5 Potty Training Pointers For First-Time Parents

Potty training involves toilets, germs and a whole lot of patience. While it might be a parenting nightmare to leave toddlers alone to handle their situation, first-time parents should realize that they can't be changing diapers forever. Listed below are few pointers to bear in mind when potty training toddlers.

1. Potty training essentials

Parents need to have the essentials such as rolls of toilet paper, disinfectant sprays and baby wipes. Dr. Eva Benmeleh Roditi stated on Bundoo that these items should always be present at bathrooms. When traveling, towels are very handy in averting on-road seepage.

2. Don't be too dependent on diapers

The goal of potty training is for kids to recognize when it's time for them to go to the bathroom and what they should do when they get there. Parents should not be too dependent on diapers when trying to achieve the former as it can stall the potty training process.

Parents should start ditching diapers when their child is between 18 months and three years old. That's usually the time when kids are physically and emotionally ready to use a potty. Diapers can still be used but only as a preventive measure.

3. Poop-proofing the household

Now that the diapers are off, the next step parents should do is to poop-proof their household. Garbage bags are perfect for this task. When their child is watching television, parents can dodge a stinky mess by covering sofa cushions with a towel then place a garbage bag on top of it.

4. Toilet target practice

A new mom told Baby Center that putting flushable items like Fruit Loops and Cheerios in the toilet really helped improve her child's coordination. It's also a fun way for parents to teach their toddler how to aim at the water. Bear in mind that motivational rewards can greatly speed up the potty training process.

5. Unorthodox sitting position

Some public toilets might be too wide for a child to properly sit on. The best solution for this is to have them sit backwards, Dr Sears reported. The unorthodox sitting position also ensures that toddlers aim in the right place.