Young parents are dizzy with the number of new problems and tasks. The kid learns the world, learns new skills and gradually adapts to a fulfilling life. But what is the right way to help him and not harm him? One of the first and most serious difficulties in the early stages of growing up is how to potty train your child!
When to potty train a child?
Child psychologists recommend teaching a baby to do his own thing at about 1.5 years old. It used to be difficult for children to identify their feelings and distinguish between urges.
Some parents are lucky, and the baby copes earlier, but most often it happens intuitively. It's okay if the child is already a little older, but has not yet coped with the task. Growing up is a very individual process, and there is no single algorithm here.
Pot selection
It is necessary that the pot must be suitable for the child in size and age - this is obvious. If it is uncomfortable, the baby will only have negative associations. But there is another less obvious nuance: the pot should be beautiful and the child should like it. Therefore, it is better to make such purchases together and pay attention to the reaction of the direct user.
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Where to put it?
You should not categorically put the pot only in the bathroom - the child may be uncomfortable there. Let the baby decide for himself what he likes best - perhaps by the bed or not far from the toy box. By the way, do not limit the child - if, sitting on the pot, he wanted to take his favorite car or doll.
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Potty training: top tips
Watch the baby
You spend whole days with your baby, and no one knows his habits better than you. Pay attention to how the baby behaves when he wants to go to the toilet - holding on to his tummy, straining or freezing. By tracking the signals once, you can accurately capture them in the future and send the child to the potty in time.
Explanations and instructions
Repeat to your child several times a day what a pot is and why he needs it. For demonstration, you can use toys or any other tricks to which your little one responds well. Do not expect that he will learn and remember everything the first time. In children, memory, attention and concentration work completely differently!
Comfortable underwear and clothing
A child in life himself will not start going to the potty if he cannot easily take off his pants. Choose comfortable things for your home that your baby can handle on his own. And if he already wants "adult" underwear, then explain that this is for big children who have already mastered a new secret technique. Ironically, this kind of motivation really works for many.
Encouragements and conversations
Talk to your child always and about everything, because trust is the key to success. Praise him when he does everything right. Explain that in any situation he can simply give a sign and the parents will help. Do not be afraid to leave your child without diapers, despite the "misfires", because this way he will gradually understand that it is much more convenient without them.
Do not compare
There is no need to compare your child's progress with siblings, other children, or parenting textbooks. Each baby is a separate person, and each one is given something better and something worse. Please be patient, because the process can be really long - and this is also completely normal!
Why doesn't it work?
The most common reason for systematic failure is the baby's poor health. Perhaps the pot evokes unpleasant associations in him that he still cannot share. For example, if something hurts or causes discomfort while trying to go to the toilet for a long time.
Any other negative experience can also affect. For example, if at the first acquaintance with the pot it was standing in an uncomfortable place, it was too cold, or the parents yelled at the child.Therefore, it is important to never scold a child for failures, but on the contrary - to encourage success!
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