Potty Training My One Year Old
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It’s been a few years since I’ve had a One Year Old but today I’m sharing what we did to Potty Train both my girls starting at One! The first being DON’T RUSH THEM, some kids are ready before and others and that’s ok. I will say with my almost 3 year old she finally has it down, so it still took about 2 years to really get the hang of knowing how their body feels and how it works.
Introduce them to toilet use
The best thing we did was introduce them to the toilet. Before we even began Potty Training they were always in the bathroom with me, watching me go potty and wash my hands. Also imagine your whole life you could potty wherever and whenever and one day you’re told hey bud you can ONLY potty in this specific spot, that's a big change so take some time for the transition. Then we got them their own tiny toilet we go the Summer Infant My Size Potty which is so great, we know use it for road trips and camping for them!
2. Ditch the Diapers & Pull Ups
Potty Training is a huge mental challenge because once they show you they’re ready or you want to start training, you have to really stick to it!! Which leads me to my next point, ditch the Diapers and Pull Ups, this really held my oldest one back because the feeling of Pull Ups feels the same as their diaper! Unless we really couldn’t avoid it like going on a really long road trip, we tried really hard not to use pull ups. Plus the excitement of getting to pick out cool new undies helps make the Potty Training experience so fun for them!
3. Make it a positive experience
Ok listen, don’t come for me but Potty Training kids is a lot like potty training a puppy. You’re constantly running after them, taking them to go potty and then they don’t need to go so you let them free only for them to potty on the floor, trust me i’ve been there and the frustration is real! But try to use as much positive language and let them know it’s ok that they had an accident, that you can try again or that going potty on the floor is yucky and we keep modeling that behavior for them. The last thing you want is to shame them or yell and get upset because they aren’t getting it right.
4. Positive reinforcement
My oldest daughter was very very afraid of going number 2 in the toilet to the point where if she needed to go and we’d put her on the toilet she would start crying and screaming and it was awful! I didn’t know how to help her! Well we found these really small cookies that we would reward her with if she went number 2 and that got her really excited to go! I’ve had friends use sticker charts and tiny toys, whatever works for you to get them excited and ready to go use that! Make it fun! We even had Potty Songs, you know you’ll make a song out of anything to make it fun!
5. Be Consistent
Stay consistent and stick to it! It is such a long process and will feel so easy to just throw on diapers or pull ups but stick with your program! Encourage them, offer frequent bathroom stops and hang in there!! Celebrate all their wins big and small and Good Luck!
Heres a video I did when I was pregnant with my now 4 year old and was Potty Training her sister.