My experience with potty training might seem similar to yours, or could be completely different!
If you’re planning on doing it soon (or are currently), please have a read and see what worked for us!
My son is three years old. When Covid hit Canada and we all went into lockdown, he stopped going to daycare while I was five months pregnant. At that time, he was telling us every time he had to pee on the potty. This kid didn’t even need an incentive, he just loved to run to the bathroom and yell, “Pee-pee potty!!”
Then the potty training came to a halt. It happened one random morning where he absolutely refused to pee on the toilet. He peed in his diaper and would scream if we even mentioned the toilet.
As frustrating as it was, we could not force him back into underwear. I didn’t want him to associate going to the potty with screaming and tantrums. I tried to understand what he was going through.
He was out of his daycare routine, stopped seeing any family members besides us, and I was having complications with my pregnancy where I was constantly in and out of the hospital.
Everything was different, weird, and out of place. My husband took over everything while I was put on bed rest.
Since March, we always tried to offer him underwear, but our son always refused. We still made sure he peed before and after each sleep to avoid exploding diapers, but even that was often a hassle.
Last week. I randomly mentioned underwear and how cool they were. Knowing that we couldn’t force him to wear them, my husband and I often liked to mention underwear to see when he was ready.
Excitedly, Joey replied, “Yeah cool underwear time!” And just like that, right before he started up daycare again, our little guy was mostly potty trained!
We have accidents here and there, but it’s important to remember that this will most likely happen (and that it’s okay)!
While studying to become an ECE, we learned about waiting for the right time, offering encouragement, and of course: never shame the child when they have an accident.
I’m sure with all the stress parents are going through, telling a child, “You can’t have accidents like this again” or saying something similar and negative might just slip out during potty training.
Potty training takes work, so be prepared! But – you can also make it fun, ie., offer the child fun incentives every time they go!
We have Smarties, Skittles, and Joey’s favourite fruit gummies ready for every trip to his toilet.
Try whatever suits your child! Anything will work: stickers, colouring books, new crayons, stamps, playdough, etc. Celebrate each trip and always offer positive reinforcement.
As stressed as we are as parents, we need to remember that Covid is affecting our children even more so. Routines have completely changed, so things like potty training might just need some extra time and love.
Good luck parents, you’ve got this!
TKM
We bought a potty very similar to these (below) on Amazon – they come apart (easily washable), work as step stools in the bathroom, one makes a cute flushing noise like the grown up potty, and both seats come out to easily fit any toilet in your house when your kids are ready to move on to the big potty!
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Potty training seems to be the thing that throws us parents for a loop. HAHAHA I don’t miss those days.
Oh man, potty training can be so difficult so thanks for these tips. I’m sure they’ll help many people!
We used to have my son in an in-home daycare. She gave us false hopes that he was ready to potty train and it would be done in no time. So, we were constantly disappointed. Since he was our first, we didn’t know what to expect. We tried Cheerios, sticker charts, bribery, potty alarm watch, singing potty…you name it….but it probably took a whole year from the point our daycare provider said he was ready….how did we know?!
Boys seem to take much longer and they’ll do it when they are ready.
Yes! Such a great point. Even when we might think they’re ready, they will definitely let us know when they truly are!
I am in the middle of this as we speak so I can totally relate to this!
I am currently TRYING to potty train. I’ll need ALL the advice. Thank you!!
I always got the craziest looks when I told people I was waiting for my daughter to be ready for learning to use the potty. I refused to push it and she’s been fully potty trained for over a year now.
The best way to go Momma! I’ve gotten those looks too, but we always know what’s best for our little ones!
I was so worried and stress out about Potty training. The best advice ii got was to wait until the child is ready. I waited and things went smooth.
Great tips! Potty training my girls was a lot quicker than my boy. But with all of my kids, you’re right that encouragement is a big thing. It builds their confidence and the feeling that they can do it for themselves. Our kids also watched us use the “grown-ups potty” which made them want to use their own! And another thing I couldn’t live without was a travel potty for our buggy or car!
That’s wonderful!! And I love that you built up their confidence! It’s so wonderful to see a child being what they truly are: confident and capable!
(I should also look into one of those travel potties!)
We are beginning to potty train my extremely stubborn son so I loved this!
I have a different experience with regards to potty training. I have a smooth sailing journey of potty training with my eldest but my potty training journey with my youngest gives me a hard time and really tested my patience. And yes, when it comes to this situation we need to give our 100% patient and soon I know my youngest will stop wearing diaper and will choose to wear underwear. Thanks for the tips!
This is very true! All children develop differently and at different times/stages! So you got this! They will definitely let you know when they’re ready 🙂
SO glad those days are behind us. It took for-EV-er with our two girls. Just the littlest thing (often we couldn’t even tell what) can mean a setback for weeks or even months…
I will be hopefully starting this with my soon in the next 6months. This was very helpful
These are really helpful tips, especially for first-time moms. Potty training is quite challenging and I agree with you that we should never shame our child when they have an accident.
Timing is everything with potty training. So glad it all worked out for you all!
Potty training is such a big commitment! I remember being very frustrated. It is certainly a process but rewarding when it is done.