Have you ever seen a CV listing achievements like “Potty trained in 2009”, “Slept in my own bed by six months”? If it is not going to be on your child’s CV one day, it is probably not worth fretting about.
Much as it is essential to encourage our little ones to master a wide range of skills, a fine line divides this from putting them under undue pressure to perform when they are not ready, or it is of no importance at that stage.
One should let nature take its course because that is what is best. Potty training is one such instance. The key to successful potty training is to get the timing right. Don’t feel pressured by other parents or feel inadequate if your child lags their peers.
Coming off nappies, being aware of their own bodies’ signals and progressing to the potty, baby toilet seat, and eventually the “big toilet” does not indicate a toddler’s mental or physical prowess.
Most toddlers begin to show an interest in potty use between 2 and 3 years old.
However, it is important to recognize that little ones need adequate brain-bladder maturity to successfully potty train.
Anywhere between 2 – 4 years is common for initial potty success, and even after that, daytime potty use varies greatly. Your child will let you know when they are ready for this. They will show an interest in the toilet and show signs of being aware of elimination. Slight encouragement from your side then can put the training in motion.
Forcing potty use before a child is ready can significantly delay the progress of coming out of nappies or toilet independence. Punishing an accident claims the same negative result.
Potty-training works well in a crèche situation. The peer element kicks in when all the little ones go together, and they love copying each other.
It will only give consistent results if your little one is sufficiently physically mature.
Insecurity results when a little one is expected to perform at levels that they are not yet comfortable with, or physiologically mature for.
Refusing to have a bowel movement is quite a typical result of little ones feeling pressured about potty-training too.
