Hi everyone! I am Kenzie and I blog at The Ashcraft Bunch! Kaitlyn is one of my blogging besties and has been a huge blessing in my life this past year. I was so excited when she asked me to write about a topic in her From Baby to Big Kid series! (:Today we are talking about potty training. When our daughter Paisley first entered toddlerhood, this was one of the things I really looked forward to in regards to "milestones." After buying diapers for so long, it's natural to want that little bit of money back in your wallet as well as helping them to become more independent. However, I always had a timeline in my head of when she should be doing things. At 12 months she should be walking, at 18 months potty train, at two, be done with pacifiers. I couldn't have been more wrong. I think as mothers, especially first timers, we hear stories, read books {blogs} and come up with this master plan of how advanced our kids should be. We expect them to complete these milestones at certain times when more than likely, they just aren't ready.
Paisley was an early talker, but a late walker at 15 months. She didn't get her first tooth until 13 months. We started potty training at 23 months and she is still attached to a pacifier at 2 years old. And? That's ok! Some kids just aren't ready. I really believe that they have to be interested in potty training or it just will not happen.
It was easy for me to become discouraged when friend's kids would complete exciting milestones before mine but I had to keep reminding myself to stop comparing. That is the worst thing you can do.
Thankfully, Paisley isn't one to "like" wearing dirty diapers. She will immediately tell us when she is dirty and asked to be changed. When she first started coming to us saying "shooo weeee- CHANGE" and pointing at her bottom I knew we were ready to introduce the potty chair.I am a first time mom but I have heard that boys and girls potty train very differently. I wanted to use some basic tips that relate to both genders and have helped us along our journey:
1. Interest them: If you are a mom, then going to the restroom alone is a pastime. There is no such thing as privacy anymore. So, while they are in the bathroom, talk with them. Tell them what you are doing. Show them that you wear "big girl panties" and you go to the potty and not in a diaper. Set them on the toilet and show them that is where you go to the potty. The more you interest and educated your toddler, the easier it will be to potty train. Paisley also has a potty chair book that has the flushing noise with it. She seems to enjoy reading it and relates it with going to potty which is the main goal. I keep it in her little shelf on the side of her potty chair.
2. Buy a potty chair: Some friends of ours had Paisley's made and gave it to her as a gift but there are cute potty chairs everywhere. I think it is so much easier if they have one "especially smaller" that they can sit on. This is one of the best investments you will ever buy. Take them to the store to help pick one out or choose the color. If they feel like they have a say in the process, the more excited they will be.3. Establish a rewards system: We decided to go with the Potty Pops method. Every time Paisley uses the potty she is rewarded with a potty pop-"Popsicle." A lot of parents reward with toys but that can get extremely expensive. We bought a $3.00 box of popsicles at the grocery store and it is a fun {and cheaper} incentive for her. I have also heard of suckers as potty pops.
4. Praise: When she goes, especially without being reminded or with bribery, we praise praise praise. I believe there isn't anything much more powerful in parenting than encouragement. Children, whether they show it or not, want to follow the rules and have some sort of routine. They love knowing when they do something good and are being recognized and supported for it. Don't we all? With progress, praise should follow.
Moms, remember that his doesn't happen overnight. It may not happen within 6 months but keep trying and continue to encourage. Be patient with them, this is a learning experience for the whole family and a big transition of becoming more independent for your toddler. I don't think there is any perfect or specific way to potty train. Kids learn differently than others and its more about finding balance in a potty routine and what works to interest them and keep them interested.
We are still working on it and will be for awhile but the important thing is that she is willing to learn.
I am so grateful for being able to guest post on Wifessionals today! If you would like to follow along with our potty training journey as well as toddlerhood, visit my blog here and instagram here. (:
