Toilet training your child at the right age

Toilet training for kids is a tough task that no parent has ever achieved overnight. Toilet training for toddlers can take a few days to even months, depending up on how quick your toddler can grasp things. It is necessary to begin toilet training for toddlers at the right age as beginning it too soon will only take you long. When your toddler is at the right age, say between 18 months- 24 months, it is the right time to train them.

How to know if your toddler is ready to toilet train?
Instead of using age, it is better to lookout for signs that will give you a cue when your toddler is ready to start toilet training.

The signs to recognize are

• If your child follows simple instructions
• Understands the words related to toilet, such as potty, poop and pee.
• Can understand the difference between potty and pee
• Can keep the diaper dry for 2 hours or more
• Can get to the toilet, sit on it and can get off it
• Can pull down the diaper or underwear on their own
• Shows an interest in using a potty or wearing underpants

It is often boys who take a longer time to reach until they are ready to toilet train. You can avoid toilet training your child when you are travelling, changing the house or even when the child is sick.

You can toilet train your child in two ways. One can involve the use of a potty chair which your toddler can use and can be emptied into the toilet. The other involves fitting a toddler size seat on the regular toilet seat so your child can sit on it. If you plan to follow this method, make sure you get a small table with the help of which your child can climb up to the toilet seat. When toilet training for toddler boy, it is best to make him learn to pee when sitting than standing. You might want to get a toilet training seat for every bathroom in your house to begin with.

Toilet training for kids with training pants
Disposable training pants can be used to toilet train your toddler easily. After using training pants for a few days, notice for how long they stay dry. If they remain dry for longer periods, you can shift to regular underwears. Some parents don’t find it comfortable using training pants as it might make children believe that it is okay to soil them at night instead of using a toilet.

Tips for toilet training your toddler

• Start using the words ‘poop’, ‘toilet’, ‘potty’ and ‘pee’ in front of your toddler
• Make sure they understand the difference between the words
• Get a potty chair to practice on
• Let your child start sitting on a toilet seat with clothes on just to have a mock training before they can go without pants
• Set aside some time to toilet train your child regularly
• If you wake your child at night for toilet, take them to the regular toilet, even if you have to hold them
• This will make sure your child knows that it is not okay to soil clothes at night and use toilet instead
• Let your child wear simple clothes when toilet training so that they can remove them easily after a while
• Do not scold your child as it will only frustrate them and wean them off the process mid-way.

Toilet training for autistic child

Children with autism show the same signs of readiness for toilet training as other developing children do. But the signs might appear when your child is a bit older and the training might take longer than expected.

These are the signs that will show you when your autistic child is ready for toilet training-

• They can tell you when they have soiled their clothes
• They can easily take off their underwear or pant
• They can follow instructions like go to the toilet
• Have formed regular bowel movements
• Have enough bladder control

The best way to toilet training an autistic child is by rewarding them every time they use a toilet. You can praise them verbally and non-verbal cues like clapping also works well to encourage their behavior. You can reward the child with a sweet treat or their favorite healthy food to encourage the toilet using behavior. Children with autism are visual learners so promote the toilet training activity by using pictorial charts. Practice the methods 3-4 times a day and twice at night. Take your child off diaper or training pants after you are assured of them not needing it.

The best way to toilet train a stubborn child is to use the boot camp method. This involves filling up your toddler with liquids and not using a diaper. Your child will not be able to hold it in for a long time. Once the alarm goes off, your child will immediately tell you about their need to visit the loo. This is when you take them and make them sit on the toilet seat. Reward their behavior so they are encouraged to use the method henceforth. This method works well for children who have the habit of holding it in. But try this method only when you are at home.

You can handle this issue by reading some books on toilet training your toddler or even watch videos that cater to the topic. To make toilet training for toddler interesting, you can weave some stories that will keep your child engaged. Some parents also let their kids take their favorite toy inside that encourages them to use a toilet. Do not allow your child to take any gadgets as it will lead them to develop the habit.

These toilet training tips and tricks will work wonders. Be patient with your child as it might take around 3-6 months for them to toilet train. For some children it might take even more.