How often to put child on potty
Do's and don'ts of potty training your toddler | Patient Education
Potty training tips parents should know about when and how to start
Potty training is an important developmental milestone. But sometimes it can be more stressful for parents than it is for kids!
Most children complete potty training by 36 months. The average length it takes toddlers to learn the process is about six months. Girls learn faster, usually completing toilet training two to three months before boys do. Firstborn children also tend to take longer to learn than their younger siblings, who pick up cues from the older kids.
On their podcast Kids Considered, pediatricians Dean Blumberg and Lena van der List of UC Davis Children’s Hospital shared the following five tips for potty training your toddler.
1. DON’T start potty training at an age when you think you should. DO wait until your toddler is ready physiologically, cognitively and emotionally.
For physiological readiness, your child must be able to control the sphincter, the muscle that holds and empties the bladder and rectum. This usually happens around 12-18 months.
For developmental readiness, your toddler should be able to get to the toilet on their own, sit down, pull their pants up and down, and be able to communicate to you or a caregiver that they need to go.
For emotional readiness, your child might show an interest in being potty trained. For example, they might go to the same spot in the house when they need to go. They might tell you when they want their diaper changed. Or they may show that they can hold their pee for longer periods, like waking up from a nap with a clean diaper. This usually happens after age 2.
2. DO get potty gear that makes potty training easy and fun.
Consider getting a small potty seat or outfit your own toilet with an insert and stepstool. Let toddlers pick out the color or design. Getting underwear designed with your child’s favorite characters also makes potty training more exciting. Make sure to buy many pairs in case of accidents!
Another tip: Allow your toddler to play on the potty, starting with sitting on it fully clothed, so they can get used to it.
Toilet training-themed books, videos, songs and games can also get your child more involved in the potty training process.
3. DO be consistent and give lots of praise while potty training. DON’T force it or punish your toddler.
Create a plan for consistency. A common strategy is taking your child to the potty every 30 or 60 minutes for the first couple of days. If that goes well, try to extend the periods between tries. Some good opportunities to encourage your child to use the toilet include waking up in the morning, after meals, before and after naps, and before bedtime.
Choose a word your family is going to use for pee and poop, and stick to it!
If your toddler doesn’t go potty after a minute or two on the toilet, don’t force it. Get up, move on and try again later. If your child has an accident, don’t punish them. Help them clean up, show them what to do with their dirty underwear and how to change into new ones.
Praise your child every time they make it to the potty, even if things don’t go as perfectly as you would like.
Reward them with sticker charts in the bathroom or treats like a small candy. Rewards are highly motivating for little kids!
4. DO be prepared for common issues during potty training.
If your toddler is afraid of flushing or sad to see their poop disappear, try making it a fun game, like waving bye-bye as it floats away.
Boys may have more success sitting down. Some might make a big mess standing up. Either way, this is all fine while training.
Some kids may only want to potty with one parent. Others may want to go only at their daycare because their peers do. Encourage success where you can.
If your child is struggling with constipation while pooping, consult your pediatrician before starting potty training.
5. DON’T be frustrated if you experience setbacks while potty training your toddler.
Eighty percent of families will experience setbacks while potty training their toddler. Even if your child is successful making it to the bathroom during the day, it’s very common for them to still need diapers or pull-ups during naps and overnight.
Most kids, by age 6, will be able to get through an entire night’s sleep without having an accident.
If your child isn’t making progress, stop the potty training process and try again in another two or three months. Don’t let family or friends make you feel you have to do it a certain way or on a certain timeline. Every family and child’s situation is different!
More helpful resources for parents on potty training:
- Kids Considered podcast – Potty Training episode
- Toilet training toddlers (HealthyChildren.org)
- 17 best potty training books for kids and parents (Parents.com)
Creating a Potty Training Schedule That Works
A solid potty training schedule can set you and your toddler up for success – especially when you’re first getting started. Used in conjunction with a potty training chart and rewards, your potty training schedule will help your children gain potty independence in no time.
How to Create a Potty Training Schedule
When you first start potty training, the majority of work will be done by you – the parent.
Unfortunately, it’s not usually as simple as taking off that diaper and having your child tell you every time they need to go.
In fact, for the first several days (and maybe weeks), it may feel like you are the one that is potty trained – trained to put your child on the toilet every 20 minutes.
But if you can stick to a solid potty training schedule, it will pay off in the end.
1. Clear your schedule.
Part of the potty training schedule is making sure you have time in the first few days of potty training to stick around the house and make using the potty a priority. It’s best if you can spend at least two or three days at home and not be distracted by errands, multiple caregivers or having to visit strange bathrooms.
This will also give you the time you need to really evaluate if your child is ready for potty training, as well as practice your carpet cleaning skills.
2. Set a timer.
Once you take off the diaper, set a timer and plan to take your child to the bathroom every 20 or 30 minutes.
One of the main causes of potty training accidents is because the child is having too much fun or is too engrossed in play to listen to their body and make it to the bathroom in time.
At first, it is your job to interrupt their play to give them time to go potty. They probably won’t need to go every 20 minutes, but at least you’re giving them the time and space to sit on the potty for a few minutes to try.
NOTE: If your child is not able to stay dry during 10-minute intervals, chances are they just aren’t ready for potty training. Read this article about when to start potty training and make sure your child is showing the six signs of readiness. If not, try again in a month or so.
3. Incorporate potty training charts and rewards.
Potty training charts and rewards are important parts of the potty training process – and can help your child get really excited about your new potty training schedule.
Click here to read more about (and download) potty training charts.
Click here for great potty training rewards ideas (and what to watch out for.)
4. Stretch it out.
Once you’re a few days in, you can stretch out the potty breaks. Maybe go from 30 minutes to an hour. And then from an hour to two hours. Until eventually you won’t need a timer at all. No, really. It will happen!
5. Plan mini trips.
No, we’re not talking about mini getaways. We’re talking about quick trips to the grocery store or to grandma’s house. Once you and your child are feeling good about your schedule, incorporate a few mini trips into your day.
Maybe you take a walk around the block in underwear in between potty breaks. Or take a 20-minute spin through the grocery store. At first, you will be more nervous than your child about leaving the house. But keep the trips short and close to home to start, and build up your confidence. You can do this!
6. Go back to the schedule.
If you start to notice more accidents as you get further along in potty training, go back to your schedule for a day.
Chances are, the accidents are caused by a lack of schedule. If that doesn’t work, it’s possible that your child is experiencing a potty training regression.
Potty Training Doesn’t Have to Stink!
If you’re potty training your child, Kandoo is here to help. Follow the three steps below to receive all of the potty training support we have to offer.
1. Get Potty Training Resources
Visit Kandookids.com/PottyTraining for hacks and support on your potty training journey. From the very basics to how to handle potty training regressions, poop problems and wiping, we’ve got answers to your questions.
2. Sign up for our Free Potty Training Program
Need a little more help and support? Sign up for our FREE potty program. It’s full of step-by-step advice to walk you through the entire potty training process – from the first time you introduce the potty to how to throw a potty training party to celebrate your success at the end.
Sign up, and you’ll receive the most effective hacks on potty training including a step-by-step plan of action on when to start, supplies to buy, how to keep it silly, how to handle set backs and more! Click here to join now.
3. Stock up on Supplies – like Kandoo Flushable Wipes
Kandoo Flushable Cleansing Wipes clean up to 30% better than toilet paper. The wipes pop up with the push of a button, making them perfect for little hands. Added bonus? No more using too much (or too little) toilet paper.
Help your little one get a clean wipe every time with the Kandoo Potty Time Pack. From Kandoo Flushable Wipes to Kandoo BRIGHTFOAM® Hand soap – and even a potty training superhero cape – the Potty Time Pack has everything you need for potty training success.
If your child likes to be independent, the Kandoo Potty Time Pack can help. Click here to purchase it now with free shipping!
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Blog sh
Lilia Minlina,
early development specialist,
mother of a 2-year-old daughter
You will be very surprised, but every day two thousand mothers in Russia make a request to Yandex "how to teach a child to go to the potty on his own.
" However, it is not surprising that most often this request is made by mothers of children aged 1 to 2 years.
And yes! There is no such request for the age of 5 years. Apparently, by the age of 5, all children somehow master this “insidious” skill.
We have selected 10 most interesting recommendations from leading pediatricians and pediatric neuropsychologists on the development of this skill in children: At the same time, pediatricians note that babies become squeamish - they ask to wash their hands, change their blouse (if they get dirty) or cry if their pants become wet. When your baby begins to weigh himself in this way, this should serve as a signal for you - it's time to buy a comfortable potty! But now we know that CAM is when: he wanted to, he asked himself, he took off his things, he sat down and dressed himself back. But recommendations on what to do are strictly prohibited: Following these simple expert advice - the process of mastering the skill of "going to the potty" will become really fast for a kid. And for mom - perfect painless. AND already at the age of 2 years, the baby will calmly sleep dry in his bed. Subscribe to our newsletter, and you will find even more interesting recommendations from leading specialists in the field of happy and healthy childhood. Child development is always an individual process, therefore it is impossible to name the exact age at which all children, without exception, should go to the potty. This was reported to Gazeta.Ru by Elena Grek, a pediatrician at the SM-Clinic in St. Petersburg: “Today, many parents prefer to use diapers for as long as possible and start potty training no earlier than the child is 1.5–2 years old . It is believed that by this age, the physiological ability to control the urge to urinate and defecate is finally formed in children. As well as an adequate perception of the requests of adults. However, Dr. Grek emphasizes that the later mom and dad start potty training, the longer it will take to see results and the more difficult it will be to give up diapers. “Therefore, potty-train your baby gradually from 6 months onwards, as soon as he learns to hold his back and sit up confidently. In this case, the child will learn to use the potty by the age of one, ”advises the pediatrician. However, the total elimination of diapers will take place later. Praise your child every time he manages to do his potty chores. What does it mean to potty train a child? The following skills speak of complete independence: 1. Your child is aware of the desire to go to the toilet. 2. Your child is able to go to the potty by himself or signal his intentions to his parents. 3. Your child can sit on the potty and do his own chores. close 100% Many parents want to get rid of diapers as soon as possible. But what if the child does not want to sit on the potty? In a conversation with Gazeta. “A child should never experience pressure on the part of an adult, otherwise it can scare him and push him away from the learning process for a long time. It often happens that a child does not understand what his parents want from him. Therefore, you can first show the process with the help of a doll or baby doll. In case of a successful attempt, hug and praise the child, because the positive emotional reaction of the parent is very important for him - this is a small victory. The psychologist also recommends moms and dads regularly during the day to offer the child to go to the potty, for example, before and after a walk, before going to bed, after waking up, and so on. But by no means insist. The process of accustoming a child to the toilet also depends on the choice of a potty. However, the potty should be not only beautiful, but also comfortable. To make your child want to sit on the potty, pay attention to certain requirements when choosing a product. A properly fitted potty should be: • stable so that your child does not fall off it; • pleasant to the touch and with smooth shapes; • tailored to the age and size of the child for a comfortable seat; Also keep the pot clean and dry at all times. close 100%
" Experts say that such a method of "training" in adulthood will only interfere with a person. And all hits in the “shell” or in “time with the sound of water” are just the merit of the mother, who caught the baby in time.
Coercion will only slow down learning: how to potty train a child
At what age should a child go to the potty
However, the child begins to feel the fullness of the bladder and intestines not earlier than one and a half years. 
The ability to go to the potty does not always indicate the readiness of the child to use it every time, since at an early age children do it unconsciously. Do not worry if the emptying of the bladder occurred in clothes - such rollbacks sometimes happen, but they do not indicate that the development of the child has gone the wrong way. What to do if your child does not want to sit on the potty
Ru, Yulia Tokarchuk, psychologist-teacher, researcher at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research of Modern Childhood, MSUPE, warns parents that a child should not be forced to use the potty against their will: Why success depends on the choice of a potty
So, the teacher Julia Tokarchuk recommends that the son or daughter choose the one that they like best. Be sure to praise your child for his choice! Where should the potty be placed?
Pediatrician Elena Grek said that there is no “one right” place for a potty, but it is important to make sure that it is accessible to the child:
“At the initial stage, it is better to put it in the child’s room. Moreover, it is desirable in a conspicuous place: so it will always be in the field of view of the baby.
After a year, when the child has already become a “confident user”, the potty can be moved to the toilet. In the future, this will facilitate the process of accustoming to the toilet. The main thing is to make sure that the baby is not afraid of the sound of water or the sight of the toilet itself.
To help your child get used to the potty faster, the place for the baby toilet should be permanent. After all, the desire to go to the toilet can overtake a child at any moment, and the search for a potty will confuse him.
How to potty train your child easily
There are dozens of different techniques and tips for potty training your child. However, everything here is very individual.
Elena Grek warns: “What works for one child may not work at all for another. For example, some kids are distracted by adult conversations from the process. And others, on the contrary, help to concentrate. Someone in general can relieve himself only by reading a book.
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At the beginning of potty training, it is advisable to put the child on the potty as often as possible: immediately after waking up, when returning from a walk or after eating.
Over time, it will become easier to predict the desire to go to the toilet.
Pay attention to the child's behavior and reactions. So, he can suddenly become excited, or vice versa, shy. Someone is trying to hide, someone is fiddling with clothes, someone is taking a specific pose, someone has a “tense” facial expression - all this may indicate the child’s readiness to go to the toilet.
Such "signals" should be noticed and memorized - this will help to understand in time that your child wants to go to the toilet and offer him a potty.
Elena Grek also recommends demonstrating the purpose of the pot on a personal example. Some parents consider this method too radical. However, he can really potty train a child - children always tend to repeat after their elders.
Many children empty their bladder and bowels at a certain time. It is worth finding out what hours this most often happens and try to offer a pot at that time. Dryness for one to two hours may indicate that the child will soon have a desire to go to the toilet.
Another tip to help potty train your child: put your child on the potty to specific sounds.
“It is also useful to form in a child an associative connection between going to the potty and some kind of sound (“ahhh”, “piss-piss”). Over time, these sounds will start to trigger a reflex in the baby, signaling that it's time to go to the toilet, ”recommends the pediatrician.
If you hear sounds from your child that you yourself make during disembarkation, know that the potty is about to be needed.
The process of potty training requires great patience on the part of parents. Elena Grek warns that in some cases, you will have to take breaks in training: “If the potty causes fear and constant tears in the baby, you should not shame him or force him to sit down through I don’t want to. Coercion or scolding will only slow learning. It is better to calmly explain to the child why this “terrible object” is needed. If persuasion does not help to calm the panic, it is better to remove the pot altogether for a couple of days, and then start all over from scratch.
