☝️ How to potty train a child ☺️ at ⇒ 1 year, at 1.5 and 2, methods ✔️ in 7 days or 3 days - answer: is it necessary to train from 10 months?❓️

When the question arises in a family ⇑ about how to teach a small child to use a potty, mom and dad begin to consult with all the people around them and then rely on other people’s experience, which is fundamentally wrong. ⇒ Firstly, grandparents immediately appear on the horizon, vying with each other to advise putting the baby almost on the toilet as soon as possible and not removing him until he has done his business. Secondly, familiar mothers appear talking about how to potty train a one-year-old or even ten-month-old child. After all, their children, even at the age of 10-14 months, got up on their own and went to pee and poop “like an adult.” And even some pediatricians shake their heads when they find out that the child is over 2 years old and still wears diapers. But all this does not matter and should not prompt the baby’s parents to unnecessary worry.

When should you introduce your child to the potty?

The American Academy of Pediatrics/AAP approached the study of this issue from a scientific point of view. Experts looked at the mental and physiological characteristics of young children in order to determine at what age it is optimal for each child to be potty trained. As a result, pediatricians and scientists around the world agreed with the results obtained by the AAP.

✔️ Important! When asked how long it costs to potty train a child, experts answered: from 1.5 to 2 years. At the same time, pediatricians warned that each baby is individual.

◊ Experts advise paying attention to the following indicators:

Frequency of trips to the toilet. If your baby defecates at approximately the same time, and urinates no more than once every 2-3 hours, then he is probably ready for the potty. If a child’s pants are constantly dirty or wet, then it is reasonable to postpone teaching him how to go to the toilet independently.
Baby's development. It is important to have knowledge about the main parts of the body, understanding what “poop” and “pee” are. If the mother says to the baby: “show me where your panties are,” and he points correctly, then this indicates sufficient development.
Curiosity and interest in the world around us. Such qualities are expressed in the desire to imitate parents, but at the same time do and study something on their own. For example, dressing, drawing, sculpting from plasticine.

Also, the answer to ⇑ the question of when to start potty training a child is contained in the popular book by Richard Fox and Nathan Ezrin. It says that the best age for this process is 1.8 years (20 months) or more. The book is called “Potty Training in 1 Day.”

◊ The authors of the book give their recommendations. ✅️ In their opinion, the baby is subject to training only if :

he goes to the toilet once every 3-4 hours (after meals, daytime and night sleep);
he demonstrates a desire to relieve himself by changing his facial expression or taking a “special” pose;
he experiences discomfort when his clothes are wet.

It is advisable for parents to independently determine at what period and at what age they can start potty training their child. To do this, it is enough to observe him and his behavior before and after going to the toilet.

Which pot should you choose?

It is difficult to say which potty your child will like. If you start training very early, then most likely color will not play a role.

It is important that the pot itself is stable and easy to use. The back will not be superfluous. An older child can choose for himself. Why should you rack your brains over the question “Which potty should I choose?” if the baby himself is able to determine the best option?

In many smart books by psychologists and pediatricians, I came across advice that the baby should not associate the potty with games.

However, the experience of our mothers, grandmothers, my friends and our own show that we should not adhere to this recommendation so strongly. At first, all means are good! Read books, give “special” toys, play cartoons.

In general, do everything to keep your child on the potty until the moment of his “deeds”, and then be sure to praise and explain what he did right! But don’t delay - 5-10 minutes is enough, but half an hour or an hour is clearly too much.

One of the best potty options is the one with a tune.

It works when the child does his part in it. Immediately after this, music starts playing, and for you this is a signal that it is time to praise the baby and explain what exactly caused this. Again, many pediatricians and psychologists speak out categorically against such a “toy.”

If your question is “How to potty train a child at 2 years old?”, perhaps the question itself is incorrect.

If you cannot do this, perhaps you should try a child seat (cover) on the toilet. The child is already old enough for this, and imitating mom and dad will be more interesting for him than sitting on the potty.

Don’t insist if your baby categorically refuses to use new gadgets. This suggests that you need to take a break for 1-2 months.

How to properly introduce a child to the potty

To begin with, the pot needs to be placed in a visible place in the room. Then show that you can sit on it like a chair. It is advisable to immediately demonstrate what this item is used for, use the words “pee” and “poop”, pointing the baby to his future toilet.

It is enough for the baby to sit on the potty several times a day for 5 minutes to get used to it. Then it will immediately become clear whether he is ready to use this item for its intended purpose. If your baby wants to play with the potty and kick it, then you should either postpone learning how to go to the toilet or purchase another model.

Preparing for misses

If your child already sometimes goes to the potty, but does not do it completely confidently, it is better to abandon the diaper and prepare for the appearance of unwanted puddles in the middle of the room. During this period, it is better to remove the carpets and stock up on a change of linen. Having a diaper on the baby will only slow down the process and give parents even more headaches. Parents should also prepare themselves mentally: control themselves and not scold their child if he forgets about the potty. There are situations when the baby successfully goes to the potty when his mother sits him down, but the child does not ask to go to the potty on his own. It is important to understand that it is difficult for a child to accept innovation as quickly as others want, and it is better if he receives support and a smile instead of punishment.

Potty training a girl and a boy, are there any differences?

⇑ The gender of the child does not matter much when it comes to how to quickly potty train him. The fact that girls 1.5-2 years old learn faster compared to boys is nothing more than a myth. Also, the presence of shyness and withdrawal in children of this age is associated not with their gender, but with their upbringing.

But, since many parents begin to instill muscular and feminine habits in their children from an early age, some differences in behavior and thinking are still observed. As a rule, they appear closer to the age of two. Boys are more active and cheekier than girls, have difficulty concentrating and have problems with perseverance.

Therefore, in order to potty train a boy, you need to interest him. You can buy books in advance that show how animals go to the toilet, just like people do. The boy should have an interest in this process.

✅️ In order to potty train a girl, you need to leave her alone with her mother so that there is no one else in the room. The environment should be calm, so it is best to close the window, draw the curtains and turn off the TV in advance. In this case, the mother should be shown how to use the potty (for example, pretend that she peed in it herself), and then go about her business, carefully watching the baby.

These rules only work in cases where children aged 1.5-2 years actively display behavioral characteristics characteristic of their gender. But most often, boys and girls are taught the same way. Most children require an intimate environment, the presence of one parent, and the absence of extraneous sounds and distractions.

Training without stress

When a child is ready physiologically and psychologically, and shows a clear interest in the potty and when adults or older siblings go to the toilet, he can be potty trained in a matter of days.

It is best to do this in the warm season, when the baby is wearing a minimum of clothing. Leave him naked or in only panties - the baby should observe the process of urination, making the connection “This puddle or pile should be in the pot.” In addition, he should be able to quickly take off his clothes - panties or pants with an elastic band.

More often offer (but do not insist) to sit on the potty after sleeping or eating, before going for a walk. While the baby is sitting, interest him with a story or a toy so that he does not jump up prematurely.

After successful “hikes”, be sure to praise the little one, but not excessively - enthusiasm like at the presentation of a world award is inappropriate here. But let him be an active spectator when pouring urine and washing the potty, allow him to flush the toilet and be sure to wash his hands. At first, praise your child even when he asks to go to the toilet, even if nothing happens.

Going to the toilet is an intimate process, and if the baby is shy, respect his individuality and give him the opportunity to be alone at this time.

When the baby gets used to going potty at home, stop wearing diapers for walks and as soon as the child “hints” to you about his desires, go “water” the nearest bushes. At first, there may be some unfortunate accidents, so take a few pants and socks with you.

It is better to teach boys to write while sitting first, and then move on to the “adult” version. It is ideal if dad is not lazy and is not ashamed to be an instructor-demonstrator. This game will help to avoid excessive splashing: roll up a lot of small paper balls, and then throw them into the pot - let the baby try to get into this “flotilla” with a stream.

The next stage is giving up diapers at night. It lasts longer - involuntary urination is possible during sleep. However, you can sit your child on the potty before putting him to bed, slightly limit the amount of liquid he consumes in the evening, and lift him up at night for “get-togethers” - this will reduce the number of “accidents”. To be on the safe side, place a disposable diaper or oilcloth under the child’s sheet for a while.

Which pot to buy and when

When parents want to potty train their child, they often go to extremes. Some people buy models with special belts designed to fasten a child. This is outright overkill, which never leads to good consequences.

Also, by giving preference to a pot with decorative elements, music and other oddities, mom and dad run the risk of confusing their child. The child will most likely mistake the new acquisition for a toy and behave with it accordingly.

◊ The pot must be:

simple (without any hassles - belts, wheels, lights);
plastic (material with high thermal conductivity);
suitable in size;
comfortable (preferably with a backrest);
stable (so as not to roll back and forth on the floor).

Remember : for girls - round, for boys - oval with a special protrusion. You can buy a potty with a removable bowl or a high chair with handles. The color of the item does not matter.

It makes no sense to buy a potty in advance, as it will just sit there and be an eyesore, once again reminding you that the baby is still wearing diapers. It is optimal to make a purchase a week or two before the start of teaching your child the skills of going to the toilet.

Tips on how to potty train a child at 1.5 and 2 years old

Probably the main recommendation for parents is to be patient. “Accidents” and hysterics on the part of the child can also happen. Here you need to wait and after a while start learning again with renewed vigor.

Each child is an individual and you need to find your own approach for each.

Parents themselves will be able to determine which recommendation is closest to their child, so that potty training will bring a positive result. Below are a number of recommendations:

Everything has its time! A child’s understanding of why a potty is needed comes at the age of one and a half to two years. Remember this psychological aspect;
Don't be scared! Having brought home a new thing, the child will definitely want to get to know it, play with it, and wear it. At first, do not forbid him to do this and do not insist, forcibly planting the baby. This will only frighten the child, and then at the sight of the potty, the child will become hysterical. First you need to tell him what it is, you can put a teddy bear and a krekch, point to the “new friend”. Place the potty in the bathroom. It’s good if, for example, he has an older brother or sister;
Season! If possible, it is good to start studying in the summer. It’s easier to sit down and change suddenly something, a fidget;
Acquaintance! Most likely, the baby is already getting to know his body. You can tell him what the butt and genitals are for. Somewhere he already understands this, since he probably tells his mother about the discomfort when the diaper is full. At that moment, you can point to the potty and ask why he didn’t ask for it;
Systematic! If a child is amenable to learning, it is imperative to adhere to the regime. If it’s time to pee or poop, we sit on the potty;
Diapers! There is no need to give up diapers just yet. If your baby wets his diaper or pants, don’t scold him for it;
The baby is sick! You should not start training if the baby is not healthy: teething, colds, colic, etc.;
Don't stimulate! It is not recommended to stimulate the urge with the sounds of flowing water or reading a book, listening to music, or playing gadgets. This kind of reflex will have a bad effect in later life;
Availability! It is advisable to place the potty in a place accessible to the baby.
Stability! If a decision is made to potty train a child, he should not have any major changes in his life at this time. Even without putting the child in the “toilet” for one day, you can immediately return to the initial stage;
Praise! When the baby has successfully gone, you need to praise him by pointing approvingly at the potty. This will give the child good emotions and a desire to repeat it soon.

Methodology: we train in seven days

Many parents are familiar with Gina Ford, who developed the method “how to potty train a child in 7 days” and described it in her book. The book itself is called “The Satisfied Baby System from 0 to 1 year.” The author is an obstetrician by profession. During her writing career, she has written more than 10 books on parenting and child care. This woman’s methods are used by parents all over the world.

◊ Step by step potty training a child in 7 days:

Day one – refusal to wear diapers at home. Parents dress the child in panties and try to sit the child on the potty for 8-15 minutes throughout the day. Mom and dad provide “instruction” to the baby so that he understands how to use the new device. It is important for parents to be patient, since the first “approaches” do not always give the expected result.
Day two – getting used to the potty. One parent constantly monitors the child's behavior. Planting on a potty is carried out only when the need arises. That is, when signs appear that the baby wants to go to the toilet. If the child still manages to wear his pants, it’s okay. But it is advisable that he relieves himself in the potty throughout the day.
Day three – complete refusal of diapers. On the third day, mom and dad take the baby for a walk in panties, but first sit him down at home to pee or poop. Parents take a potty with them on every walk with their child.
Day four – the first steps towards independence. The child begins to ask to go to the toilet on his own or goes to the potty when reminded by his parents. He no longer needs to be held and distracted.
Days from five to seven – consolidation of the result. These days, parents try to consolidate the result obtained, if necessary, guiding the child in the right direction and reminding him what to do if the desire to go to the toilet arises. All this is done without the slightest pressure or scolding.

If after this technique the child begins to ask to go to the toilet, this indicates that he has developed a persistent habit. After some time, the baby will begin to go to the toilet on his own or show with all his appearance that he needs to relieve himself. He can take off his pants and panties and approach mom or dad. The result largely depends on the age of the child. If this technique does not work on the baby, then you should postpone training (and the potty) for a while or try another method.

How to potty train your baby correctly

If you decide that the time has come to learn a new skill, then read the recommendations of experienced mothers and psychologists. And also a video with recommendations from Dr. Komarovsky will come in very handy.

Important! During this period, you should completely forget about diapers. Otherwise, the baby will not be able to explore his desires, and also understand why he needs his genitals.

Some parents continue to believe that a diaper is a safety net in this matter. This is really true, only he is not a help at all, and will only delay your successful business for a long time. After all, the baby will understand “Why should I strain, I’ll pee-pee here and stay dry.”

How to potty train a child at 1.5, 2 and 3 years old

The rules below will apply more to children closer to 2 years old, but can also be useful to parents whose children are 1 year old. You are parents, which means you know and feel like no one else that the time has come.

First of all, buy a potty, let it find a place in your home. Do not tell your child about some mythical thing that he has never seen, do not show it to others, but buy it for him personally. It is recommended to make this purchase either with the child or independently, but taking into account the child’s taste. These could be your favorite cartoon characters, animals, or other images. This way he can quickly become friends with the new device. Experts recommend buying a potty based on the gender of the child. So, a boy gets a device with a special recess, and a girl gets a round hole.
Show with an example why this thing is needed. In the example, a favorite soft or other toy that suddenly needs to go to the toilet will willingly participate. Show how, for example, a bunny sits down and does his personal business. It has also long been noted that older children who have long made friends with the “small toilet” can be an excellent example. The child will have fun and, in the form of a game, he will remember the main purpose of the newly acquired “vase”. And this example will also make him understand that not only he should do this, but others too.
Invite your little one to do it himself. And then start planting them gradually on the potty at different times of the day: after waking up, before and after meals, before a walk, before a nap, during play, before bed at night. Just don’t keep your child on the potty for more than 5 minutes, otherwise he will not like it until the end of training. To maintain perseverance, offer your baby his favorite toy or game and let him focus his attention on it.
During this period, put on easy-to-use clothes for your baby, ones that he can take off himself or at least try to do. Many mothers and experts advise starting training in a warm period - summer, where clothes at home are not needed at all (in the case of a very young student).
Soon the child will be able to do his own thing. Be sure not to ignore this, do not take it for granted, but praise him, say kind and affectionate words, and then he will become proud of himself and next time he will gladly want to do something for you in order to achieve parental praise. Just don’t say common phrases: “well done,” “clever,” “good,” “wonderful.” On the contrary, focus on exactly what the baby did. For example, “you’re a smart girl for pooping in the potty,” “you’re great for signing in your potty, I’m proud of you,” “you’re the smartest child I have, you’re peeing in the potty,” “it’s great that you peed in the potty.” My clever". If failure comes, then ignore this moment, just skip it, do not comment on what is happening.
When you notice that the child “turns” to the potty on his own, it means you have done everything correctly and the child has remembered the basics. Now you should watch the baby a little more closely and remember what actions the baby performs before sitting on the potty. Perhaps he blushes, pouts, holds the front or back seat with his hand, or maybe he performs completely different actions, peculiar only to him.
At night, place the “small toilet” near the bed, or not too far from where the child sleeps. All this so that he can easily remember and get to the potty, and not wake up his mother while searching or walking along a dark corridor. Even an adult can barely stand it for so long.
Buy special literature that tells the purpose of the pot in the form of a fairy tale.
On the street, do not forget to ask the baby after a short time if he wants to pee or poop. Stock up on more than one pair of spare panties and panties, and in case of leaks, just calmly replace them with dry clothes. This is a great way to show your baby that if next time he does not do what mom asks, he will simply remain wet again.
It’s a good idea to immediately accustom your baby to hygiene after “wet procedures.” Tell and show by your own example how important it is to wash your hands after using the toilet. Let even the smallest baby know about an important rule.
And the most important rule: stay patient and calm! Everything has its time! You should not express your dissatisfaction, anger and irritation with your child, because other people’s children have long been doing what you inexorably teach yours.

The overall learning picture begins to emerge after about 3 weeks. Then the baby shows its first abilities. But there is no clear answer to the question “How long will it take for a child to potty train?” - No. For some this may happen after a few weeks, a month or months; for others it takes much longer.

Quick training method in 3 days

The above-mentioned book by Nathan Ezrin and Richard Fox describes ways to potty train a child in 1 day. But not all parents are able to achieve the desired result in just 24 hours. Therefore, it is optimal to count on at least 3 days, and this is only if the baby has reached the age of 18-20 months.

◊ In order to teach a child to go potty in 3 days, you need to consistently perform the following steps:

get rid of diapers;
put a doll (for example, a baby-bon) on the potty;
independently pretend to go to the toilet (the parent should sit down and pretend that he is relieving himself);
have your baby sit down to pee or poop as soon as there are signs that he wants to;
Encourage the baby after the first trip to the potty and after all subsequent ones.

The last point must be fulfilled constantly. Every time the baby agrees to sit on the potty, he should be praised. Sweets, fruits, and hugs are used as encouragement.

You don't have to follow strict instructions and time frames, but it is important to try all of these methods and start with getting rid of diapers. The rapid learning method is not suitable for every child and parent; it is highly likely that it will not work on children under one and a half years old.

Signs of readiness and 5 rules for successful training

To quickly potty train a child, it is important for him to have the following skills:

walk independently, sit down, get rid of clothes;
understand speech, some words;
imitate the adults around him;
show your desires with gestures or words;
show effort to earn praise;
carry out tasks given by parents.

Such skills are acquired by a baby at about 18 months, so starting before this age does not make sense.

How to tell if your child is ready to go potty

age older than 1.5 years;
when the baby feels the desire to go “big” - he becomes silent, concentrates, and eventually speaks of a complete fact;
wakes up dry after sleeping during the day, and then continues to remain dry for some time (indicates the ability to control urination);
knows what her mother’s request to “put on or take off her panties” means and willingly fulfills such a request;
can show body parts correctly;
concentrates attention on a toy or cartoon for quite a long time, while remaining calm;
easily performs simple tasks (bring or carry something, go somewhere, etc.).

If the above is still not typical for your child, despite the fact that he is already 2 years old, potty training will not work quickly.

In order to help your child, try to periodically do without diapers . The baby needs to get to know his body, understand, and become familiar with the functionality of the genital organs. In this way, the connection between the urge and subsequent bowel movements is more likely to be captured. Accordingly, the baby needs to see acts of defecation and urination.

5 rules for effective training

No violence. You can’t hold the baby against his will; if he wants to get up and leave, let him do it.
Good attitude and encouragement. It is forbidden to scold a child for wet or soiled panties . Be generous with praise when a positive result is achieved.
Pauses. If your child develops negative associations associated with conflicts and violence, stop. Let him recover from the incident and forget the negative. Do not return to the issue of planting for some time.
Parental attentiveness. Look closely at the baby more often, and you will not miss the moment when he becomes concentrated and groans. At such moments it is worth offering a potty. It is also worth demonstrating clearly why this item was created.
Availability and efficiency. It’s good if the vessel is constantly within the baby’s access area. Also, the task is made many times easier by the minimum amount of clothing on the little one, so that he does not have to undress for a long time and tediously. Plant after every meal and sleep.

Retraining

It is required in cases where parents began to put the child on the potty too early and developed only a conditioned reflex in him. Repeated training is carried out using long-term methods. It will not be possible to potty train a one and a half year old child in 1 day, if before that he relieved himself in the “right place” only because of a conditioned reflex. You will have to work hard, and maybe even temporarily return diapers to your “arsenal.”

Important! A conditioned reflex is a reaction to the sounds “pee-pee” or to requests “let’s pee on the potty” without understanding what kind of object it is and why pee in it. Roughly speaking, a conditioned reflex is a reaction to some stimulus (in this case sound) and nothing more.

Often, after the loss of a conditioned reflex, children develop negative emotions due to the fact that their parents persistently put them on the potty. Therefore, re-domestication should be soft, based on imitation and encouragement. To implement this, you may need to hide the pot for a week or a week and a half, and then take it out again and start all over again. That is, sit down toys, explain to the child why he needs to go to the toilet in a special device, reward him for dry panties.

All actions must be methodical. ✏️ It may take a child several weeks to get used to the potty again.

Opinion of a famous pediatrician

How to teach a child to go potty? Komarovsky is confident that stable urination skills appear in a child no earlier than 18 months. Therefore, parents are not recommended to engage in this process until they are 1.5 years old. And stable skills appear by 20-33 months. The easiest way to potty train is for children who see their brothers or sisters doing it.

Therefore, parents should see the child’s readiness for the potty, and then buy it. And only then begin to develop the necessary skills.

For what reasons may a child be afraid of the potty and what to do in such cases

◊ Dislike for the potty occurs for the following reasons:

embarrassment (there are several people in the room, parents are closely watching the child);
inconvenience (the pot is inappropriate in size, anatomically incorrect, cold);
stress (something happened while sitting on the potty that greatly frightened the child);
excessive pressure from parents.

Important! Changing one pot to another often helps.

You need to get rid of fear in stages: first, remove the potty to the side, then put it in place and look at the baby’s reaction. If everything is in order, then you can try to sit the child down to pee. If not, you will have to use one of the training methods again.

Modern methods of weaning off diapers

Refusal from disposable diapers is due to natural reasons: allergies appear, age has approached, potty training is in progress, parents have financial difficulties.

Let your child play with the potty, put his favorite toys on the potty together - this will contribute to success in training

To help your baby understand that it’s time to take off his diapers, training panties have been developed in Japan. But how to teach a child to go potty with their help?

Instead of absorbent material, waterproof multi-layer fabric is inserted into the panties.

The liquid does not seep out, which creates discomfort from wet panties. This forces the child to take off his pants and go to the potty.

Since training panties are a new word in the life of young mothers, it is too early to judge the degree of their effectiveness. It’s good if the baby quickly understands the connection between wet pants and the potty. In another case, these panties will only become protection from puddles, but on the condition that they are removed soon, since the moisture is not fixed and everything remains inside.

Nikolsky Mikhail Andreevich, pediatrician of the private clinic "EMS", St. Petersburg

To prevent gastroenterological diseases, there is no need to torture a child by putting him on the potty against his will. It is important to remain calm and not lash out at your child during the learning process.

Parents' mistakes

The fact that parents are unable to potty their indicates an incorrect approach to this process. You can’t expect quick results and blame the baby for not being able to meet deadlines. It is not advisable to start training too early. And these are not all the prohibitions that should not be violated.

◊ Main mistakes ✏️:

Not enough time for the child. Mom and dad spend a few hours a day potty training their child, and the rest of the time they just take out the diapers and start going about their business. The result: the child relieves himself either in the diaper or in the potty, which completely confuses him.
Inconsistency of actions. Parents potty train their child, but do not teach him a consistent ritual. Besides, you first need to take off your panties, then your panties, and after going to the toilet, take out the cup and wash your hands. The result: the baby gets used to relieving himself in the right place, but ignores important aspects of this process.
Overdoing it. Parents use all sorts of potty training methods every day for a long time. They set themselves a goal: to accustom their child to the nth age. Result: The child develops a fear of the potty.
Punishment with “wet pants”. Mom and dad see that the child peed again instead of going to the potty, and decide to teach him a lesson using this method. They leave the child to walk around the house in wet pants for 10-30 minutes. Bottom line: the child still does not understand why he walks around wet, but he develops the habit of walking like that.

These mistakes occur all the time, even among experienced parents raising more than their first child.

We don't make mistakes

But under no circumstances:

do not insist if the baby, for any reason, does not want to sit on the potty;
do not hold your baby on the potty by force;
Don’t scold your little one if he accidentally “pees in his pants.”

According to the results of numerous experiments, a disposable diaper in no way interferes with teaching a child to relieve his natural needs in a potty

But as for disposable diapers, it turns out that there is no difference whether you refuse them while potty training your baby or not. According to the results of many experiments conducted by scientists and psychologists, diapers in no way interfere with learning toilet skills and do not affect the duration of the process.

Patience, consistency and your boundless parental love. These are the three pillars that are the basis for raising a child in a family. So, be patient and go through all the stages of potty training with your baby, one by one and slowly. And love will always help you cope with the difficulties that arise...

Advice from pediatricians and psychologists

Most parents do not need medical advice on how to potty train their child. It is enough just to familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations of experts on this matter.

Psychologists strongly advise against leaving the situation to chance and waiting until the baby starts asking to go to the toilet on his own. This is due to the fact that others will look askance at a child in diapers if he is older than 3.5-4 years. At the same age, the baby will begin to compare himself with his peers and will be upset if most of them are different from him (go potty). All this will lead to psychological discomfort.

Important! But pediatricians strongly do not recommend potty training your baby from the cradle. The fact is that neuromuscular connections between the pelvic organs, spinal cord and brain begin to form only from the 18th month of life. They are responsible for transmitting the “signal” that a person needs to relieve himself. Until this point, defecation and urination occur unconsciously.

Psychologists and pediatricians agree that you should not put pressure on a child, regardless of the circumstances and his age. Many do not approve of the use of accelerated methods such as “ potty training in 1 day ” in relation to children under 2 years of age. Doctors advise parents to use gentle methods that do not have a strict time frame. It is better to draw useful advice from various methods, but do not base your experience of raising children on them.

Psychologists are convinced that the most effective methods of teaching young children something are playful and imitative. In this case, the first method involves involving the potty in regular games. For example, Barbie wanted to pee, or a teddy bear wanted to go to the toilet during a trip to a fairy forest. You can play with this theme in any way you like.

The imitative method is based on something similar, but to implement it, mom and dad replace toys and, using their example, figuratively show how to pee and poop on the potty, wipe hands after using the toilet, and clean up after themselves. These actions form an imitative reflex in the baby, which is quickly consolidated in thinking.

Praise is also an effective way to reinforce skills. ✨️ The child develops a positive association with a specific action, he begins to perceive it as correct and good.

The above rules are also announced by Dr. Komarovsky when he considers ⇑ the question of how to properly potty train a child and at what age this should be done (video at the end of the article).

When is a child ready to learn toilet skills?

And psychologists are sure that even if you start putting a child on the potty at 8-9 months, and he successfully empties into it, then we are talking only about a reflex, and not about a conscious acquired skill.

There is no point in talking about any control over urination at this age. For the simple reason that the baby’s nervous system is not yet developed enough for this.

Children begin to control the processes of urination and defecation no earlier than they are 18 months old, or even later.

A child begins to control the processes of urination and defecation from approximately 18 months. Which is justified physiologically. Therefore, you should think about starting a baby’s toilet education no earlier than he turns 1 year old.

Of course, you can start introducing the baby to the potty before the age of one, but, as many have seen in practice, you will simply increase the training time.

Both children whose parents used early planting and children who began to learn to go to the potty at one and a half years old begin to consciously control their bowel movements at the same age (at 18 months - 2.5 years during the day, and at 3-3 .5 years – at night).

And this has nothing to do with learning. It's all about the readiness of the child's nervous system. Another thing is that there are no identical children. And everyone develops according to their own schedule. Mom and dad shouldn't worry about this at all. Sooner or later, all toddlers start peeing and pooping in the potty.

To start potty training your child, make sure he is fully physically and psychologically ready.

What signs may indicate that a child is ready to begin learning “potty science”?

The baby sits up and walks independently.
He can take off and put on his pants himself.
The baby is already able to inform his parents about his desires using words or gestures.
The child successfully imitates his elders.
Understands when requests are made to him.
Follows adult directions.
And shows interest in praise and encouragement from mom and dad.

If all this is about your baby, then it’s time for him to give up diapers and start managing his needs, almost like an adult.

You can start potty training your baby if he is completely psychologically ready. In addition, the baby must be completely healthy physically

How to give up diapers

Of course, you can throw away all the diapers in 1 day, but it is better to get rid of them gradually. First, stop putting them on the child during the daytime, when he is in the apartment under the supervision of his parents. Then give up diapers during walks, but only at the moment when the baby has already gotten used to the potty and began to use it consistently at home. And only after this can you completely remove the diapers without putting them on the child even at night.

Important! It is best to give up diapers in the summer ✨️ of the year.

How to train in 7 days

Many mothers are interested in how to quickly teach a child to go potty. After all, this will help to give up diapers and reduce a woman’s workload with household chores.

There are several methods, one of which allows you to do this in 7 days. This special system was invented by the British Gina Ford and was called the “happy baby”. It is intended for children aged 1.5 years and older who are able to understand simple instructions, try to dress and undress independently, and know the parts of the body.

The technique is designed for 7 days and is as follows:

The first day begins with removing the baby's diaper and sitting on the potty frequently. You can introduce your baby to an adult toilet and show its functions. The process of sitting on the potty must be repeated every 15 minutes if the process does not work out. The main thing is to keep the child on the potty for 10 minutes, this time will be enough to complete all tasks. If the panties are still dirty, you should not scold the child for it.
The second day is needed to consolidate skills. At the same time, the mother makes sure that the child does not play too much and replaces the potty in time.
On the third day, the chosen tactics are continued. The child is also taken for a walk without diapers, so that there is no desire to urinate in them. Before going outside, the baby must be placed on a potty. At first, you can take the potty for a walk to consolidate your skills. Within a few days, the child will learn to endure, and the need for it will disappear by itself.

Many mothers ask how to potty train a 2 year old child. If you follow Gina Ford's method, then by day 4 you can achieve some progress. Children can go to the potty, but they need to be reminded about it periodically. Mothers should remember to constantly praise for positive results and not scold for mistakes. Later, the pot can be placed in the bathroom or in a specially designated room.

Child on the potty depending on age

↔ Question	↑ Answer	↓ Consequences
How to potty train a child at 8, 9 months or a year	Put the baby on the potty every half hour, use characteristic sounds (pee-pee, ka-ka)	Formation of a conditioned unstable reflex, the need for re-training in the future
How to potty train a child after a year, at 1.5 years, at 1 year 8 months, at 2 years	Use playful, rewarding and imitative methods, apply various techniques	The child develops a habit, he feels comfortable on the potty, and begins to relieve himself on his own.
How to potty train a child at 3-4 years old	Use any method, but do not set time limits, so as not to injure the baby and yourself	A child at this age will quickly become potty trained if his parents do not scold him for small mistakes.

✨️ This table is universal for most children, but not for all. You should always take into account the characteristics of your child’s behavior and thinking.

Signs you may be potty training

The main signs that a child is really ready to use the potty are:

walks well, bends down and reaches for objects;
understands adult speech and tries to repeat some words;
wakes up dry after a nap;
urination once every 1.5-2 hours;
poops at about the same time;
does not want to wear diapers and/or asks to change his pants if they are wet.

Of course, it is more convenient to teach a child in the warm season. But don’t delay, as it doesn’t always work out on the first try and sometimes you need breaks of 1-2 months.

If you need to get used to it quickly

Starting from the age of one and a half years, a child can be taught to use the potty faster if there is a need. There is a special method for training such children in 7 days.

If the child already knows how to take off clothes and listens to his parents, you can use the following recommendations.

On the first day after sleep, remove your baby's diaper, telling him how big he is, and put on panties. You can show your child why you need to go to the toilet. Place the baby on the potty. If he doesn't succeed within 10 minutes, try again every 15 minutes. If there is an embarrassment between sitting downs, do not scold the baby.
The second day should be devoted to consolidating the acquired skill. You need to monitor your child’s behavior, notice signs that “it’s time,” and make sure he doesn’t get too excited and miss the right moment.
Stick to this tactic for the entire third day. Don't wear diapers even when going for a walk, so as not to confuse your baby. Before your walk, encourage him to go potty. Take the potty with you, and often ask your baby if he wants to go to the toilet. When you return, put the baby on the potty again.
From the fourth day, both you and the child will have an approximate idea of how long after you should “visit” his children’s “toilet”. If he gets carried away and forgets, remind him of this. When everything happens successfully, be sure to praise him (only without unnecessary “stormy applause,” naturally, but from the heart).

By repeating these steps, you can quickly teach your child to use the potty. At the same time, remember that you will have to wear diapers at night for some time until the little body learns to wake up according to natural needs. There is no need to force things and try to wake up your baby at night to go to the toilet. This will only cause stress.

Why doesn't it work?

The most common reason for systematic failure is the baby’s poor health. Perhaps the potty evokes unpleasant associations in him that he cannot yet share. For example, if while trying to go to the toilet for a long time something hurt or caused discomfort.

Any other negative experience can also take its toll. For example, if when you first met the potty, it was in an uncomfortable place, it was too cold, or the parents yelled at the child. Therefore, it is important to never scold your child for failures, but, on the contrary, to encourage success!

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Choosing the right pot

There are certain requirements for a potty that will be used by a small child:

Safety. The item must be made from environmentally friendly materials (most often it is plastic). When choosing, you need to pay attention to the presence of foreign chemical odors, the density of the material, and other indicators indicating its quality.
Convenience. The potty must have a certain shape so that the child can sit on it comfortably. For example, for boys, it is recommended to choose products with a slightly raised leading edge so that when urinating, urine does not spill out. For girls, round-shaped products are more suitable. It would be good if the pot was equipped with a comfortable back and lid.
Colors. It is better if the pot is bright and attracts the child’s attention.
Simplicity. It is not recommended to use models equipped with additional functions, such as music, or a complex form in the form of a toy. The child must clearly understand what kind of object it is and what it is intended for.
The potty should be as stable as possible , because the child is always active, and falling from the potty is unlikely to give him the desire to continue learning.

You can read even more information about how to potty train a child in another article.

For a review of cough herbs that can be given to children, see the link.