How to potty train a boy and a girl. When to start? How to teach a child to eat with a spoon? What time should you teach your child to eat with a spoon on his own?

This question has been of interest to caring parents since their beloved child is about six months old. At this time, the baby begins to sit, and they begin to actively sit him on the potty. But is this the right approach? Or how else to teach children to such an adult activity? The answers to these and other equally important questions are covered below.

What time should a child be potty trained?

Many parents are interested in this, and even more grandmothers. After all, they claim that in their time, children for almost 3 months made it clear that they wanted to write. Mothers also want their child to master everything early, but not everything is so easy. There is no exact answer to the question of when to potty train a child. Here, as in other stages of development, you need to look exclusively at the baby. Potty training a child should begin when there is psychological and physiological readiness for this. Moreover, some of them are already ready for this at one year old, while for others it’s still too early at 2 years old. But among pediatricians there is an opinion that the part of the brain that controls excretory processes develops closer to 18 months.

How to quickly potty train a child?

The family decided that their baby had already grown up, which means it was time to start potty training the child. But where to start potty training? - they are interested. What is needed here is a systematic approach and a whole range of measures that will ensure successful potty training for a child. The main ones will be discussed below:

It’s better to go choose this new item for the toddler with him, let him show it himself,
It’s worth starting to put panties on your baby at home so that he begins to realize the connection “pee - it becomes wet”;
It is important to start the learning process only when the little one is healthy and cheerful;
If possible, it is better to start training when it is warm. Then you shouldn’t wear a diaper outside either, but it’s better to offer to go “in the bushes” several times.

How to teach a child to ask to go potty?

A beautiful children's toilet and a bunch of panties have been purchased - it's time to start the learning process! Below are potty training methods:

let him stand constantly “in plain sight”;
Parents' actions must be systematic. That is, if you have given up diapers at home, then you should try not to wear them;
Children should wear a minimum of clothing that can be quickly removed;
You should definitely plant the baby after meals and sleep, before going outside and immediately after coming home. Gradually it will become a habit;
If everything turned out successfully, the baby should be affectionately praised, and if failure occurs, do not scold.

Children are great repeaters. They copy adults in everything. If, after all the attempts on the part of adults, the child still resists, you can do it differently: let an older brother, sister or even mother show by example that this subject can and should be studied. Often, after this, the baby ceases to be afraid of this “wonderful beast”, also begins to be friends with it, and the child’s potty training is more successful. It is important to choose an item of a convenient shape. The hole should not be too large so that the butt does not fall through. For the first time, you can sit the baby down with an adult and support the baby under the arms, if necessary, so that he is not afraid.

There is a modern bestseller about potty training a child in 1 day. It's called "Potty Training in 1 Day." Authors Ezrin Nathan and Richard Fox assure that after reading the book, the time spent on training will take from 4 to 24 hours. One of the chapters describes one interesting way - you can enlist the help of modern toys, for example, a doll that can write. You can give the doll a drink from a bottle, and then put it on a potty - and, lo and behold, it will become wet there! The child is so impressed by what he saw that he also tries to reproduce this in the near future.

How to teach a child to poop in a potty?

Intestinal peristalsis is activated after eating. During this time, babies often want to poop. The method of potty training a child says that parents should put the baby out just after the main meals. It is very important that the little man is comfortable. This item must be suitable in size for him, because in order to do a big job, he will need to sit on it for some time.

How to teach a child to pee in a potty?

The potty training method discussed below is designed for 7 days. It was invented by the British Gina Ford for children from 1.5 years old, when they are already able to understand the simplest instructions. Here's what it is:

On the first day in the morning, the baby's diaper is removed and it is often dropped off during the day. You can captivate the baby with something interesting at this time, so that there is no desire to jump up ahead of time.
The second day is spent consolidating the skill. You have to be careful, make sure that the little one doesn’t get too playful and replace the potty in time.
On the third day, you should not wear a diaper even for a walk. But before her, be sure to invite the baby to do his business.
According to the method, on the fourth day many children are ready to ask themselves if they need to go to the toilet. At this time, let the pot stand in a visible place. And after a week, he needs to be moved to another room so that the baby understands that he needs to relieve himself not in the middle of the room, but in a special place.

How to teach a child to get up on the potty at night?

The first stage of the journey has been completed - during the day the little one does his business no longer in his pants, but like an adult asks when he needs to pee. The next stage is coming - how to potty train a child at night? If the child still cannot sleep the whole night and stay dry, then the only way is night planting. At first, many children protest, but over time they get used to it and do their job almost half asleep.

Mom knows her baby better than anyone and will be able to adapt. You can work out a schedule and drop off the child at 12 o’clock, and then at 6. Then you should remove one rise and see if one rise per night is enough. If failures and mistakes happen, don’t worry and don’t scold the baby. This means that his body has not yet fully matured and cannot properly control the processes.

- a very good help at the moment when parents decide to start potty training their child. The potty training pants are sewn in such a way that they have a waterproof layer on the outside, so sofas and carpets will be saved. But inside they are just like normal ones. That is, if the baby pees in them, he will feel discomfort. And this is important for understanding why you need to ask to go to the toilet at all. There are also disposable diapers for potty training. Everything is quickly absorbed into them. But they are convenient for walking at first. If the baby asks, they can be removed quickly and conveniently, which cannot be said about regular diapers.

The child does not sit on the potty - what to do?

A children's toilet has been purchased, all methods have already been tried, but the matter is not moving. The little one flatly refuses to go there. In this case, it is already worth resorting to not entirely traditional means. The potty training cartoon will come to the rescue. One of the cartoons, consisting of several episodes, shows how a bear cub and a puppy do this. The animals play, and then undress and sit down to do their business. Many kids love the cartoon about Peppa Pig. There is an episode where Peppa teaches George to go potty. This method works flawlessly for children; they happily copy cartoon characters and easily get used to their toilet.

The child stopped going to the potty

It often happens that potty training was successful, the baby did everything correctly, and then suddenly refuses to sit on the potty. Relatives are panicking; they cannot understand what happened to their beloved child and how to deal with the problem that has arisen. First you need to figure out the possible reason for this behavior. It could be:

the little man is worried about something, he is sick, or, for example, he is teething;
age crisis (crisis of two or three years);
stress caused by moving, adaptation to the garden and other things;
discord in family relationships;
other reasons that could have a negative impact on the baby.

If the cause is identified, then, if possible, it should be excluded, creating comfortable conditions for the child. If it is impossible to exclude the cause, then you should be patient, do not put pressure on the little one and do not focus attention on the problem. The potty should be gradually offered again, but should not be done too actively. If, despite all efforts, the problem remains, and re-potty training your child fails, you should go to the doctor for help.

A newborn baby is completely dependent on its parents and needs round-the-clock care. Gradually, the child grows, learns a lot of new things about the world around him and learns a variety of everyday skills. One of the most popular questions among young mothers is: “When and how to potty train a child?” Komarovsky, a well-known and authoritative pediatrician, has his own opinion on this issue. What does the specialist advise parents?

Getting to know the potty is not a feat!

Many modern mothers are passionate about the topic of early development. They keep special diaries of successes and discoveries and constantly brag about the kids’ new achievements to their friends. Very often, successful potty training is included in the category of such feats. In fact, there is nothing magical or extraordinary about the “correct” fulfillment of natural physiological needs. Do any adults (with the exception of those who suffer from some specific diseases) pee in their pants? Or perhaps he is proud of the fact that he makes it to the toilet? In fact, it is a personal decision for each family when and how to potty train a child. Komarovsky advises waiting until the optimal age and not concentrating too much on this issue. Parents should not forget that sooner or later the child will successfully learn to control his physiological needs.

Optimal age

A potty should not appear in a child's life until 18 months. It is by this age that the skills of conscious urination are formed. You can achieve significant success (and quite quickly!) in about 22-30 months. It is after one and a half years of age that a child can control his own body and understand what his parents want from him. In any case, this is what Dr. Komarovsky says.

How to potty train a child without unnecessary hassle? Before you start teaching this skill, you should make sure that the baby is really psychologically and physically ready. Don't start too early. Many mothers are proud of the fact that they manage to “catch” their baby up to a year old and “take him to the toilet correctly.” This strategy actually has nothing to do with potty training. Dr. Komarovsky recommends not giving up diapers until the age of one and a half years. In our age, enough accessories and ingenious devices have been invented, thanks to which women can fully enjoy the joys of motherhood with a minimum amount of hassle.

How do you know when your baby is ready to use the potty?

At what age should you potty train your child? Komarovsky advises all parents to remember the main signs of a child’s readiness to master this skill. You should think about purchasing a potty if your child relieves himself quite rarely. Namely, if the baby is able to remain dry for 2 hours or more. Establishing a bowel movement routine is also important. The child will learn to use his first toilet if he understands the words associated with the poisoning of natural needs. It is also worth paying attention to how the baby reacts to dirty or wet pants. If the child realizes discomfort and shows dissatisfaction, then it’s time to get acquainted with the potty.

Rules for choosing a potty and the baby’s first acquaintance with it

Modern manufacturers of children's products offer an impressive range of children's potties. Note! For girls, you should choose round-shaped products, and for boys, oval ones. The first pot should be made of plastic. Why are iron “night vases” bad? They can be cold and cause discomfort for the baby. It is also important that the pot is stable enough and has a back. “You shouldn’t turn going to the toilet into a game,” says Dr. Komarovsky. Not all parents know how to potty train a child quickly. Many people think that it is necessary to entertain the baby. In fact, from the very first time the child must understand why a new household item is needed. It is for this reason that you should not buy pots that resemble development centers. Built-in play panels and rattles will only distract the baby.

How and when to start potty training your child? Komarovsky advises

It is important to introduce your child to the potty and try to explain to him what it is and what it is for.
You should put your child on the potty after waking up and at the first sign that he wants to go to the toilet.
Be sure to praise your baby every time you manage to do all your chores carefully. You can even exaggerate your own joy, but it is important to clearly identify success and the reasons for praise.
When and at what time should you potty train your child? Komarovsky advises starting in the warm season. Try to leave your baby out of diapers more often while awake. It is important that the child realizes how nice it is to be clean. Be sure to make sure that the baby will not freeze or catch a cold.

We praise for successes, but do not notice failures!

One of the secrets to successful potty training lies in the complete absence of criticism. Even if the child doesn’t succeed in something right away, parents should not scold him. It is better not to notice such an embarrassment at all. And this is an important rule, because sharp criticism can permanently discourage a child from sitting on the potty or even just approaching him. Komarovsky speaks regularly about the rules for developing hygiene skills and how to potty train a child. The famous doctor advises finding a compromise between the child’s education and convenience for parents. Diapers can be used during sleep, walks and visits until the baby learns to fully control himself. At home, you should give your baby the opportunity to walk around in panties. It is important that the floor is warm and its coating is easy to clean.

Potty games

The child should associate the potty directly with the discharge of natural needs. If for some reason the baby does not show interest in this product, you can try to correct the situation. How to potty train a child using games? Komarovsky's advice on this issue may seem strange to some parents, but it really works. It is very good if a parent of the same sex as the child tells him about how he himself goes to the toilet. If necessary, you can even show the whole process - take the child to the adult toilet on an excursion. Young children love to imitate their parents. Believe me, such training will be incredibly effective. If for some reason your baby is negative or wary of the potty, you can play with him a little. “Take your child’s favorite toys to the toilet and show that they are not afraid and know what to do.

Secrets of strengthening the right habits

Rituals are of great importance for children. A set of actions repeated day after day gives the child a feeling of stability and security. So why not include going to the toilet as part of your daily rituals? Place your baby on the potty after sleep, walks and meals. Try to explain to the baby that he can and should ask to go to the toilet himself at the first desire. Many parents choose not the most beautiful things as home clothes for their children. And this is a big mistake. Early childhood development experts advise always dressing your baby neatly. It wouldn’t hurt to draw the little one’s attention to his appearance and unobtrusively ask him to get dirty less. Of course, you will still have to wash off stubborn stains from time to time. But with modern household chemicals, this is not too difficult a task.

Why do younger children learn faster than older children?

In families with two or more children, the question is very rarely asked: “How to properly potty train a child?” Komarovsky notes that parents with many children usually experience the least amount of difficulties with developing personal hygiene skills. The secret is simple - younger children, observing older ones, copy their behavior. For this reason, in large families there are usually no difficulties with potty training or hand washing. What should families do when they have their first child? If possible, organize communication for the baby with slightly older children. If you regularly provide your child with the opportunity to play at home with cousins or children of your friends who are a little older than him, he will easily learn their healthy habits.

Popular mistakes parents make

What not to do and how to potty train a child? Komarovsky recommends approaching this issue responsibly. The most common mistake parents make is introducing their baby to the potty too early. It makes no sense to require conscious trips to the toilet from a baby under one year old. The optimal age for instilling this skill is considered to be 1.5-3 years. You should not introduce the potty during difficult moments in your child’s life. If the family has recently moved to a new location or faced some other change, wait a while. Sometimes the first “correct” trip to the toilet causes negative emotions in the baby. If a child is frightened by something, knocks or is unhappy for any other reason, it makes sense to stop using the potty for about a week. Remember: forcing your baby to do something against his will will not achieve positive results.

And don’t forget: you can’t scold a child for being careless. How and when should you potty train your child? Komarovsky recommends choosing a moment when the baby is healthy and feeling well. It is quite important at first to constantly praise the child for his successes. Parents must remember that praise should not be material. It is enough to say something encouraging, stroke and kiss the baby. But it’s not worth giving candy and new toys for successful potty training. The formation of hygiene skills should not be associated with receiving gifts. Let it be better perceived by the baby as a natural stage of growing up.

Very often, grandmothers and other representatives of the older generation advise to accustom one to the “correct” discharge of natural needs as early as possible. Try to politely refuse such advice. Do not forget that in the USSR, most children at the age of 1 year began to attend nurseries. In them, the ability to use this accessory was welcomed. Today, each family can independently decide at what age to instill this skill in their child. Don't plan in advance what time to potty train your child. Komarovsky advises monitoring the baby and focusing on his personal needs. In any case, sooner or later your child will learn to control his physiological needs.

One of the most important skills of a small person is the ability to feed himself. From the moment complementary feeding is introduced to the baby, parents have to decide. When the baby learns this, it will be easier to care for him.

How to teach your child to eat with a spoon on his own

At what age should a baby be taught to eat with a spoon?

It is not easy to teach a child to eat food without the help of adults; at this time, parents will have to be patient. The age at which it is time for a baby to eat on his own is individual for everyone, it depends on the developmental characteristics of the baby and the readiness of the mother.

Before deciding what time to teach your child to spoon, you need to check his readiness for this.

He must be able to do the following:

confidently take a spoon and hold it in the handle;
receive complementary foods for 3-4 weeks (so that he understands why a tableware is needed);
sit independently without support.

With these skills, it is easier to teach your baby to eat independently; he will quickly understand what is required of him.

Complementary feeding is introduced at 5-6 months, so before six months there is no point in giving the baby a spoon

You cannot use it as a toy, as in this case you will need to spend more time on training. The time it takes to learn a new action does not depend much on the type of spoon. It will be better if the child’s first device is made of plastic with a comfortable handle that is easy to hold in the hand.

How to teach your child to eat with a spoon on his own

Sooner or later, every child will understand what they want from him. The famous children's doctor Komarovsky considers the task of teaching a child to use a spoon not so difficult. Adults should only help the baby.

This can be done by following simple rules:

Gathering around the table with the whole family. The child looks at his parents and tries to imitate them in everything, this also applies to independent feeding
Unobtrusively help the baby by supporting the handle with the spoon and bringing it to his mouth. It is important not to make an effort and not to force your participation on the baby.
Offer a spoon only when the child feels hungry. In such a situation, attempts to play are practically impossible. A baby with a spoon in his hands in front of a full plate of food will try to feed himself as quickly as possible
A favorite dish can help you master a new subject. When a child has a plate of treats in front of him and his mother is busy, he will try to feed himself

If you are worried that while your baby is studying, he will remain hungry, help him cope with the main course. And let him enjoy dessert on his own.

When will my baby start using the potty? This question worries many parents, because learning to do toilet chores is considered one of the signs of growing up and a reason for pride.

Many mothers may claim that their child is potty trained at the age of one, while others cannot establish the important process by the age of three.

What do the experts say? At what age should a child be potty trained? How to properly teach a child to go to the toilet without tears and hysterics?

The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky has come up with a number of recommendations that will help parents understand the physiology of the child and the principle of training without sobs and unexpected incidents.

A little about physiology

Dr. Komarovsky explains an important fact - The timing of the formation of reflexes in babies is individual.

It is not uncommon for a child under three years old to be unable to ask to go potty.

How physiological processes are formed:

The natural transition to controlling discharge begins at one year and continues throughout the second year.
The optimal start of the skill is from one year ten months to two years six months.
We can talk about stable formation of the reflex by the beginning of three years of life.

Some parents try to develop the reflex before the age of one year, for example, by voicing the child’s urination with the words “pee-pee.” After many attempts, this works out, but Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes that the baby lacks conscious control at this age.

What can happen if a parent actively potty trains a child before one year of age?

In the second year of life, all efforts made may be in vain, as the child begins to refuse to sit on the potty.

The time has come for natural control over the processes of excretion; the maturing one-year-old toddler does not want to disembark when his parents force him to “pee-pee”.

He feels like his bladder is empty and he is being forced to. Hence the protests, puddles on the carpet or in the corner of the room.

At what age should a child be potty trained, according to Komarovsky? Doctor advises focus on the child’s psychological readiness when potty training.

The desired time for potty training a child varies over a fairly wide age range - from 1 year to 3 years.

Successful training will depend on three factors. These include:

Development of organs: bladder, rectum, abdominal muscles.
Development of the nervous system.
Pedagogical observation, activity of close relatives.

Let's take a closer look at when you should try to teach your child to go potty and how to understand whether he is ready for this.

How to determine psychological readiness

Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky advises paying attention to signs that indicate psychological and physiological readiness to learn pottery.

If you do not take into account age norms and the readiness of the child, then you may encounter hysterics, apathy, tears - the baby is not ready for new activities.

If parents use violence, try to force him to sit on the potty, punish him for making puddles, then the little man acquires antipathy towards the object.

Sometimes it’s worth waiting two months and trying again to potty train your child using Komarovsky’s recommendations. Especially if the child demonstrates a desire to get acquainted.

Readiness indicators:

the baby can remain dry for more than an hour and a half;
the defecation regime is stable and a more or less established order has been established in this process;
the child can name parts of the body and show them;
the child understands the words “poop”, “pee”;
there is a dislike for wet clothes, negative emotions appear if a dirty diaper is not changed;
I have the skills to undress independently.

But the most important point is the unique ways, words, gestures that the baby demonstrates, signaling the imminent urination. Children may press their legs, remove their panties, touch their lower abdomen, or make certain noises.

When is it possible and when is it better to potty train a child? If your baby shows many signs of readiness, the important process of toilet training can begin. How to do it right? Dr. Komarovsky makes the following recommendations:

And in this article you will find interesting videos on braiding a waterfall braid.

In order for potty training to be successful and without protests from the baby, Dr. Komarovsky advises not to rush into starting. The best time is the second year of life.

It is completely normal if a child under three years old sometimes makes puddles. It is advisable to begin toilet science when the first signs of readiness appear.

You cannot use violence when training: if the baby doesn’t succeed, then it is better to postpone training until the right moment.

Evgeniy Olegovich advises don’t worry too much about the final result. In his many years of practice as a pediatrician, there were no cases where the parents of a normal four-year-old toddler complained about the inability to use the potty.

From this video you will learn more from Dr. Komarovsky - how to potty train a baby, when to start potty training and what rules to follow:

Every parent at one time or another faces the question of when and how to potty train a child . However, many parents, especially those raising their first child, often try too early to teach their baby to go to the toilet “like an adult.” Below we will talk about how to most easily teach a child to use the potty, how to correctly perceive the failures that inevitably happen during the training process, why a baby cannot always learn to go to the toilet quickly enough, as well as other important aspects that are interesting to young parents.

How to potty train a child: methods and their features

When the baby grows up, and mom and dad inevitably face the question of how to potty train a child, many adults make mistakes that ultimately result in stress for both parents and the child. As a result, older adults waste a lot of time and effort in vain, dropping the baby off even at night, but do not get any results at all, or in the end, an unstable result is noted.

At one time, there was an opinion that it was quite possible to potty train a child quickly and correctly if you started doing this already in the first year of the baby’s life. Even now, many grandmothers and even experienced mothers give young parents advice on how to potty train a child at 1 year old. Similar recommendations can sometimes be heard even from individual pediatricians.

However, at present, such early habituation has already been scientifically recognized as incorrect and untimely, as well as in such a way that it contradicts the natural physiology of the baby. That is, those who try to potty train a baby in the last months of the first year of life contradict his psychology and do not take into account the peculiarities of physiological maturation. As a result, it turns out that this entire process of habituation is very long and, as a rule, unproductive. In addition, those who try to teach such a small boy or girl to use the potty essentially have to put pressure on the baby. And this, of course, causes a number of negative consequences, namely:

development in the baby, sometimes leading to the development of neurological and psychosomatic diseases;
manifestation urinary incontinence , ;
nervous tics , logoneuroses ;
development of serious problems later in life, in particular encopresis , overactive bladder .

In fact, parents very often note that their child develops the problems described above. But at the same time, they do not compare cause and effect, and often do not understand the nature of these manifestations.

Those who were puzzled by the question of how to potty train a boy or how to teach a girl to ask to go to the toilet earlier than determined by nature used methods of developing conditioned reflexes. However, in this case we were not talking about developing a conscious skill, which is what ideally needs to be achieved.

Because of such training, the wrong sequence of actions was built. That is, the parents ensured that the child emptied his bladder when he heard the murmur of water, or when he was told to “pee-pee.”

Due to repeated repetitions of such actions, the baby got used to the fact that it was necessary to write after such sounds. Although, in fact, bladder overflow should prompt you to go to the toilet.

In addition, the skill that a one-year-old baby acquired as a result of developing such a reflex is not permanent. It may be lost because it is based on the wrong basis. For example, any stress can “wean” a child off the potty – moving, starting kindergarten, troubled parental relationships, etc.

Also, a child may lose this skill at about 2 years old - at the age when the process of potty training actually needed to begin. If such “unlearning” occurs later, it is much more difficult for the baby to learn to acquire this skill.

Therefore, the conclusion is clear: there is no need to rush to wean your child off diapers as early as possible and try to potty train him in 3 days. This skill must be developed in a timely and gradual manner.

Thus, parents must clearly understand when it is necessary to potty train their child, and when it is too early to do it.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies reach physiological maturity at the age of 18-24 months. Therefore, it is necessary to potty train your baby no earlier than after he reaches 18 months.

It is important not only to know when to start potty training and what time a small child should learn to ask to go to the toilet, but also what method should be used for the result to be successful. It is important to use a method that is baby-oriented. That is, it is necessary to take into account the degree of maturity of the little person’s nervous system. It is the maturity of the nervous system that determines whether the baby is ready to acquire such an important skill. If you use this particular teaching model, parents will not put pressure on the child.

In turn, the baby will not survive stress if his physiological and psychological readiness is at the proper level. That is why the most correct answer to the question at what age a child can be potty trained is the following: when he is ready for this both physiologically and psychologically.

In the learning process, the baby is the main figure, and he already understands what he is doing and what exactly adults want to achieve from him.

The main provisions of the physiological method are the following postulates:

Physical maturity of the body - strengthening the muscles of the urethra and sphincters of the rectum, developed innervation of the bladder and rectum.
Psychological maturity – the baby already understands what is required of him and can follow instructions.
Emotional readiness – the child has a positive attitude towards acquiring new skills.

Features of baby physiology and anatomy

To explain why training should begin no earlier than one and a half years old, consideration of some features of the baby’s physiology and anatomy will help. A baby can consciously ask to use the potty only at a time when he has already formed neuromuscular connections between his brain and the pelvic organs. Their formation begins only after 18 months. These are nerve fibers that form plexuses around the rectum and bladder. They are the ones who give the impulse that the bladder or intestines are full. This impulse is initially transmitted to the spinal cord, and then to the brain. This is what motivates you to go to the toilet. Consequently, the formation of the correct skill is possible only after the clear appearance of these connections. Therefore, if a child of 1.5 years does not go to the potty, this is quite normal.

Of course, some “advanced” parents, almost after the birth of the child, begin to rack their brains over how to get the child to pee in the potty. However, most attempts at training too early are doomed to failure. Even if there has been some success, children do not feel confident using the potty, and this skill is not consolidated in them as it should.

But if learning starts when the child begins to understand what is wanted from him, and when his body is ready for such a “school,” success will not be long in coming.

Going potty early: is that good?

Many mothers talk about how a baby who is not even a year old goes to the potty regularly. Faced with similar stories, some mothers of small children try to teach their child to do without diapers as early as possible.

By repeatedly repeating the sounds “pee-pee” or the hysterical “ah-ah-ah” and holding the baby on the potty, it is, of course, possible to ensure that he does his job. But do not forget that in this case he will only have conditional .

However, it should be remembered that a baby taught such “wisdom” too early, after a year and a half, may behave completely differently than his parents expect. If the child’s bladder is not full, the corresponding impulse does not arrive to the brain, and in the meantime the baby is persistently placed on the potty and encouraged to go to the toilet, the conditioned reflex may already be triggered. And since the child has not been taught the new, correct method, the problem of wet pants can again appear in all its glory. At the same time, parents will be perplexed as to why something suddenly went wrong. And in this case, repeated potty training in 1 day is impossible - parents will again have to gradually “work” with the child so that he eventually develops a lasting skill.

The table provides a comparison of the features of too early and timely training

How do you know when to start training?

All babies develop differently, so you can’t assume that every child is capable of moving from diapers to a potty at one and a half years old. At the same time, parents should clearly remember the fact that the formation of a stable skill occurs by 22-36 months. Therefore, all the baby’s mistakes should be taken calmly.

It is important to take into account those signs that indicate that the baby can already begin to be taught to go to the toilet correctly.

Bowel movements occur at approximately the same time of day every day.
Urination is observed no more often than once every two hours, as can be judged by dry diapers.
The baby already knows different parts of the body and is able to show them. He also distinguishes between items of clothing.
He understands what it means to “pee” and “poop.”
Strives to imitate adults.
When the diaper is dirty, the baby experiences discomfort and shows it.
Makes attempts to dress independently.
Interested in the toilet, potty.
The baby is already 1.5 years old.

If all of the above features are already observed, this indicates that the potty training process will be quick and easy for both mom and dad and the child.

You should be prepared for the fact that your baby may not sit on the potty right away. If all attempts to sit him down end in whims and crying, this may indicate that the child simply does not want to go to the toilet right now. It is important not to scold him, but simply stop trying for a while and try again later - in a few weeks. By about two years old, a little person will learn to ask to go to the toilet and do everything correctly.

There is no need to force your baby to sit on the potty if for some reason he is afraid to do so. Parents should be sensitive to such fears and find their cause. This is often due to stress or the fact that the child finds the potty uncomfortable.

How to carry out the learning process?

This should be done gradually, without rushing the baby.

“Introduce” the potty

First you need to show him that you can just sit on the potty. Therefore, first it is enough to sit him on the potty, without immediately requiring him to use this item for its intended purpose. True, parents need to be extremely careful here, because they shouldn’t let their baby play with the potty either, otherwise he will begin to perceive it as just another toy.

Drop off when the baby presumably wants to go to the toilet

If your child doesn’t mind sitting on the potty, you should try to sit him out at a time when he most likely wants to do something small. It is better to do this after eating, after sleep.

Monitor behavior

If you watch a little person very carefully, you will notice that before urinating or defecating, he becomes quiet, as if thinking. Some children shudder, others try to take off their panties or panties on their own. It is these signals that may indicate that it is time to sit on the potty.

Reinforce the skill through repetition

After the baby makes a mistake, you need to calmly ask him where to poop and pee. If he doesn’t point to the potty after that, then you need to bring the child to him and repeat again, “Here’s the potty. You need to write here."

Take failures calmly and praise successes

You can’t scold children for mistakes and get upset about it - over time, everything will definitely work out. Everyone has failures over a period of time. Sometimes it is possible to teach a baby to go to the toilet in a week or two, sometimes it takes longer. But if everything turned out correctly, you need to praise the baby and tell him how great he is and how well he did everything.

Turn going to the potty into a ritual

Consistent and habitual performance of all actions is necessary. So that the baby gradually gets used to it. An adult should gradually produce them, while telling the baby what he is doing: “Take off your panties, sit on the potty, put on your panties,” etc. This will make it easier for the baby to get used to the existing order of actions.

Rules to remember during the training process

The readiness of both the baby and the parents is important. Mom and dad must realize that the child will have to pay much more attention during this period. You should also be prepared for mistakes and the fact that you will have to devote more time to cleaning up after your baby.
Once you start the process, you need to constantly devote time to it. That is, it cannot be that on weekends parents teach their child to use the potty, and on other days he wears a diaper. This can only confuse the baby and significantly complicate the process.
If during the day the child has not yet learned to ask to go to the toilet, it is not yet time to teach it at night.
A little person needs to get used to a chamber pot. This item should be in a visible place so that it is easy to find as soon as the need arises.
When everything works out, it is imperative to praise the child, doing it in such a way that he realizes that he did everything well. If a mistake occurs, no “Ay-ya-ay” should be heard from the lips of the parents - mistakes should be taken calmly.
It is important to train not only to the potty, but also to the ritual itself. Therefore, you need to teach how to perform all the actions sequentially, showing how to take off your panties, take out the potty, wash your hands, etc.
Over time, you need to put your baby on the potty before going to bed, before going for a walk - that is, when you need to go to the toilet, in order to avoid troubles.
At first, during the day you need to give up diapers, but at night or during a walk it is better to use them while the baby has not yet fully mastered this skill. Over time, you need to give up diapers completely.
You should not be allowed to play around with the potty, lest it end up being perceived as a toy.

How to choose a pot

First of all, it is important to choose a comfortable potty. It is quite possible that you will have to initially change several of them so that the baby gets the one on which he will be most comfortable.
Its shape must be anatomical. It is better for girls to choose round ones, and for boys - oval pots that have a protrusion in the front.
Stability is important so that the child's toilet does not move or fidget on the floor.
It is preferable to buy a pot with a back.
As for the presence of a lid, there are no special recommendations - you need to choose what you like.
The ideal option is an ordinary, as simple as possible potty, without musical accompaniment and decoration in the form of eyes, ears, etc. Such things not only distract the baby, but are also perceived by him as a toy. Therefore, in the end, you can only confuse him, later spending a lot of time on training.
Adults need to understand that all children learn this skill. Therefore, you should treat the process calmly, without turning it into something super important. When both mentally and physiologically the baby is ready for this, everything will definitely work out.
We must not forget that children can finally master this skill at the age of 2-3 years. Therefore, if by the age of three mistakes still happen from time to time, there is nothing wrong with that. In this case, you cannot focus on this and swear.
It is important to always remember the most important rule: everything has its time. The sooner you start training, the more effort and nerves you will have to waste.