Potty training is an important event in every toddler’s life.  It’s a major transition in your child’s journey to become a “big kid”.  But it is also a very sensitive part of his development, and one that should be surrounded with positive things.

Children who are at the age to begin potty training are also at an age that involves a struggle for independence.  Your toddler still needs you very much, but he also wants to establish his individuality.  So rather than pushing the issue of potty training, it is usually more effective to offer lots of positive reinforcement.  Here are some ways you can do just that:

* Get your child a fun and interesting potty chair.  Put it in the bathroom, and let him explore it on his own before you start trying to potty train.  Allow him to sit on it while you read him stories.  This will help him get comfortable with the chair before moving on to the next step.

* Let your toddler watch you empty his dirty diapers into the potty.  Explain to him that the potty is where poop belongs, and let him flush the toilet if he wants to.  If he asks where it goes when you flush, find a way to explain it that won’t intimidate him.

* Read books about using the potty to your child.  There are many wonderful books available that encourage both knowing when to use the potty and good hygiene.  Give your child the opportunity to ask questions, and answer them honestly.  You can start reading these books before you start potty training, and continue to read them throughout the process.

* Offer praise when your child uses the potty.  Let him know that he is doing what is expected of him, and refrain from comparing him to siblings or other children.  Just don’t go overboard with the praise, because it could make him feel more pressured.

* Remain positive when your child has accidents.  Reassure him that it happens to everyone, and that he will make it to the potty next time.

* Consider developing some type of reward system.  You could purchase a sticker chart designed for kids who are potty training.  Small toys, candy, extra play time, and extra bedtime stories are also good motivators.

* Take your child to the store and let him pick out some underwear that he likes.  Have him try them on when he gets home, and let him know that once he starts using the potty regularly he can wear them.  Once he has made some progress, you could go ahead and start letting him wear them.  He probably won’t want to get them dirty, and will make an extra effort to get to the bathroom when he needs to go.

Getting your child potty trained can be frustrating, but keeping a positive attitude can make the process more pleasant for everyone involved.  Preparing your child for potty training beforehand will make it less intimidating, and providing praise and rewards will give him the motivation he needs to succeed.

Potty training is a rewarding activity for you and your toddler, but it can also be frustrating.  Even if you do everything right and wait until your child has all of the signs of readiness before you start, problems can arise.  Your child could have the best of intentions but just not seem to “get it”, or he could do well but then start to regress.

When potty training doesn’t go well, it is important to determine the cause of the problem.  It could be that it has brought forth a power struggle between you and your child.  Maybe, for one reason or another, your child wasn’t quite ready to start training.  Or there could be a medical problem standing in the way.

What Medical Problems Could Cause Potty Training Difficulties?

One of the most obvious medical problems that could cause trouble during potty training is diarrhea.  It is difficult enough for an adult to maintain control when diarrhea strikes, so it stands to reason that it would be next to impossible for a toddler with diarrhea to make it to the potty.

Signs of diarrhea include loose stools and stomach cramps.  If it persists for more than a couple of days, your child may need to see a doctor.  He may need prescription medication, and he will probably need lots of fluids to keep him from getting dehydrated.

Constipation could also be the cause potty training problems.  If your child keeps insisting that he doesn’t need to have a bowel movement even though he normally would have, constipation could be the culprit.  Also, if he feels like he is about to have a bowel movement but doesn’t, it could deter him from going to the potty the next time he gets that feeling.  Then he could have an accident.

If your child has hard or infrequent stools, constipation is likely the problem.  It can often be remedied by adding more fluids and fiber to your child’s diet.  If that doesn’t work, his pediatrician can help.

A urinary tract infection could be the culprit if your child is having trouble with urinating in the toilet.  This type of infection is characterized by pain, difficulty urinating, and possibly a strong smell or a strange color to the urine.  Urinary tract infections must be treated with antibiotics.

All of these medical problems are generally easy to treat.  Once they have been cleared up, your child will probably have more success with potty training.  If he was having pain associated with these ailments, however, it could take a little more time before he is willing to try again.  If so, don’t rush him. Believe me He or She will be ready again eventually.

You’re trying to potty train your toddler, but he’s just had another accident.  You try to remain calm, but this is the third time you’ve had to change his pants today.  It’s all you can do to refrain from scolding him.
Sound  familiar?  It can be difficult to remain upbeat when your child is having trouble with potty training.  But it is important to realize that your emotions can directly affect your child’s success.

Your Negativity Can Breed Self-Doubt

When you develop a negative attitude toward your child’s potty training, it can easily rub off on your child.  If you scold him for having accidents or compare him to siblings who were easier to potty train, it can be a slap to his self-esteem.  And that could hinder to his or her success.

Your child may also believe that if you don’t think he can do it, he may as well stop trying.  This will lead to more accidents, and if you respond with more negativity, it could make things even worse.  being positive and playing up your child’s successes, on the other hand, will give him or her the incentive to continue doing well.

Don’t Get Angry

Getting angry with a child when he has an accident is the worst thing to do.  This will do nothing but make your child feel scared and anxious.  This could trigger more accidents, and will almost definitely cause a setback.

If you find yourself getting angry with your child due to potty training issues, take a deep breath and count to ten.  Remember that he is not doing it on purpose, and that it is a natural part of learning.  Then think of something positive to say, such as “You’ll do better next time.”

A Positive Attitude Encourages Success

One of the most important things you can do to help your child with his potty training is to maintain a positive attitude.  Just as negativity from you will foster negativity in your child, a positive attitude on your part will enhance your child’s self-confidence and willingness to keep trying.

If your child is having a hard time, it is that much more important to remain positive.  Providing rewards for a job well done will help reinforce the progress he makes.  If he’s not making any progress at all, he may not have been ready to start potty training in the first place.  It could be in his best interest to postpone it for a month or two, then try again.

Keeping our emotions under control will help our children succeed at potty training.  Instead of getting upset and scolding a toddler who is having accidents or setbacks, encourage him to do his best and reward him when he does something right.  He may not be trained in a week, a month, or even a few months, but he will be less likely to make mistakes and more willing to keep at it.

Parents often dread or outright hate potty training.  Teaching a child to use the toilet after he has gotten accustomed to using a diaper seems like a impossible task.  But many parents claim that elimination communication potty training, or EC for short, is less stressful and more effective than traditional methods.

What is Elimination Communication?

EC has been used in many cultures for centuries.  It is simply the practice of learning to recognize the signs that your child needs to use the bathroom, and taking him to the toilet when you see them.  It is generally started before six months of age, but some parents start later than that.

Each child has his own individual way of communicating that he is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.  It’s up to the parents to pick up on these signs.  Some things to look for include passing gas, grunting, squirming, or a serious look on your child’s face.  Your child may do some or all of these things, or he may give cues that are unique to him.

Once you’ve figured out the signs, you can start taking the child to the potty when you see them.  Parents often develop signs, either verbal or visual, that let the child know that they are in a place where it is acceptable to eliminate.  If he does, some praise will reinforce the behavior and make him more likely to continue with it.

To Diaper or Not to Diaper?

One reason that some parents choose the EC method is because it can reduce the need for diapers.  While you will probably need some backup in the early stages, the possibility of not having to buy diapers or fill up the landfills with them once the child starts using the toilet is quite appealing.  Some parents find that using cloth diapers enhances their children’s success with elimination communication due to the fact that they can feel the results of elimination.

Some parents choose not to use diapers at all when practicing EC potty training.  Many of these parents claim that their children rarely have a bowel movement in their underpants.  It is often necessary, however, to use a diaper when on the road or away from home.

The Debate About EC

Some experts feel that elimination communication potty training is inappropriate due to the fact that it is started at such a young age.  They claim that because children under two years old do not have fully developed muscles, they cannot control their urination and bowel movements.  There are also psychologists who argue that early toilet training can cause problems later in life.

EC supporters claim that it is not damaging to the child because he is not pressured into going to the toilet on his own.  If done correctly, EC puts the caregiver in charge of getting the child to the toilet when he needs to go.  The child will realize what is going on and start going to the bathroom on his own when the time comes.

Elimination communication sounds unusual to some parents, but it is an easy concept to implement.  It has the potential to make potty training easier and less stressful, and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.  Once you’ve deciphered the signs that indicate your child needs to go to the bathroom, the hardest part is over.

Wanna no more? visit: Elimination communication

Parents of today’s toddlers can choose from numerous products designed to help with potty training.  There are potty chairs, potty seats, potty books, and potty dolls.  There are sticker charts, flushable wipes, and even alarm watches that remind your child that it’s time to go to the potty.

One of the most frequently used potty training aids is the pull-up.  It’s a thin disposable diaper that is made like underwear so that the child can pull it off and on when it’s time to use the potty.  Some have symbols on them that fade when wet, and some are made with tear-away sides in case of accidents.  But there is some debate as to their effectiveness.

The problem with pull-ups and diapers is that they absorb too well.  They pull moisture away from the child’s skin, and that is a good thing for babies.  But toddlers who are potty training can benefit from the motivation that a wet diaper provides.

Advantages of Cloth Diapers

Moms who use cloth diapers have a bit of an advantage when it comes to potty training.  Cloth diapers allow the child to feel the wetness and discomfort caused by urination and bowel movements.  Most children find this quite unpleasant, and it provides a unique incentive to start using the potty.

Another good thing about cloth diapers when it comes to potty training is that they’re cheaper than disposable pull-ups.  So if your toddler has a lot of accidents you will have to wash diapers more often, but that is cheaper than buying more pull-ups.

Disadvantages of Cloth Diapers

One problem with cloth diapers as opposed to pull-ups is that they are usually harder for the child to pull down on his own.  So during the learning stages, he may need more help than he would otherwise when going to the potty.

Another disadvantage of cloth diapers is evidenced when traveling.  If the child uses the diaper, you will have to find somewhere to store it until you get back home.  If you’re not prepared, you could be in for a smelly car ride, especially if you’re on a long trip.

Cloth Diapers Might Make Potty Training Quicker

Although they can be less convenient than disposables, many moms are choosing to use cloth diapers.  Those who are attempting to potty train often find that their children learn quickly.  In fact, statistics show that toddlers who wear cloth diapers are fully trained six months before those who wear disposable diapers or pull-ups.

Cloth diapers are inexpensive and better for the environment than disposable diapers.  They also provide an advantage to moms who are attempting to potty train.  So even though cloth diapers are less convenient than disposables in some ways, using them may result in less time in diapers for your child.

Which do I prefer ? I prefer pull ups only because of the convience that they offer.