Potty training a baby is one of those milestones in your child’s life – it can be an amazing bonding experience between child and parent. It is also an important step in the development of the child because for the first time in the baby’s life he will have a feeling of independence and responsibility. Once he is potty trained, your baby will be responsible for going to the bathroom to relieve herself.
The right age to learn to go to the bathroom
Decades ago, in the 1960s, 80% of all babies were potty trained by the age of 18 months. Today, the average is closer to 36 months (3 years), in other words, it has almost doubled in a shadow under fifty years. Modern diaper technology is largely to blame because they are now so absorbent that the baby can barely feel any discomfort when an accident occurs and therefore has no reason to want to remove the diapers. In the old days of cotton diapers, it was not comfortable and you would soon know as a parent if the baby needed changing.
It is important for parents to realize that potty training is a big step in a child’s development and delaying potty training to three or four years of a child’s life can hinder the baby’s development. . Generally speaking, a baby is ready to be potty trained at the age of 18 months. This means that he/she is physically up to the task, can communicate, can follow simple directions, and has regular, smooth bowel movements.
In addition to these crucial signs, there are other signs that will give you an idea of ​​how ready your baby is for potty training. I call them “nice to have” because they’re not critical, but if they’re present, it means your job of training the kid will probably be a little easier.
It’s Good to Have Baby Potty Training Cues
I already mentioned that the baby should be physically able to pull pants up/down, communicate, follow simple directions, and have soft, regular bowel movements, but you should also watch out for these nice signs:
– Does the baby imitate any action that you or your partner does?
– Is the baby showing signs of wanting some independence?
– Does the baby show any signs of understanding when he needs to go to the bathroom?
– Does the baby show signs of discomfort after an accident?
If you answered yes to any of those points, that’s a very good sign!
How long does it take to complete baby potty training?
The amount of time it takes to potty train a baby varies greatly. Some kids just learn faster than others. The average training time ranges from a couple of days to a couple of months.
There is almost no difference between boys and girls when it comes to potty training, although studies have shown that girls are generally a bit more receptive to potty training and learn a bit faster. However, girls are also at higher risk of infection, so be sure to watch out for pain with frequent urination or abdominal pain. If you see any of those signs, take it straight to the doctor for a professional medical opinion.
High-level overview of the baby potty training process
When you have established that your child is ready to be potty trained, the first port of call is to purchase the necessary equipment. You have the option of potties for children or even a special child seat for the toilet. It is also possible to pick up some type of picture book or DVD to capture the interest of the child. One famous toy that seems to be popular with kids right now (although not with parents due to its annoying, high-pitched tone) is the Elmo potty, based on the Sesame Street character. These training aids can help capture the child’s interest, but they should not be relied on too much.
Next, it’s about introducing some kind of routine to the baby. So it is advisable to take it to the bathroom or potty to get the baby used to it and make sure it doesn’t get scared or intimidated. This should happen over a period of one or two days; just keep making regular trips to the bathroom until baby is comfortable with the surroundings. Explain the purpose of the toilet and what people use it for.
The next step is to get rid of the diaper and explain how and why adults undress before going to the toilet or bathroom. Physically show the baby where the bowel movements should go by bringing the diaper closer to the potty and placing it down. Next, you would explain that the baby is responsible for going to the bathroom and make sure that the baby understands that she can go to the bathroom when necessary. This is the first time the baby has had a responsibility and it is a defining moment of a child’s independence.
Finally, when everything else is sorted, you can turn to night training. Keep in mind that it may take a couple of years longer for babies to master the art of understanding when they need to go to the bathroom while they are sleeping. Accidents will happen, but handle them gracefully and definitely don’t punish the child.