My baby Kaya. She's not so much a baby anymore! She's doing the potty-training thing (or should I say, potty learning?) and learning a brand new skill that she is so proud of. She's growing up!
Potty training is stressful. Even when everything's going right, there's still leaks, accidents, and timing. It's a huge milestone, for both parents and toddlers, and for the most positive experience for everyone, Pampers has shared some of their best tips from L. Jana, MD:
1. Promote potty learning. Instead of referring to your child’s transition from wearing diapers to using the potty as “potty training,” consider calling it “potty learning.” After all, mastering this eagerly anticipated milestone of childhood takes time, teaching, and plenty of practice and patience!
2. Take a teamwork approach. From the outset, I find it helps to keep in mind that potty training is a team sport. If you simply remind yourself that you are (and always will be) on the same team as your child, it can really help you stay calm in the face of potty accidents and be a much more positive and effective potty training coach.
3. Stock your deck. Part of the secret to your child’s potty success will involve being well equipped and removing any obstacles that stand between your child and potty success. Sure, this typically includes a fun trip out to purchase a brand new first set of coveted “big-boy” or “big-girl” underwear. But it also means having on hand other practical supplies that can help foster your child’s interest and independence – from a step stool (to improve access to the toilet) or potty seat to training pants. That’s why I’m happy to partner with Pampers, whose Easy Ups training pants are designed to help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to set aside their diapers and wear something with more of an underwear-like look and feel that still helps contain accidental messes no matter whether they happen at home, on-the-go or overnight.
4. Embrace success. As with any learning experience, young children can learn a lot from both their potty successes and their failures. While potty accidents are an inevitable (and admittedly inconvenient) aspect of potty learning, they shouldn’t dominate your day-to-day discussions. Instead, simply help your child learn to cope with (and clean up) any messes and focus your attention on celebrating your child’s successes with plenty of hugs and words of encouragement.
5. Watch for the signs. There are several characteristic signs and developmental abilities you can watch for that suggest children are ready to potty train. These signs of potty training readiness typically include the ability to use their words to express themselves, toddle their own way to the bathroom, pull down their own pants, and to be aware of the sensation of peeing or pooping (characteristically noticeable when young children suddenly stop what they’re doing as they feel themselves start to pee. Or when they start hiding behind the sofa or standing in a corner to poop. It is also helpful (and increases the likelihood of potty training interest) when children start to be bothered by their poopy and/or wet diapers, as that can serve as a good motivation for using the potty instead!
6. Start making connections. There’s a lot that you can do to help your child be well-prepared to use the potty successfully long before he actually starts to. Reading fun and engaging children’s books about potty training, such as You and Me Against the Pee! (which I co-authored) can go a long way towards making the idea of potty training a family and eagerly anticipated one. You can take this familiarity a step further by letting your toddler accompany you in to the bathroom when you need to go so that he both becomes familiar with the routine and comfortable with the idea of using the toilet, rather than being afraid of or intimidated by it!
Training pants like Pampers Easy Ups can help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to throw out their diapers and wear something with more of an underwear-like design that still helps keep accidental messes off clothing, bedding and other surfaces - no matter whether they happen at home, on-the-go or overnight.
What makes Pampers Easy Ups go-to training pants? They have fewer leaks than the other leading training pant to help simplify and improve the overall potty training experience. Pampers Easy Ups have an absorbent core that holds 25% more than the other leading training pant to help ensure little ones remain dry. Plus, with up to 12 hours of protection, it works during the day AND night, enabling toddlers and moms to confidently and completely transition from diapers towards underwear.
Join @Pampers on April 21st from 9-10 pm EST as they host a Twitter Party with Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician, award-winning parenting book author and potty training expert who co-authored to Its You and Me Against the Pee…and the Poop, Too! RSVP here: http://vite.io/doubledutydivas
Do you have a little one that's ready for potty-training? Check out this awesome prize pack from Pampers to help make the transition even easier!
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Pampers Potty-Training Prize Pack includes:
a pack of Pampers Easy Ups
a Little Looster Step Stool,
a Potty Ring
"It's You and Me against the Pee... and Poop too!" book
$50 AMEX gift card.
To enter, simply follow the giveaway form below. One person will win the prize pack. All entries are optional, and the more you complete, the better your chance of winning! Good luck!
