In your own time, in your own pace
It is basically like learning to walk and talk. Every child is potty trained at his own time and at his own pace. Your child must be able and willing to do so. For example, he must be able to sit independently and be able to use the sphincter. So it is your child who indicates when he is ready and wants to start with potty training, just like his peers. Starting potty training too early can bring fear and uncertainty. That is why you and your child should not see it as an obligation, just pick it up playfully.
When is the right time? Here are the signs:
Your child:
- Is suddenly interested in the toilet;
- indicates that he has wet pants;
- wants to go to the bathroom or sit on the potty;
- no longer likes a dirty diaper;
- becomes aware of the sense of urgency;
- can take down his underpants himself;
- stays dry longer.
Potty training in five steps
At our daycare we are more than happy to help you with potty training, in consultation with you of course. We follow 5 steps. Also useful for potty training at home!
Source and reading tip: Potty training is child's play – Debby Mendelsohn.
Step 1: Watching the trick
Imitating is the way to learn things in the toddler age. If your child shows interest in the potty or toilet at the daycare, we playfully include him in the daily toilet routine and inform you about it too. Is your child interested in the potty at home? Then of course we would also like to be informed about that! This way we can work on it together.
Step 2: Stay on the potty
Once your child is on the potty, staying seated for a few minutes is quite an art. Make it a special moment. By reading a book together or singing a song, it becomes fun to sit on the potty . This way your child will be able to stay seated for a longer amount of time. It is a moment of rest, where he can relax and with it his sphincters. There is a good chance that a pee will be in the potty more easily!
Step 3: Hooray! The first pee in the potty
Did it work out? Then that is worth a round of applause or a compliment. Your positive reaction affects all attempts after that. It stimulates your child's self-confidence. A kind of gift. And does it not work out? No problem either. You had a good time together.
Step 4: Daily routine
Has your child peed on the potty a few times? Then it is time to incorporate it into the daily routine. You can then put your child on the potty a few times a day. Choose fixed moments for this, for example after eating and after sleeping.
Is there a pee in the potty every time? Then the diaper can be taken off! At first half a day, for example the morning or afternoon. After a week, the diaper can also be taken off in the afternoon. And then during the afternoon nap.
Make sure your child always goes to bed with an empty bladder. And do not forget: an 'accident' is part of it! Especially in the beginning. Did it go wrong several times? Then you still put your child on the potty. It may be that he is shocked by the wet pants and has not yet let everything go. You still catch the rest in the potty. Another moment of success! And it helps your child understand that pee and poop belong in the potty/on the toilet.
Step 5: 'I want to go potty!'
Usually, at some point, a child himself indicates that he wants to go on the potty. Sometimes you need to help a little. By paying attention to signals, you can see when your child needs to urinate or defecate. Some children stop their game for a moment to stand still. Or get a red head by pressing. That is the time to ask your child to go and sit on the potty.
To reward or not to reward?
Potty training is fun! If it succeeds, your child will be super proud. And so are you! We show that we are proud of him and when things go wrong, we never get angry. We will just try again. Also praise the effort at home, not just the result. Reward with words, a pat on the head or a round of applause. It is advised not to reward your child with a sticker or anything similar. This gives the impression that your child can also fail. The biggest reward is that your child gains confidence in his own body. There is no better gift!
What if it does not work right away?
Accidents are part of it. You often see that children are so absorbed in their play that they forget to urinate. Or they think other things are more important. Sometimes they say they do not feel the urge to pee or poop, when they actually do. You can help your child by reminding them. When structural accidents happen when your child is already potty trained, we call it a relapse. This can be caused by a (stressful) change. Such as the birth of a brother or sister, a move, a divorce, but also due to too much compulsion to become potty trained. The best response is to accept it, stay calm and do not get angry. As a result, you only increase the pressure. Usually your child will pick it up again on his own. Structure and regularity help to become potty trained again. Always be alert to medical causes. Sometimes pants urination is due to a urinary tract infection or bladder infection.
If pooping is a bit scary
There are children who find it difficult to defecate on a potty or on the toilet. The child feels that he has to, but does not want to do this on the toilet or the potty. It then feels like he has to leave something of his own body behind and some children do not like this. If a child is afraid to defecate, he can deliberately hold up his defecation, resulting in constipation. And that can hurt again, which only increases the fear of defecation. A diaper can sometimes feel safe and be a temporary solution.
Finally: Feel free to discuss your approach with us, so that we can coordinate your child’s potty training together!