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One of the major challenges for new parents is to teach their child to potty train. Every child is unique, their development is different, and their habits vary. As such, not every child can be potty trained in the same ways, with the same drills. If you have read books, watched guides, and asked friends and family for help and it still is not working out for you, there is nothing to worry about. Potty training might be a hard task, but it is not impossible, and your child will certainly learn it.
Dr Mona, pediatrician and toddler mom, has some tips and tricks in an Instagram post she shared about busting potty-training misconceptions.
First and foremost, she says that there is not one single age where a child can get ready for potty training, and it is important for the child to be ready. While you can start reading up on it and discussing it with your kid from 18 months to two years old, if the process starts later or takes longer, it is absolutely normal. Sometimes, if your child is not taking to the training as you might have expected, you might want to ruminate on whether they are still too young for it, or if they need a different method.
The biggest myth, the doctor says, is that every child can be potty trained in three days. Though she agrees that this might work on some kids, it is a stressful method, and it is not uncommon for kids to take longer. Ideally, it can take from three days to two weeks and parents should not allow the three days drill to backfire on them.
Additionally, Dr Mona suggests that contrary to popular belief, rewards systems can actually help with the potty-training process. People believe that the reward system might make the child dependent on a reward to use the toilet; however, the expert says that it can instead, help with getting the ball rolling. However, she also says that if you use this system, you must phase it out. “It is important to understand your child’s vibe to know if a reward system is right for them (and for you).”
Commenting on the method of training children during nights as well as days, Dr Mona says that it might not be such a good idea. “Many children don’t have the bladder maturity to stay dry overnight until five years of age. So, if you’re training a child younger than this, you can focus on days first and then nights.” She says that it is easier to potty train a child who is awake than a child who is half asleep.
Finally, she goes to the most questionable myth: once potty trained, there will be no accidents. She strongly suggests that there can, and it is absolutely normal for that to happen. She says that accidents or regressions for any toddler is normal, and something all parents should expect rather than be surprised by. “Accidents can happen if they are occupied or distracted…regressions can happen with major life changes.” Dr Mona says that both are common and can be corrected with positive reinforcement and consistency.
Dr Kanchan S Channawar, Senior Pediatrician & Pediatric Intensivist, Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad while agreeing to all of the above, also said that establishing a routine with your child might further help the process. She said, “Establish a consistent routine around using the potty. Encourage your child to sit on the potty at regular intervals, such as after meals or upon waking from naps.”
While dealing with accidents, she suggested that parents’ response is very important for the method to be successful. “Respond calmly and avoid scolding or shaming your child. Instead, guide them in understanding what happened and reinforce the proper use of the potty.”
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