The 4 best tips to learn to go to the bathroom quickly

Have you ever noticed how quickly young children learn new words, skills, and concepts? They are like little sponges that eagerly soak up everything in sight, even fleeting observations and seemingly forgettable experiences! And what parent hasn’t been pleasantly surprised to find their little ones imitating their behaviors or repeating their words (unless, of course, it’s the unfortunate swear word or bad habit) before realizing their kids noticed them!

But have you ever wondered why this happens so often? Well, according to experts, children have deep and abiding desires to become more and more independent. To that end, they actively seek to discover, learn, and ultimately master new skills. What’s more, young children whose learning efforts are supported in a nurturing environment and whose achievements are recognized and celebrated are much more likely to acquire new information and skills faster and more fully than children who are ignored or ignored. discouraged, passively or overtly, from doing so.

These statements are surely not epiphanies or “AHA!” for most of you. Rather, they are just common sense. After all, it’s entirely logical to assume that the vast majority of us, adults and children alike, are more likely to learn quickly when our efforts are supported and our achievements noticed and rewarded.

And so it is with potty training… I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve worked with parents who indicate that their goals are to potty train their toddlers quickly (i.e., within 24-48 hours). ), but they did set yourself up for failure by discarding this hard-earned tip! Do they do it intentionally? Absolutely not. In fact, most are very well-intentioned and loving people who sadly believe that common myths about potty training are true. As a result, potty training your child takes much, much longer than it should, often several months or longer, and you are left wondering what went wrong.

Many learn the hard way, but you don’t have to…that is, if you truly believe that children, including yours, want to be potty trained as quickly as possible and need your encouragement, support, and knowledge. for this to happen. But that’s not all… You need to be armed with a solid, proven plan, one that uses behavior modification techniques in a supportive environment, and follow it carefully.

There are many fast forward methods out there; In my opinion, some are great, some are good, and sadly, many are just awful. Therefore, choose carefully. Otherwise, you will waste a great deal of time and money, and may even unknowingly sabotage your child’s progress.

The following are my top four tips for potty training quickly. Use them as guidelines in deciding which method to use.

1. Believe in your heart of hearts that it can be done. Personally, I have potty trained many toddlers in 24 to 48 hours. And no two were exactly alike and EVERYONE had “challenges” of one kind or another. Some could speak the king’s English; others could only understand simple commands. Some were extremely cooperative and others were stubborn as mules. Some had never seen a chamber pot before and others had already decided that they wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. Some were 17-month-old boys and others 24-month-old girls.

Hopefully you get the idea… the point is, as they say, “I’ve seen it all” and in my experience there are only two reasons why the excellent “fast forward” potty training methods don’t work . work. They are:

* Child was not physically and/or developmentally ready (see #2 below)

* The “teacher” (usually a parent) did not follow instructions carefully and completely. For example, they were not adequately prepared, lost focus, and/or lacked consistency and follow-up.

2. Make sure your child is ready to be potty trained, physically and mentally. Although there is no specific age that is right for all young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that the vast majority of children can be potty trained between 18 and 27 months.

Use this as a guide, but remember that experts across the board agree that developmental cues are much better indicators of potty training readiness than chronological age (for example, dressing and undressing themselves). , imitating others, frequent statements of “I can do it all by myself!” , and the like). If you’re still not sure, check with your pediatrician or take one of the online potty training readiness assessments.

3. Do your homework. Don’t settle for the first one you find. Rather, give this important rite of passage the attention it deserves. (Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!) Ditch the hype and choose a reliable, time-tested, accelerated potty training system backed in practice and theory by pediatricians, child therapists, and other respected experts. . Here are some additional guidelines to help you choose a fast and effective method.

Ought:

* Provide details on how to determine if your child is ready

* Provide comprehensive instructions, from soup to nuts (from planning stage to implementation) using easy-to-understand language and format.

* Combine positive behavior modification techniques in a happy and nurturing environment

* Require a teacher (usually a parent) to give their full attention to the process until it is complete

* Discourage any form of sanction for accidents or breaches or excessive “pushing”

* Include an itemized list of supplies needed, and this list should not be lengthy or encourage you to purchase equipment, toys, books, etc. “fancy” or expensive.

* Ban the use of pull-ups (which are guaranteed to slow you down!)

4. Reserve the necessary time (24-48 hours); give your full attention to the process; and whatever happens, stick with the program and be consistent. Simply put, the best prepared and most tenacious parents win this one: goosebumps are not enough if you want to potty train your child quickly. If you’re not ready to spend two full days on the process, this isn’t for you. If that’s your style and you’re determined to approach it this way, you better hunker down and be prepared for the long haul.

But let me make one last point clear: while I specifically suggest you book two full days, many kids learn in 24 hours or less (no kidding). Even if they do, though, I like the idea of ​​adding an extra “no pressure” day to reinforce things and allow toddlers to start mastering their new skill before going back to “real life.” Also, and believe me on this, many children finally “get it” right before they go to bed on the first day, and it’s wonderful to have an extra day to repeat, repeat, and repeat some more!

I hope this tip has been helpful to those of you who have already decided, or are considering, potty training your toddler. Remember, it can be accomplished quickly, joyfully, and completely with a little planning, the right mindset, and a lot of love!