Potty Training Tips for Girls

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This post is from LMordecai – a mom stay at home mom to two wonderful boys.

My potty training journey began when my eldest son turned 2. I had heard from my friends who had walked the potty training road before me that potty training boys took much longer and was much harder than potty training their female counterparts. I was convinced my son would be the exception. I wanted to be prepared to train him to use the toilet as soon as I saw any cues that he might be ready, so off to the store we went.

It had all the pomp and circumstance of a major life event as I took my son to pick out his first pair of “big boy underwear”. He humored me and chose a pair displaying his favorite cartoon character.

In the meantime, I watched him like a hawk. I looked to see if he was interested when other people used the potty, would hide himself when he needed to use the bathroom or was dirtying his diaper at regular intervals.
After a few months of carefully observing him throughout the day and him telling me he needed to use the potty after he had already done the deed in his diaper, I noticed that he would dirty his diaper after breakfast and after his afternoon nap. This was my first clue that he may be potty trainable. Shortly thereafter, he became very interested in the toilet. Because I knew when he was most likely to need to use the potty, I was able to put him on the potty before he had the chance to use his diaper instead.

Although he was showing readiness signs, potty training did not come quick. We would sit him on the potty, read potty books to him, talk endlessly about using the potty and even showed him how it was supposed to work with the help of his favorite action hero. But, time after time, it seemed as though he was fearful to use the potty.

It was then that I had my A-ha moment. I put a diaper on my son and cut out a patch on the back. When I put him on the potty wearing his altered diaper, he was finally able to use the potty because of the comfort he felt from wearing the diaper. There was so much hooting and hollering and dancing around the bathroom that afternoon that my son knew he had done something special. I never had to do the diaper trick after that day. He has been using the potty and been dry during the day time ever since.

With a little ingenuity and a lot of observation, I was able to help my son make the transition from diapers to underwear.

Although many caregivers are anxious to end the chore of changing dirty diapers, potty training is a milestone that should not be rushed. Any attempt to begin potty training too early will often lead to unnecessary stress and actually hinder the process. It is important to evaluate a toddler’s personal development in order to determine when to potty train. Books are fun ways to show a child how to use the potty as caregivers teach and encourage her progress.

Although toddlers are usually ready to potty train somewhere between 18 to 24 months, some might not be ready until closer to three or four years old. Each child is unique in terms of muscle and nervous system development, and may need more time to prepare emotionally.

Several factors determine whether a toddler is ready for potty training. He should comprehend what it means to use the bathroom like the grown-ups in the house, and should have the ability to sit in one position for several minutes. A toddler may be ready if he has a dry diaper for at least three to four hours at a time while passing a substantial amount of urine each time he goes. This shows that the child has developed the muscles necessary to hold it in for a period of time.

Even if a toddler exhibits outward signs of readiness, certain conditions may prove it necessary to postpone any potty training plans. A new sibling or move to a new home could make potty training too overwhelming.

When a toddler shows she is ready for potty training, a plan should be implemented and understood by each of the child’s caregivers. Consistency and patience is important, and a toddler should be allowed to progress at her own pace.

A useful way to establish a routine is to place the toddler, fully clothed, on the potty seat once a day. After the routine has been accepted, start placing the child on the potty seat without clothes. He should understand that Mom and Dad do this, too. Don’t force the issue. If he becomes upset, discontinue. Try again after a few weeks.

Books can be valuable tools to teach a toddler how to use the bathroom. It may be comforting and effective to talk or read a book to her while she sits on the potty.

Training pants can help to make the transition between diapers and underwear. They are available in either cloth or disposables. Training pants may be pulled up and down as if they were real underwear, but they are thicker and have the ability to absorb accidents. It is often said that cloth is more helpful as it feels more like underwear.

Successful potty training requires patience, consistency, and the ability to know when a toddler is not ready. Some children become potty trained in a few days, while others may require many months. When a child is ready, common potty training aids combined with love and encouragement will soon lead to success.