MyParentingSource Learning Hub: Potty Training

Tips

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Let your child decide when he is ready to use the potty. (Read more...)

Let your child decide when he is ready to use the potty.

Unless you are training your child as an infant, look for cues from your child as to when to start. Cues include interest, asking more questions, and wanting to wear underwear.

Remember that your child has the ultimate control when it comes to potty training. (Read more...)

Remember that your child has the ultimate control when it comes to potty training.

This is one thing you can’t force your child to do. Therefore, it is important to work as a support person as opposed to trying to force the issue.

View potty training setbacks as learning opportunities – for both of you. (Read more...)

View potty training setbacks as learning opportunities – for both of you.

For example, if your child has an accident in the park, your learning experience can be to have him sit on the potty prior to going to the park next time.

Let your child take an active role in her potty training. (Read more...)

Let your child take an active role in her potty training.

Let her change herself, get new underwear or diapers, and let her help clean up.

Articles

Potty Training

Resources: Websites, Tools & Books

Websites

Potty Training Concepts: Bedwetting. Primary enuresis is a condition in which the child has never been able to stay dry at night.
Elimination communication is a form of nurturing in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to help an infant address his or her elimination needs, partially or completely avoiding the use of diapers.
Frequently asked questions about elimination communication

Tools

Bookshelf

Developmental Readiness

The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-Bye to Diapers, Elizabeth Pantley.

Pantley advocates waiting until your child is developmentally ready to begin potty training. And a parent’s readiness to start is just as important as a child’s readiness to learn.
Potty Time for One, Two or Three! A Parent's Survival Guide for Potty Training One Child, Twins, or Triplets, Maria S. McCarthy.
Toilet Training: The Brazelton Way, T. Berry Brazelton , Joshua D., M.D. Sparrow.
The Everything Potty Training Book: Professional, Reassuring Advice to Help You and Your Child Through This Challenging Time, Linda Sonna.

Books Advocating Training Infants

Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene, Ingrid Bauer.

If you are interested in potty training your child from birth or as an infant, you will become familiar with the term ‘elimination communication’. This term was coined by Ingrid Bauer (Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene). This strength-based approach integrates an approach that is used in other parts of the world into our culture.

Proponents of this approach describe it as one in which the parents learn to listen carefully to the baby in the present moment to know his or her needs. Parents can meet their baby’s needs, enhance bonding, increase connection, avoid diaper rash, and avoid toilet training. They can also save money and make a positive contribution to the environment by dispensing with the need for disposable diapers.

Elimination communication is a form of nurturing in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to help an infant address his or her elimination needs, partially or completely avoiding the use of diapers.
The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative, Christine Gross-Loh.

Books for Kids

You Can Go to the Potty, William Sears, Martha Sears.
My Big Boy Potty, Joanna Cole.
My Big Girl Potty Lap Edition, Joanna Cole.
Once Upon a Potty—Boy, Alona Frankel.
Once Upon a Potty -- Girl, Alona Frankel

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