Potty Training Tips

We have begun our potty training adventure with Anthony (almost 3). Summer is a great time for potty training. There are less clothes to remove and you spend a lot of time out side (which is a much better place for accidents than the carpet or couch.) How do you know when to start potty training? Look for the following signs: your child is interested in sitting on the potty, he can go for long periods of time without wetting, and he is able to dress himself. Anthony began to be interested in the potty several months ago (watching older brothers) so we began to potty before bath, when we woke up in the morning, and before bed, but still kept wearing diapers. In the last couple of weeks he had started to tell me every time he had wet his diapers, so now every morning we put on big boy underwear (it helps that he wanted to look like He-Man) and we sit on the potty about every 30 minutes and clap and cheer every time he is successful. We do not use pull-ups. I believe they are a waste of time and money. They are very expensive and they don't teach the child what it feels like to be wet. At nap time and bed time he is still wearing a diaper. So far it is going really well and he has only had a few accidents (no big deal we just clean up and put on dry underwear.) I hope to have him completely day time trained in the next couple of weeks (then I will only have to buy diapers for one!)