Dont Wake the Baby's Guide to Potty Training

Potty Training potty

How will I know that my child is ready for being potty trained?
Some babies are very helpful they will let you know they are ready by ripping their dirty nappies off, pointing to their nappy whenever they do a wee and express an interest in the potty and actively want to learn. Some babies are very interested in watching when you go to the loo and want to know what you are doing etc and this can all lead you to understand that they may indeed be ready for being potty trained.

Usually children need to be at least 18 months old as before this age they generally lack the necessary control.

Help your child chose a suitable potty - if you can afford to buy one for upstairs and one for downstairs if you have a downstairs loo. If you have a boy you will need a potty with a bigger lip on it so that he does not splash on your carpet.

Some mums find that it is easier if you either put your baby into cheaper disposables for a short while prior to potty training, this is useful because your child will get used to the sensation of being wet (more expensive brands tend to pride themselves on dryness which is fine for small babies but not so helpful when you are trying to get your baby to associate the feeling of urinating with the wet feeling that follows!)

If you are going to be around home for the first week that you try potty training you might want to get a heap of cheap little pants or knickers (cotton ones) Give your child plenty to drink and have the potty at the ready. Make sure that you dont put them in complicated clothing, elasticated waists are great for potty training. Have plenty of spare clothes and some disinfectant and a cloth for the floor. Don’t expect miracles, potty training takes time to perfect. If you give him plenty of drinks and then sit him on the potty shortly afterwards eventually you will find that he will do a wee on the potty. Give plenty of praise if he does manage to go on the potty and if he has an accident just mop up the mess and start again.

When you go out you might want to put your baby back into nappies, or buy some pull ups as it can be quite embarrassing and messy at first when you are out. Your child will soon get the idea and you will be able to ditch the nappies for good.

Getting bowel control often takes a little longer but if you notice that you child always does a poo at a certain time each day it would be a good idea to put him on the potty at this time, and after meal times and whilst you are running his bath.

Often a child will be dry during the day but still wet their bed at nighttime. Some parents put their children into Pull Ups or Nappy Pants (a nappy that is shaped like a pant with elasticated sides) overnight. others risk having a wet bed, (often this is the quickest way of stopping your child from bedwetting as a nappy means they don’t have to get up in the night)

Disclaimer: Any advice you take you do so because you believe in your own mind that it is right for you and you do so completely at your own risk. Always get immediate medical help if you have any health concerns.

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