How to potty train your 3 year old.
- Jace
- Aug 24, 2017
- 3 min read
Potty training can be very challenging at times, especially if your child is not willing to cooperate. It can be a draining task with a lot of repetition and a feeling of failure.
My son did not use a potty until he was three and a half years old. By this time I had a newborn, and I was desperately dying to have my oldest son give up diapers. They are not cheap and I was scared of passing infections to the newborn despite thoroughly cleaning my hands after every diaper change,
I had tried countless times before to potty train him. At first the whole potty concept excited him, for a few minutes, before he would decide to hold it all in until his diaper was back on and 'mama tada, I did it' :(
Long story short, here are steps on how I POTTY TRAINED;
Note; If your child doesn't follow through, wait a few more days and try again. It takes time and a lot of patience.
Step 1;
Find a fun potty, if possible go potty shopping with your little one. Let them pick whatever they like. (My son didn't like his first potty, and if we visit a relative he never uses any potty that's not like the one he chose. He would rather the toilet). Click the link to see his potty http://amzn.to/2wreC3W
Step 2;
My son loves paw patrol. I would watch with him and point out super hero actions. When he eventually chose the potty, I ordered it with the paw patrol undies and this book http://amzn.to/2wsx108.
I also found step by step toilet routine printable images that I cut out, and hung on the wall opposite his potty location in the washroom. We copied the images when it was potty time.
Step 3;
Come up with a reward strategy for every time your little one successfully unloads in his or her potty.
I had thick ribbons in colors that my son likes (as you can see in the photo,he has a blue ribbon round his head).
For every time he did it right he got the head ribbon or a spider man wrist band (its visible on the photo, It was from h$m),or sandals. If he messed up I took away one of the superhero stuff,but I wouldn't fuss about his mess. I encouraged him to run to his potty next time and he loved it. Plus I acted as though him loosing something meant mum and dad too lost (he didn't like his newborn brother).
Step 3;
Be calm and supportive, make it a fun experience. Have fun with your child. I would go sometimes with him in the toilet with his potty next to the toilet bowl and we would have fun competing who unloaded first (sounds gross! but I wanted him to learn and see it was normal). If you have an older sibling even the better.
Step 4;
Keep talking about his successful unloads, they love it. When dad would get home, I called my son and in an exciting tone we would narrate how many times he successfully unloaded. Dad would compliment him and sometimes gift him. It boosts their ego and creates a desire for your child to want to do it right again and again. Because they love the attention as well as pleasing Loved ones. Even a call to grandma added some motivation.
Step 5:
Don't stop until your child can unload without reminder. Sometimes, you might have to start all over again as they tend to suddenly forget or get scared.
N/B; It's a process and children are different, be very patient. My son by the way couldn't speak that well (he is multilingual). But I didn't despair. I never used diapers at night either, we used bed mas. Here is a link http://amzn.to/2w8vzgM. It's been two months now and I am satisfied, despite a few accidents once in a while.
Bring out your audacious...Let me know how you potty trained. And any suggestions are welcome. Let's support each other
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