Potty Train Your Child in One Day

Toddlers Can Learn to Use the Bathroom in Two or Three Hours

May 12, 2009

Potty training can be fast, fun, simple and easy when you inspire, reward and celebrate your child in some innovative and exciting new ways.

Potty training is arguably the biggest developmental issue that parent struggle with during the toddler years. Stories of horror and triumph abound from every person you have ever known who has ever been around a small child. In reality, according to Keisha Harris, Registered Nurse and a former instructor of a potty training class as part of their Prepared Parent Instructional Series held at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, VA, the potty training process usually falls somewhere in the middle of the trauma spectrum. Harris contends that, given the right motivation and plan, even the most stubborn toddler can be potty trained quickly and easily in a few hours. Harris suggests the following steps to expedite the transition from diapers to underwear. [1]

Watch for Signs of Readiness

Potty training an infant that is not biologically ready to use the potty will result in frustration on all sides. Your child is ready for training when:

Any one of these three signs shows biological readiness. The more signs your child exhibits, the faster the process will progress.

Communicate With Your Child

It is futile to reason with a toddler, but that is not to say that communicating your intentions needs to be a debating session. Inform your child that he will learn to use the potty on a specific day and time. Do not be tempted to debate the issue. Communicate firmly and clearly, being mindful not to acknowledge negative or provocative comments. Toddlers can be quite determined to oppose your will, so do not engage in a verbal battle.

Set the Date and Prepare

Have all of your materials ready and located in the living room, kitchen, or other common area of the home.

Potty Party Time

Once all of your materials have been gathered and centralized, its time to have your potty party. Start the training process by giving your child copious amounts of his favorite drink and removing his diaper or pull-up. Explain that when he begins to feel the need to pee, or begins to actually pee, that you are going to put him on the potty and that it is acceptable to pee when sitting on that special chair. When you place your child on the potty, have him listen to the sound of "putting water in the potty." Once your child uses the potty with your assistance, celebrate the success. Blow up balloons, use noisemakers, have a parade, and keep your child drinking fluids.

After celebrating several times and continuing fluid ingestion, place your child on the potty and tell him to show you how he can put water in the pot. This is a great time to introduce a special toddler book, toy or small computer game that can only be used while your child is on the potty. If your child wishes to play with the toy when he is not on the potty, remind him that the book, toy or game can only be used while sitting on the potty.

The potty party process takes approximately 2 to 3 hours of time. Toddlers can only biologically hold their urine for 120 minutes, so prepare for the training party to take at least that long. Once your child has had several successes, he has made the association between the feeling of needing to use the potty and actually using the potty. Rewards may continue for several weeks or even months to solidify the training.

It is important to remember that accidents are going to happen after the initial training session, but strive to keep calm, positive, and mightily reinforce successes while ignoring the accidents. Giving excessive attention to accidents will only increase the frequency of accidents.

The copyright of the article Potty Train Your Child in One Day in Potty Training is owned by Julie Warrenfeltz. Permission to republish Potty Train Your Child in One Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.