In recent weeks I have written about helping children learn to go to the bathroom. I wrote with a sense of humor, about our obstacles, and offered communication tips.
Since that time, we were given the opportunity to explore the Pull Ups Big Kid Academy. You have to check it out. I finally didn’t feel alone in the process. I wasn’t daunted by unforeseen obstacles along the journey. I felt support. I wish this resource was available for my five year old. I will enjoy it for my 3 year old, and look forward to using it with our youngest son. I definitely encourage you to enroll in the service. Such a great opportunity for us parents. Click on the link below and it will take you straight to the Pull Ups Big Kid Academy.
To get you started, I compiled a few Potty Training Tips & Tricks for Toddlers I garnered from personal and Pull Ups Big Kid Academy experience. Enjoy!
This article is sponsored by Pull-Ups®. Opinions are 100% my own.
Toilet Training Tips & Tricks for Toddlers
Use a Pull Up
No pressure for you or the child to get through the night dry. Make it a seamless and stressless transition
Don’t Sweat It
Be relaxed about using pull ups, almost nonchalant and casual
Protect your Mattress
One thing that helped relieve my stress was finding a cover to protect the child’s mattress. We found a great washable one. Always have a clean set of sheets available to replaced the soiled sheets.
Choose a Fun & Cool Pull Up
You want your child on board, engaged, and to take ownership of his body and the process of toilet training. So, find a pull up that intrigues him like
Don’t Refer to a Pull Up as a “Diaper”
Most children don’t want to feel like a baby. The “I can do it myself” stage often developmentally coincides with potty training. So, respect that desire by calling the pull up “night time underwear”, for example.
Allow the Child’s Independence
Give your child the opportunity to “do it himself” by putting on his own “night time underwear”
Read your Child
Either involve your other children in exploring the fun & cool nighttime undies, for example, and respect your child’s privacy in putting on, taking off, or replacing his pull up.
Acknowledge your Child’s Emotions
If he is feeling embarrassed, for example, acknowledge that with a simple observational statement: “You’re embarrassed. I understand.” or “I can tell you’re frustrated by the tone in your voice.” Emotions can be positive, too. “You put the undies on all by yourself! You’re learning!”
Give Control to your Child
In my experience, there are few things less frustrating than the inability to go to the bathroom on his own, Learning to listen to our bodies take time on so many levels. Help by allow your child to take off and dispose of his own pull up. Encourage him. He will feel more secure with a semblance of control over his toileting.
Be Patient
One of the biggest mistakes I made was trying to rush the process. Let your child develop at his own pace. Don’t stress out about age or accidents. Easier said than done, trust me, but letting go will have a big positive impact on the process.
Definitely go check out the Big Kids Academy!
If you are serious about potty training right now, I highly recommend this book: Potty Train in a Weekend.
More about the Big Kid Academy
Every Kid is Unique. That’s why when you enroll at the Big Kid Academy, you’ll get a personalized “My Pull-Ups®” page with potty training activities and advice customized to your point in the potty training journey.
The Big Kid Academy has a world-class library of potty training tips and advice from parenting experts, medical professionals and our brightest alumni: parents who have been there. Subjects include:
• How to talk to day care providers about potty training
• Solutions for nighttime
• Potty training on the go
• The best clothing for potty training