?

Sounds like gimmick or SO Polyana, doesn’t it?

The notion that you can potty train fast, and that your child could be potty trained in a few days – or half the time and a quarter of the energy may seem unbelievable, but it is possible.

“Attitude indeed equals Altitude.”

So with the right frame of mind and expecting potty training to be a positive and timely process is the winning strategy to ditching those diapers.

Follow any of these 7 simple steps to make the potty training process a pleasure for all involved and eliminate the unneeded time and difficulty.

You can potty train fast. Just follow the steps and get to work.

1) Do Your Homework

Read everything you can on the Internet. There is a vast amount of information that is simple and to the point. Know the process well and you will be able to teach it easily.

2) Define What Success Actually Means.

Success in quick training methods does not mean that your child will be perfectly potty trained. Fast success simply means your child is no longer walking around in diapers.

3) Ditch the Diapers

Do not enable your child or yourself by doing what is convenient. Accidents will happen; be okay with it and do your best to prepare for the inevitable. If you don’t make it big deal about it, it won’t be one.

4) Mistakes are Part of the Process

Be forgiving. Even if you want to potty train fast, laughing about your oopsies and making sure you are always prepared with a change of clothes in every car you own or bag you carry will make the process seem faster.

5) Be Relentless

You will need to continue teaching steps such as pulling pants back up and down, wash hands many, many times until it is an established habit.

6) Plan

You will need a stand alone potty chair or stool to reach the big potty with an adaptable seat to use at home. In addition, you will also want to have supplies for cleaning up accidents (such as disposable cloths, cleaning towels, cleaning solution, a plastic bucket to put soiled clothes) and several pairs of loose-fitting pants for your child to wear when you go out of the house. Optional: It’s helpful to have a compact, portable travel potty to take out and about, though you could use a small standalone potty chair instead.

7. Be Mindful

If you want to potty train fast, you need to keep your eyes on the clock and continually look  for signs of readiness in your child.

Utlimately, you will need to find what works best for you and your family’s schedule. But if you want to cut to the chase and potty train fast, everyone needs to be on board to plan, produce, and practice, practice, practice.

Remember, failure is a part ofsuccess and if we accept that and teach our children that early in life, then we truly have learned a gift that will ensure us a lot of happiness and productivity in life.

You can potty train fast. We know you can!

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

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Potty Training a toddler can feel like such a daunting task.

All the what ifs… followed by the many trials and tribulations before you finally see the success of accomplishing an act that will liberate everyone in the family. Potty training helps to promote the essential sense of independence that all young children both need and desire.

The time to potty train your child depends on the child and the person, but most parents start thinking about it by the age of two.

Here are 10 certain signs that you should watch for as far as potty training readiness.

If you observe these signs then don’t be afraid. Empower yourself and toddler with a can do attitude.

1) Facial Expressions: This is universal and tells you all you need to do. If you see your child make regular faces when they are eliminating, start moving toward the bathroom and initiate steps to put it in the potty or at least be in the vicinity of where our waste goes.

2) Communication: Language development is important, but if your child has one – word statements or uses sign language for “wet” or “dry” “potty” or “go” then proceed.

3) Imitation: Does your child imitate you or use toys or animals to imitate bathroom behavior?

4) Dry like the desert: If your child can regularly stay dry for at least two hours, or wakes up dry after a nap then you are ready to start.

5) Neat: If your child dislikes dirty or wet diapers and communicates discomfort…listen. They are ready to move forward, don’t be afraid to help them.

6) Dresses independently: If your child can pull up elastic pants independently or with just a small bit of assistance, he is ready.

7) Approval: If your child seeks your approval then turn the task into potty training approval.

8) Social: If your child is aware he has wet pants and does not like this and feels embarrassed then it is time.

9) Timing: If your child is telling you I need to go #1 or #2 now then proceed to the toilet to model the expected outcome.

10) Desire: If your child is asking you to use a potty chair or wants to sit on the toilet at bath time, before or after rest time capitalize on the opportunity.

There is nothing to fear, but fear itself. Ditch those diapers and liberate your family and empower your toddler today.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!

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There is no escaping potty training.

Eventually your child will need to learn to use the restroom with complete independence.

By starting earlier, you can improve your life in a multiple of ways.

Having your child potty trained is not only convenient, it is eco-friendly as well. And there is no doubt, being diaper free is definitely a peaceful place to be with your child and a milestone enjoyed by every family. Oftentimes, children are not given credit for being able to accomplish milestones at such a young age.

Yet studies have clearly shown that children can be potty trained well before the two year toddler mark so prevalent in this country. In fact, the world wide average age for potty training currently sits at 18 months.

In the United States that average is 37.

Embarrassing?

Absolutely.

Remember, potty training isn’t about what is most convenient for the parent, it is about what is best for the child.

Here are 5 reasons why potty training your child early helps you live a better life.

1) Infant potty training is more sanitary and ecologically sound. Stay clean and care for the environment. Win, win.

2) Using cues, signals and intuition as part of a solid strategy for elimination communication. Even infants can understand what they are supposed to do as long as the parents are connected with the infant through all forms of communication.

3) The bond between the parent and child increases through the process of potty training, especially when communication is clear.

4) Timing is everything. Once you have a routine firmly established, everything else in life will start to flow with ease. Children desire routines and predictable schedules. Help them by providing a sense of time management and security.

5) The sense of independence and autonomy your child develops is healthy, and will help your child to build the self esteem and confidence levels that they can then attach to new goals.

Potty training isn’t necessarily easy, but it is always worth it. Potty training will make your life better.

Why not start today?

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

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Though potty training is a process, it is important to know when to get started.

Knowing what to look for is the key to early success.

Check for these 6 early signs to see if your child is ready for potty training and let the process begin!

1) Language

The child is articulate and demonstrates and clear understanding of parent requests. The child also remembers information and can take action. Look for specific examples of this by giving a 2-3 step direction.

For example: Please go get your blocks and we will build a tower.

Being able to follow directions boosts a child’s self esteem and increases listening comprehension.

2) A Place for Everything

When children can pick up toys/books and place them in cubbies or on shelves they demonstrate a sense of organization and routine.

Giving children a sense of orderliness, opportunities to arrange things and routines enhances parent expectations and gives children security.

3) Physiological Awareness

Building an awareness of our body parts, functions and bathroom vocabulary is part of language development and increasing your child’s awareness of their body.

When your child has an awareness of body patterns he will point or articulate that the diaper is soiled.

Children will also assign terms for body functions such as #1 or #2, “poo poo” or “wee wee.” Make it a team effort to use the same words for the body functions so that everyone is on the same page.

4) Identify a Schedule

Start looking for predictable times that children eliminate.

How long does the diaper stay dry before a diaper change, does your child stay dry during nap time and are bowel movements at predictable times such as during or after meals?

Making note of elimination times and make sure to search for patterns that can help your child understand how the body functions, especially in regard to time time.

5) Imitation is a Form of Flattery

It is natural for children to emulate mom and dad.

Typically children will wear parent’s shoes, imitate speech patterns (“I need to go to Target now”), pretend to drink coffee and even though this tickles our funny bone it is also a positive sign that they are watching you closely. Modeling positive expectations is one of the most powerful forms of communication.

This is a great opportunity to translate parent’s bathroom behaviors to transitioning toddlers to imitate and eliminate.

Children naturally want to imitate parents and siblings, so use this desire as a powerful opportunity to transition your expectations to the bathroom.

6) Focus

When a child can sit down and learn new tasks for short periods of time and manipulate objects, draw, or put a simple 5 piece puzzle together, this is a sign of interest for more advanced activities and expectations like potty training.

One or more of these signs can indicate that your child is ready for potty training.

Best of luck and congratulations on getting started!

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

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By providing your child with positive praise, you will be giving a potty training reward to the both of you.

You will boost their confidence, build their self-esteem and help promote a healthy environment conducive to successful potty training.

Reward yourself and your child with these simple tips on a few good ways to give your child praise.

Keep it simple. Whether your child is able to successfully use the potty or not, continue to praise them with a simple “good for you!” and show affection by giving them a big hug or a kiss.

This will mean the world to them.

Congratulate your child when dry. Check your child’s pants every our or so. If they are dry, let them know how proud you are of them.

We always sang the circus song for our little ones (da da dada dada da da dada…) with a little dance to go along with it. The children LOVED it!

Be positive. Accolades are free, don’t be afraid to be frivolous! Applaud everything your child is doing well at every opportunity.

You will be amazed by the results.

Never focus on the things they aren’t doing or need to do better (at least not out loud) when potty training.

Reward with regularity. Don’t just offer rewards, tailor your tactics to fit your child’s individual needs and personality.

Try giving your toddler a prize you know they will treasure each time they successfully use the potty. Use rewards to build on all previous success.

For example, you can give them a sticker each time you see a positive result. As soon as they gather a pre-determined number of stickers, they can then earn a special surprise.

One warning: this tip is rested on a slippery slope. You must be careful with the rewards and not groom your child to expect them.

Once going, gradually phase out the rewards as your child’s visits to the bathroom begin to become routine.

Hopefully, you’re doing well and already feeling the rewards of your hard work.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

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