Potty training is an exciting and stressful time for parents and children. While there is no guaranteed method to get your toddler out of diapers, here are some tools and tips to make potty training fun for both you and your kiddo.
Get Your Little One Excited About Potty Training
Prepare your tot for the prospect of using the toilet by hyping up the experience. Let your little one pick out a potty seat or potty training toilet, let them practice flushing the toilet, and expose them to books and videos about using the potty. You can also use the colorful wrapping on No.2 toilet paper to play with and make into shapes or animals.
Use a Sticker Chart
Stickers are an excellent motivator for young children. Let your toddler help decorate a poster board then you can add a sticker together for every time they use the potty. As your child becomes more consistent, switch to giving stickers for every time they use the toilet unprompted. After a certain number of stickers, do something special with your little one.
Put Up a Hand Washing Poster
Bubbles are another fun and safe reward for your child, and a great way to teach about the importance of hand washing. Make a hand-washing poster with your toddler and hang it up somewhere prominent. After using the potty you and your child can have fun making bubbles and scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds.
Read Stories on the Potty
Having special potty-only books will give your little one something to look forward to when they have to go. Short, colorful books, featuring favorite characters or animals will keep your child engaged and give potty time a positive association.
Use Food Coloring
Putting a few drops of food coloring in the toilet is a great way to make a stressful task more interesting. Let your little one pick the color, and see if it changes when they pee.
Though all parents have days when potty training seems impossible, keeping it fun and getting your child as involved as possible makes toilet training a bonding activity. Make sure to use child safe products like No.2 (100% bamboo, free from dyes, scents and BPA, and the wrappers are printed with soy ink) to keep your kidlet healthy and clean!