Most people don't consider late fall to be prime potty training season. I get it - the weather is colder, the holidays are upon us, and everyone is wrapping up year end to dos.
Potty training, whether it's on your radar or not, is a whole lot easier with this proactive step:
PREP!!!!
And believe or not, you can start prepping your child to go diaper free well before you plan to actually toss the diapers!
I consider the preparation phase as part of the toilet learning process.
There are so many areas you can work on including:
- self-care skills
- body awareness
- comfort in sitting on the potty
- language related to potty training
IDEA
Preparation is a key step to the potty training process that can lead to a confident and empowered mindset - for both the child and the parent!
So often, I field calls from parents saying that potty training started off fine, but then their child was resisting the potty by day 3 or 4.
This may sound familiar and is the most common reason parents call me. Potty training totally derailed and now their child won't even sit on the potty.
When it comes to learning new potty skills, the parents serve as coaches or guides. The child is the one who has to do the learning.
Preparation doesn't have to be long or drawn out. Depending on a variety of factors, the prep step can be a few days or a few months. What's important is that you're setting up a foundation of confidence, self-awareness and comfort, before you go diaper free.
Check out my 4 Steps to Prep for Potty Coaching
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RESOURCE
This blog article offers concrete strategies to begin potty coaching your child.
Not sure how to figure out when to toss the diapers?
Use this Potty Readiness Checklist as a guide.
TIP
My must have potty product is this simple floor potty by Baby Bjorn.
This floor potty allows your child to feel grounded as their feet rest on the floor. The sides offer stability and containment rather than feeling wobbly and insecure on an elevated, adult-sized toilet. You can imagine it would be hard to coordinate your pee and poop muscles if you feel unstable!
There's no right or wrong way to start the potty training process, and it is a process. The idea of the preparation step is that you build it into your routine and daily life.
It should not feel like a hurdle you have to overcome but rather a developmental milestone that you are supporting your child through.
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