Potty Books

In an earlier post, we suggested building a potty training library of stuff for your toddler to read.  Here are some suggestions:

Pirate Potty:


Some friends gave these out to a group of 2-year olds as the take-home at their 2-year-old's birthday party.  It includes a pirate hat, which is really too small to wear, and a bunch of pirate-oriented stickers to use as prizes during potty training.

Much more fun to read if you use your pirate voice...







Big Boys Use the Potty!




This one comes with many star stickers to track progress.  We used the pirate stickers on a sporadic basis at the start, but then started using the star stickers in this book when we really began charting progress and methodically potty training.







Once Upon A Potty:

These are gender-specific potty training books.  They include body-part illustrations to describe the process.  I found the pictures of the poor mother in these books -- holding the diaper filled with pee and poo -- to be sadly amusing.


    

Potty Training Tips: Underwear

Some parents find that after their toddler tries on underwear, it works best to have them just wear their sweats or pants instead of underwear for some period of time.  Sweats are just easier to pull down in a hurry as compared with underwear plus pants.

Be prepared for accidents at the start!

Potty Training Tips: Nighttime Potty Use

When your toddler is ready for nighttime potty training -- AFTER daytime training is completely mastered -- start out by working on reducing liquids right before bed.  That isn't easy for toddlers who like to have a drink before they turn over and go to sleep.  But it is a wise move, since toddlers frequently won't wake themselves up to go in the middle of the night.

It makes sense to have your toddler spend time using the potty right before bed.  This is true even if the toddler says he doesn't have to go.  You want them to get into the habit of potty before bed.

You may need to wake your child to use the potty once during the night.  That is a matter of trial and error.  And frankly the trial and error process is a good reason to have a rubber mattress covers.

Potty Training Tips: Some Psychology

At the start of potty training, it doesn't really matter if your toddler actually urinates or has a bowel movement.  You don't want to pressure the toddler and get him or her all freaked out about the process.  It isn't that the toddler won't be a big boy if he fails to urinate.  Nor is it that you won't be proud of him or that you'll be disappointed in him.

We suggest you try not to use words like "good boy!" or "good job!"  You want your toddler to master the skill.  We suggest you use comments like "that's it!"  Or "I notice that you went potty."  Or "it is really helpful when you use the potty."

Potty Training Tips: Making it Fun

In an earlier post, we suggested trying to make using a potty fun for your little person.

There are many potty toys on the market.  Examples include the talking potty training Elmo doll.  You give the Elmo a plastic sippy cup to "drink" from.  A sensor in the mouth of the Elmo doll senses the cup and Elmo "drinks."  Then a few seconds later Elmo announces he has to go potty.  You help Elmo out of his underpants and put him on an Elmo-size plastic potty.  The doll senses it is on the potty, and Elmo does his thing (sounds only; there's no liquid or solid coming out of this doll, which is good).  If you don't put Elmo on the potty in time, then Elmo announces that he has had an accident; better luck next time.















Of course, you don't need to take this sort of elaborate approach to making potty training fun for your toddler.  You can just use a stuffed animal and pretend that it is going potty on your toddler's potty chair or potty seat.  Doesn't have to be a big production.

Potty Training Tips: Shopping for a Potty Part IV

One further thought on your potty purchase.  If you do choose to go the potty seat route, then don't forget to get a step stool.  This way your toddler can climb up him or herself, further asserting their potty independence.

We ended up with a "Rhino" folding step stool.  These are nice because you can just fold them up to store next to the toilet.  We also figure that once our son grows up, we'll still be able to use this type of stool in contrast to some other step stools, which are toddler exclusive in the sense that an adult of average weight couldn't stand on it.

Potty Training Tips: Shopping for a Potty Part III

What type of potty to get -- a potty seat or a potty chair -- is really a preference, and it is up to you and your toddler.

We started out with a potty chair.  But it turned out that our son wasn't much for the potty chair.  He used it periodically, but it never caught on.  Instead, he really started to get interested in the potty when we had him work with a potty seat.  We think he just enjoyed being able to go potty where his mom and dad do.

In addition to our son's personal preference, we also have to point out what is probably obvious -- you have to empty out the potty chair into the toilet.  And then you have to clean out the potty chair.

That can get pretty nasty.

Shopping for a Potty, Part II

The second major category of potties for toddlers are really just toilet seats that fit onto a standard size toilet seat.  Technically, these are "potty seats."  The first category of stand-alone potties, which I discussed in a prior post, are "potty chairs."

Here's an example of a Disney "Pooh" potty seat:


 













Generally, one potty seat is pretty much like another.  The technology is pretty simple.  The color of the seat, or the art on the seat, is the biggest difference.

If you go this route, we recommend also getting a potty hook.  Otherwise you keep having to put the potty seat on the ground or you forget about it, with adverse consequences once your toddler starts doing his or her thing on his or her own.

Potty Training Tips: Shopping for a Potty

We were surprised at the variety of different types of potties available for toddlers.  In general, they really just break down into two big categories.

The first is a small potties that don't drain into a toilet. 

 

These typically can just sit in a bathroom.  Some parents are willing to put these potties in another room, for toddlers who aren't comfortable with the potty process and prefer to try to use the potty in a room in which they feel more comfortable.

One example is the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair.  Here's a picture and a link:

We started with the Bjorn.  There are lots of other stand-alone small potties on the market.  Some are shaped like animals (Fisher-Price has a frog shaped potty called the "Froggy Friend":

Potty Training Tips: How to Start

We suggest that you plan an upcoming "start" date for potty training.  This gives you a chance to create a potty training plan.  All participants get a chance to prepare for this developmental stage -- you are giving your toddler a chance to get psyched up!

Set up a week to start when you and any other caregivers can remind your toddler about going to the potty roughly every 1-2 hours during the day.  Before that start time, you can visit the potty periodically with your toddler to get ready, trying it out occasionally.

It may take some time for the first several sessions.  Be prepared to keep your toddler company.  Read to him or her -- have some books about the potty really close to the potty to read during these times of day.

Consider using a chart to mark your toddler's progress.  This isn't a new idea -- keeping track of progress by handing out star stickers is as old as adhesive star stickers.  But it works!  Kids just like getting stars.

Consider setting up a reward system, too.  For our son, we agreed that we would get him a present once he reached the ten star mark.  We had him pick out the present before starting out -- he picked a wooden pirate ship as his goal.  That was a pretty big step -- a few intensive days of potty training.   Other rewards might include a special event -- a beach day.  A trip to get ice cream.  A fun time in the backyard or a nearby park.  We suggest that it be someplace that the toddler can try out his or her new underwear for a day.

Potty Training Tips

We came by most of these tips by trial and error.  We also got advice from discussions with friends and exchanged ideas at play dates.

• Look for readiness.  Every child is different!  Don't worry about whether it is too early to start, or whether it is taking too long to start.  
• For example, start a potty training library, reading one book at a time.  Look for readiness and interest when you read to them.
• Plan on this process taking lots of time.  
• Empower your child.  Get them on board.  One way to do this is by making it more like a game.
• Shop for potties with your child.  Or, have one appear as a gift from a special family member or good friend.