Toilet training raises questions for many parents. When do you start it? When is your child ready? Is it normal if your child often has accidents? Toilet training is a process in which your child learns to go to the toilet. This involves trial and error.
Toilet training questions
Toilet training, some children are toilet trained before you know it. But with other children it really takes a little longer. What many parents wonder is when their child is ready for toilet training. And how they can best approach this. When it takes a little longer and your child still regularly has accidents, you as a parent can become insecure. Are you handling it well? And is it normal for your child to have so many accidents and for them to last so long? If the neighbor tells you that her child will be potty trained within a week, you will not be reassured.Of course there are children who can be toilet trained quickly and it is certainly possible within a week. But there are plenty of children who really need a long time to do it. A few months to six months is not surprising at all. Just like walking and talking, every child has their own pace. Some children are fast and some children take a little longer. So it is very normal if your child is not potty trained within a week. Those accidents are also part of it.
Recognize signal
A child must first learn to recognize the signal that he has to pee or poop. And once he knows that, he has to learn that he has to go to the potty or the toilet on time. In that respect, it is not a problem if your child has an accident. This way he learns to recognize the signal. As a parent, you also know how much time has passed between urinations and you can send your child to the toilet or potty a little earlier next time.
Different methods
There are different methods you can use for toilet training. Which one is most suitable depends on your child, yourself and your living situation. For example, it is not convenient to let your child walk without a diaper if he or she often goes to daycare or a babysitter. Unless they are in favor of this method and do not mind if many accidents happen, especially in the beginning. If you are at home a lot, you can keep an eye on your child much better and guide him as you wish.A commonly used method is “diaper off.” You no longer give your child a diaper. You explain to him how to use the potty. This method is very suitable in the summer, because it is warmer and your child can walk bare buttocks. If he has an accident, he is much more aware of his urine and feces.Another commonly used method is “set times.” You put your child on the potty regularly (about every hour and a half). You can also use fixed moments for this. For example, when he has just gotten out of bed, around meal times, before you go somewhere and before he goes back to sleep.You can of course also combine these two methods. Sometimes children themselves indicate that they no longer want a diaper. But it is also possible that your child is already well over the age of three and is not yet ready to become toilet trained. It is fine to let him take the initiative and introduce the potty (or the toilet). Try to motivate your child with stories, videos and songs about toilet training. Use a reward card. It also works for some children if they know that the four of them can go to primary school and the children will then no longer wear a diaper.
What not to do
What you should definitely not do is force your child. Getting angry if things go wrong is also not a good idea. Stay positive and give compliments when things are going well. Don’t pay too much attention to the accidents. Especially an older child, you can let him help you put the dirty clothes in the laundry and get clean clothes yourself. If your child really doesn’t want to and it starts to become a struggle, let it rest for a while and try again after a few weeks or months. Toilet training is a process in which you guide your child to a dry period and this can only work if your child wants it too.