Potty Training Online

Should I Use A Potty Seat Or Chair When Starting Potty Training?

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Potty Expert

When you begin potty training, you will need to have a potty chair or potty seat for your child to use. The easier it is for your child to use the bathroom, the more likely they will be to want to go.

Which one you choose will depend on your and what their needs are, as well as their size too. There are pros and cons to both and ultimately it will become your decision in the end, since neither is better than the other really.

Potty chairs are good to have because they are so low to the ground. They are the perfect height for children to get on and off, as well as they feel very safe on them. Their feet can touch the ground and they do not need to struggle to get on the toilet. However, potty chairs are larger and do take up more space, which can be difficult in smaller bathrooms.

They are also slightly more expensive than a potty seat too. So if you have multiple bathrooms in your home, than you will need multiple potty chairs for your child to use so they can always use the bathroom no matter where they are at or what they are doing.

However, there are potty chairs that are convertible though too, which is very convenient. They are called multi-functional potty chairs, and they can be a thrifty parent’s best friend! There are some available that work as a potty chair with a back on them, than they can be converted to a step stool, using the bottom of the chair and the top of the chair becomes a potty seat to place on the toilet, once your child has outgrown the potty chair.

This can be a good in between option to choose since the potty chair grows with your child and eliminates the need to buy a potty seat later on to place on the toilet. As well as the fact too that you have a step stool for them to use to get on the toilet or to use at the sink as well.

However, potty chairs do not always work if your child is already taller or bigger for their age. They will than outgrow the potty chair very quickly. The convertible potty chairs can still work, since they may be too big for a potty chair, but still need a potty seat on the toilet and a step stool to get up there. Potty seats come in a variety of choices, colors, patterns and characters just like the potty chairs do.

They do have handles on them so your child still feels secure when sitting on the toilet. Plus, some of these are portable which is great when you are leaving the house and you can take the seat with you everywhere.

If you buy a potty seat, you will most likely still need to get a potty step stool too so that your child can reach the toilet and the sink. However, there are sets available that come in matching patterns or characters and there are also very traditional potty seats and step stools to use that will work everywhere.

Categories: Potty Training, Potty Training Chairs, Potty Training Tips, What to buy | Leave a comment

What to do when your daughter won’t poop in the potty!

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Potty Expert

It is not uncommon to have a child that does not want to poop on the potty. This can be a very scary experience for a girl and there can different reasons as to why she will not go poop on the potty, but will pee.

The most common reason for many children is that going poop takes longer than going pee. She does have to sit there longer to go poop and it can be a little messy even and it does not always smell very good. This can be a huge deterrent for many girls. However, make sure that you are not saying that it is gross or yucky or smelly.

This will make her not want to go and could even make her think that going poop is a bad thing. Instead she needs to know that going poop on the potty is very normal and needs to happen too and that it is okay that it smells or that she has to wipe a few times to be clean.

Girls will sometimes also not poop in potty if the bathroom seems scary or the toilet is too big. If she is pooping on the big toilet with a potty seat on top, this may be too big for her and it can make her feel uncomfortable or scared when going.

Using a potty chair if possible to go poop may be a better choice until she is used to going poop on the potty and feels secure when doing it. She also may be scared having to be in the bathroom alone and trying to go poop. Keeping the door open or being in there with her can help with this as well.

However, if she does not want you in there, you can always stand outside the door when she goes so she knows you are there and that she is safe when going.

Another reason your daughter may not want to poop on the potty is that it hurts. If she is constipated and it is really hard for her to go or she is having diarrhea even, this will make her not want to poop and to hold her poop instead.

However, this can cause other serious medical problems when children hold their poop, so you want to look into what she is eating, make sure there are no food allergies there or if she has been taking medications for any reason that these are not the reason that she is having problems going poop on the potty.

The harder it is to go, the less likely she will want to. If she is crying and there is a lot of pain associated with going poop than you may also want to take her to her pediatrician to make sure about giving her a child laxative to go or what foods can be used to make going poop easier. The sooner you take care of this the better, since again this can lead to other medical problems when she is holding her poop.

For more poop potty training articles check out pottytrainingconcepts.com.

Categories: Expert Advice, Having setbacks?, Potty Accidents, Potty Fears, Potty Training Boys, Potty Training Girls, Potty Training Tips | Leave a comment

Tips When Potty Training A Sensitive Girl

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Potty Expert

During Thanksgiving I went to visit my sister and she has a 2.5 yr old little girl who is very sensitive. Here are my potty training tips for potty training sensitive toddlers…

If you have a sensitive toddler and it is time to potty train, you can still have her potty trained and have an enjoyable experience too. Sensitive children do sometimes take a little more time and understanding, since their emotions are a little stronger than other children.

However, it does not mean that potty training has to be hard or difficult or upsetting either. There are ways to have her potty trained so that she is happy when doing it and having a good time as well.

Some tips on potty training a sensitive girl include:

Make sure to talk with her about potty training, before actually beginning the potty training process. The more you let her know what is going on and what is happening, the less chance there will be of her becoming upset or confused when you do begin potty training. Watch potty training videos together, so she can see what will be happening and how other children are using the bathroom. Listen to potty training CDs to learn the songs, so she feels secure when using the bathroom and can remember these as well, plus read through the books too so she understands as well what will be happening and can look at the pictures and take it all in.
Give her more time with the pre-potty training process. Many times children need only a couple of weeks to learn about potty training, however give your daughter extra time to become comfortable with it and do not push the potty training too much. Instead, ask leading questions to get in interested in potty training and watch what her reactions are so that you know that she is comfortable and understanding what will be happening.
Allow her to be involved in the process of choosing her potty chair and potty step stool, as well as her potty training pants, potty stickers and calendar also. Anything that is being purchased for her and potty training, make sure she is a part of this process to help get her excited, as well as make her comfortable with what will be happening. Most likely she will want to be involved in these decisions and this will make her feel better about what is happening, since she is getting to choose the items.
Use potty training decals in the bathroom and on the toilet so that it is fun to be in there and so she can see that it is her special place to use the bathroom. The more fun the bathroom is, the more likely she will want to go. Have her comfort items in the bathroom for her, so she feels secure whenever she needs to go.
Do take it slower with her. If she does start to become upset about using the bathroom talk about why she is and maybe not force her to go right than. Let her take a break from the bathroom and let her know that you two will go back to the bathroom in a little bit.

For more information and advice on potty training girls check out PottyPatty.com! They have lots of tips and a great selection of potty training products for toddler girls.

Categories: Expert Advice, Potty Training, Potty Training Girls, Potty Training Tips | Leave a comment

Ditch the Diapers!

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Potty Expert

Every year you will spend roughly $1400 on diapers! By the time your child is 4 years old, you will spend (approx) $5600.

When it comes to potty training many parents and even children want to keep using the diapers. Parents sometimes allow their child to wear a diaper at night, since they have not been nighttime potty trained yet and they do not want any accidents. Or on long car rides or trips to do errands the child is in a diaper so that there will be less chance of an accident happening.

This is especially true when children are first being potty trained and accidents at home are still happening occasionally. They have not fully learned how to potty on the toilet yet and accidents still occur. However, switching between diapers and training pants will only confuse your child.

This is teaching them to do one thing at home and do something else when they are away from. They will get into the habit of believing they only potty at home and should be wearing a diaper everywhere else. The accidents will than not stop when they are out and about for this reason.

Instead you do need to completely ditch the diapers, as well as any Pull Ups. The diapers have to be gone completely when you begin potty training.

Have your child in waterproof cloth training pants or place a waterproof cover over the cloth training pants. This is even at night as well. They can not learn to wake up to go potty at night if they never feel that they are wet or soiled. If there is nothing to wake them up, they will continue to go in the diaper instead. Most children will need a few months after mastering day potty training to be able to complete night time potty training. This is for many reasons, mainly because their bodies are not fully use to holding urine. For more information, please check out Night Time Potty Training.

Not to mention the fact too that keeping diapers around will mean your child will want to use those instead. It is what they are use to and they are easy as well.

They do not have to put any effort into it or stop what they are doing. People will naturally pick the easier route and going in a diaper is the same for your child.

Instead let your child know that you will be potty training with them and that the diapers will be gone. Let them know what the start date will be for potty training so that they are prepared and make sure they understand that there will be no diapers at all any more.

For more information, please check out this great article: How to Potty Train a Toddler. This article has great potty training tips and advice on how to begin. Potty Training will be successful if you are determined to ditch the diapers and teach your child the right way (not always the easy way).

Categories: Potty Training, Potty Training Pants, Potty Training Readiness, Potty Training Tips, What to buy | Leave a comment

Top 10 Potty Training Products You Need

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Potty Expert

If you are ready to start potty training and so is your toddler, than there are definitely some potty training products that you will want to have on hand. These are a necessity in many ways, as well as they will make potty training so much easier too.

The top 10 potty training products to have and that you need are:

Potties: Toddler need to be able to easily reach the toilet and be comfortable too when going. Potty chairs are low to the ground and the perfect height for children when they are learning to potty train. If your child is taller and can reach the big toilet, but is still too small to really sit on it, than there are also potty seats that are placed on the toilet. These make the opening the right size for children and usually handles on them too so that they feel secure when going.
Step Stool: This can be used with the potty seat that is on the toilet to make sure that your child can easily get on and off the toilet, as well as the step stool is needed so that they can reach the sink as well. Part of potty training is developing good hygiene in the bathroom also and they need to be able to wash their hands each time they have gone.
Potty training pants: These can be waterproof or have a waterproof cover to put over them, but either way you have to switch to these completely and get rid of the diapers all together. You do not want any diapers in the house or your child wearing them, since this can be confusing and they will want to wear the diapers instead, since it is what they are used to and already know too.
Travel Potty: Since taking the full size one with is not convenient or easy and you cannot stay at home all the time while potty training, having a travel potty seat or travel potty chair to use is the perfect option. You can continue to potty train your child no matter where you are at or what you are doing. Most travel seats are very compact and can be folded up and put in a purse or diaper bag. These are used at public restrooms as a toilet reducer, helping make toddler feel more comfortable and relaxed. After using it, they can be wiped down with anti-bacterial wipes and put back in a bag. Most travel potty chairs also fold up, and have their own liners. So your child can go, and you can just throw the mess away. Make sure you back extra wipes/toilet paper and anti-bacterial wipes to wash hands. These are small enough that you can set these up to use inside vans or SUVs.
Potty books: to help teach your child about potty training. These are perfect to use so that your child can see other children their age using the potty. It is a great way for them to not be fearful of the toilet and see how fun it can be to use the potty too.
Potty rewards: This can be stickers, trinkets, potty charts, toilet targets or anything else that makes potty training fun and motivates your child to keep using the toilet too.
Potty Doll: Your child can use it to practice with on the toilet, as well as play with it and take it with them when they go to the bathroom too.
Mattress Pads: A waterproof bed cover so that when nighttime accidents happen, there is not as much of a mess to clean up, as well as it is protecting the mattress too.
A potty watch to help remind them and teach them when to go to the bathroom. These are great as a teaching tool so that your child remembers to go and it is fun for them to wear and hear go off when it is time to use the bathroom.
Wall/Toilet Stickers: Bathroom decals to make the bathroom a fun place to be. These easily go on and off the walls and come in a variety of characters, pictures, colors and patterns to choose from so your child can pick their favorites.

Categories: Potty Training, Potty Training Chairs, Potty Training Charts, Potty Training Pants, What to buy | Leave a comment

Night Time Potty Training Advice

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Potty Expert

Nighttime potty training is very different for many children to learn, since it can be a little harder for them to catch on to. Many children day time potty train fine, but can have accidents at night. This really is not their fault and it is usually because they do not have all the feelings in their body yet to let them know that they have to use the bathroom. So, keep in mind that it is not intentional at all and it can also be very upsetting for children when they do have accidents at night since they are going during the day and not having accidents.

However, there are some things that can be done to make nighttime potty training go much smoother and so that they learn to wake up and use the bathroom too. Keep in mind that even with nighttime potty training, that your daughter still needs to be kept in training pants and not placed back into diapers.

This can be very confusing for a child when they are put back into diapers and it can make them want to start using them again, since they are use to them and they are easier for the child too. So, do keep your daughter in training pants at night even. But, what you can do it get plastic covers to put over the training pants so that if she does have an accident there will be less of a mess to clean up.

The covers go over the training pants and there are also waterproof training pants as well. These still let your child know that she is wet or soiled, without getting everywhere.

You can also have a cover over the bed too. These waterproof mattress pads keep the mattress dry in case of an accident as well. There are also some that come with a potty alarm on them. The alarm goes off and wakes your daughter should she go to the bathroom in the bed.

This is a great way to potty train her, since she is woken up and recognizes that she now needs to go use the bathroom. Along with these types of alarms, there are also potty watches that can be set to wake your daughter to remind her to use the bathroom too. This works very well, since she will be woken, before having an accident and it is also helping to teach her what her body feels like at night when she is sleeping and needs to use the bathroom.

Furthermore, you do want to make sure that she uses the bathroom before going to bed and gets into the habit of doing this. This will help cut down on accidents, as well as teachers her good habits of using the bathroom before bed and first thing in the morning too. There is also the option of cutting back on liquids prior to bed time, so that her bladder is not full when she goes to bed and this also means less chance of an accident too.

For more help check out potty training concepts : Bed Wetting Section.

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Let your child decorate their potty chair!

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Potty Expert

Making potty training fun is important! Some parents are letting their child use their reward stickers, drawings, bling to decorate their potty chairs. You can just let your child go wild and really make their potty chair their own.

Tip from ehow.com, “If your little girl is a tomboy and you’re more of a girly-girl, don’t cover her potty in flowers and princesses. Use trucks and trains if that’s what she likes. Also, think about the mix of the potty color and the colored markers. Everything will show up well on a white potty.”

Great tips on making it fun:

get the markers out and let them design their own
instead of putting stickers on a potty chart, let them put them on their potty chair/seat
put their name on it (Johnny’s Throne) or get a personalized potty chair
put removable wall stickers on their chair and the wall, make it their own special spot and let them change them and move them
put different shapes/designs inside the bowl for them to aim at

A lot of character potty chairs are starting to come with extra stickers for you to let your child design their own. Here are some potty chairs we know about:

This is what ehow.com suggestions:

“Carefully write your child’s name (“Elizabeth’s Potty”) in fine-line, black permanent marker along the upper, inner back wall of the potty, where she’ll see it each time she comes into the bathroom to use it. Write in block letters so your child can easily read it, or use calligraphy or cursive if you want a more artistic flair.

Have your child help you decorate the outside of the potty with stickers that follow your child’s interest. You can find these easily at any education or arts store, or any Target or Walmart. Use different-colored permanent markers to fill in blank spaces with drawings, particular if you are artistically inclined and can draw a pretty good, say, Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell or dump truck. You can also draw letters and numbers.

If you want, decorate the inside of the potty with drawings, letters or numbers – done in permanent, waterproof marker. Who knows? It may entice your child to go to the bathroom if you tell him to try to “hit” the letter “A” at the bottom of the potty”

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Alicia Silverstone has started Infant Potty Training!

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Potty Expert

Alicia Silvertone is using Diaper Free on her baby

Turns out even the stars are embracing the new early “infant” potty training movement. Alicia Silverstone is currently potty training her 5 month old, Bear Blu. It is said that the method “fosters a close bond and communication”.

Elimination potty training technique used in much of Asia, Africa and South America. The method has been adapted to the Western lifestyle in various ways (including part-time pottying), while still maintaining a natural and gentle approach. The word “training” is used in the positive sense of a loving exchange of communication and teaching/learning between mother and baby.

With alot of parents going to the Diaper Free movement it’s no surprise we have seen an increase in support from Hollywood. For more information on this, check out Infant Potty Training Book and Baby Potty Training section on a well known potty training site, Potty Training Concepts.

(This story was first published at : http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/845563/alicia-silverstone-is-potty-training-her-five-month-old-son)

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Potty Training Regression: 5 Life Changing Reasons

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Potty Expert

Many times when children are potty training things happen that cause them to regress slightly, and sometimes regress completely.

5 Life Changes that cause regression:

divorce or separation in the home
a new baby entering the home
a new house and move to a new home
a death in the family or health issues
sickness that has occurred

It is not uncommon to see regression in children when they become stressed about situations in the home, as well as the fact that all these changes occurring as well as trying to potty train can be difficult for them to handle and process. Learning to potty train for a child is a big achievement and for them it can be something that can cause stress while they are learning something new. So, when this is combined with other life changes too, it can be too much for a child to handle. With that in mind, the 5 life changes that were mentioned can cause stress and you can find your child no longer wanting to use the potty.

Divorce or separation:

Your child may become very confused by everything that is happening, as well as the fact too that the schedule that he has been on has changed too. This can be especially true when a parent is moving out and no longer do they have the same potty training schedule to go by. Also, the fact that your child will be in a different home environment now as well and have to become accustom to that bathroom to use. Allowing your child to take a brief break from potty training until things have calmed down a little bit is okay. You should let him know it is just a brief break and that you will go back to potty training in a week or something of that nature. Allowing him time to adjust to the new situation will mean he will be bettered prepared to start potty training again.

New Baby:

This can mean that your child may feel that they have to behave like a baby to receive the same attention as the new sibling is receiving. They may regress to get attention, since they could feel like they are not receiving as much as before, even when they are. In this instance, setting aside special time with your child can help with this and this includes the potty time too.

New Home:

Similar to a divorce or separation, moving to a new home can be scary for a child and they may not want to use the new bathroom. In this case making sure to decorate the bathroom again and have all his favorite items in there will make the adjustment and change much easier. In this case, there may not be any reason to actually stop potty training, but instead go slower with the potty training for a time until your child is adjusted to his new home.

Death:

If a family member has passed away, especially a sibling or parent, this will be a very upsetting time for a child that is potty training. Allowing your child to temporarily stop potty training will be okay, since they will be dealing with many emotions at this time. Give your child the time needed to cope with the loss and than go back to potty training once things are back on a more normal or routine schedule again.

Illness:

If your child has become sick or ill while potty training, they may not be able to feel that they need to go. Using training pants is okay, especially if your child is bed ridden due to illness.

For more information:

If you are looking for more advice on potty training regression, please check out http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/CTGY/Potty-Training-Regression.html.

Categories: Expert Advice, Having setbacks?, Potty Training, Potty Training Boys, Potty Training Girls, Potty Training Problems | Leave a comment

Blue’s Clues Potty Training Aids

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Potty Expert

There are so many great FREE potty training aids online! Here is a great free Blue’s Clues puppet potty training theater from Nick Jr. For complete details check out: http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/potty-puppet-theater.jhtml

What you will need:

Scissors
Show Box
Empty egg carton
Glue stick
Tape
Craft sticks

You will need to print out:

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/potty-puppet-theater-art.jhtml

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/blues-printable-puppets.jhtml

Instructions:

Step 1: Print Out the Backdrops

Print out the nine-page Blue’s Bathroom Backdrops to decorate the inside and outside of your shoe box.

Step 2: Set Design

Help your child cut out the backdrops to fit your box. There are pages for outside walls (nightstand/mirror), the back wall and the floor. Use the photo as a guide or mix and match and make your own castle! Set aside the pieces designed to make the toilet bowl and the sink.

Step 3: Plumbing

Cut out the sink and the toilet bowl. Fold the sink along the tabs and in the center. Using tape, attach the top of the sink tab to the side wall under the mirror where indicated. Attach the bottom of the sink tab to the floor where indicated.Cut out the toilet bowl and fold at the tab. Using tape, attach the tab to the back wall where indicated. Cut out one cup of the egg carton. Apply glue stick to the bottom and top the of the cup. Glue it onto the floor (underneath the toilet bowl where indicated).

Step 4: Make the Puppets

Print the Blue & Joe Printable Puppets and help your child cut them out. Glue or tape the characters to craft sticks (or popsicle sticks, pencils, chop sticks) and you’ve got puppets!

Step 5: Put on a Show

Place the box on the edge of a table or your bathroom counter and add a loop of tape to the bottom to attach it firmly in place. Now you and your child can walk Blue and Joe through their morning routine: using the toilet, flushing, and washing their hands with soap.

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