Potty Training – Day 1

In the first part of our series on 3 day potty training we discussed the three different stages we need to get through before ultimately finding the potty training finish line.

Today we’ll dive deeper into the first stage, Potty training day 1.

Potty Training Day 1: Telling

The goal of the first potty training day is to have your child understand the expectations and what they’re supposed to do. The potty training processs can be confusing. For their entire life your child has done things a certain way, until suddenly you change the rules on them.

Now you must help them understand their new requirements while keeping your eyes on each teachable moment. Use every opportunity to discuss (in a matter-of-fact way) the natural process of using the potty.

• Help your child understand by explaining that using the potty is natural and normal.
• Make up a game. Toddlers tend to be fascinated by their bodies. They love to label their parts and sometimes give them funny names in place of the real ones. Take these natural tendencies a step further by discussing the function of each body part. Our noses are for smelling, our ears are for hearing, etc.  Our penis is for going number one and our bum for number two. Keep it casual and the first potty training day can be a cake walk.
• Your child will ask many questions. Help them be their best learners by giving straight answers to curious questions. Your child will want to know if everyone has to go number one and two. Of course they do, and we should tell them so. The more comfortable we are with the subject, the easier it will be for our child to embrace the process.
• Help your child understand how much better it feels to be clean by discussing the differences between wet and dry. Show them their wet diaper before replacing it with a dry one. Explain that they have peed into the old one and that the new one is for their comfort. Once changed, ask if they notice a difference.

The first potty training day is all about demonstration. Use pets, family members, or even dollies and stuffed animals to demonstrate the ins and outs of potty training. Day to day, help your child not only understand, but grow excited about the many possibilities.

Our children adore us, and it is us they most often emulate. There is nothing our children will want more than to use the potty like mommy and daddy. We simply have to give them the tools they need to get them on their way.

On the next part of our series of potty training tips and advice, we’ll discuss the second stage – showing.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!