There are a thousand ways to properly potty train a child. Everyone seems to think that their way is the best. But honestly, does it really matter how you go about it as long as the outcome is the same? Like most milestones potty training is actually harder for the parents than it is for the kids. I was always fearful about the trauma I was inflicting on my child by changing up his routine. Of course after a couple of days of potty training, I was kicking myself wishing that I would have started earlier.
Life of Dad user Fermin Anaya Jr. asked:
“Alright dads, I need the best tips you have for potty training.”
Here is what our fellow Life of Dad users came up with,
You start by bribing them apparently.
Jesse Combs: Wrap a $1 present up in wrapping paper, let them open it ONLY after they successfully use the potty. That’s how my wife and I taught my daughter. Hope it’s help!!
Devin Vosburgh: Reward rewards rewards. We did a sticker on a chart from every pee. Get 5 pee stickers and get a prize (nothing huge, candy or something out of the ordinary). A poop on the potty is a big deal so that get a prize. Roll with that a while till it sticks. My girls were all easy…my son had a fear of pooping and it made things difficult. He was well into his 4th year before it started taking.
Others say just do it.
Matt Prieur: We would set a timer for every 20 minutes in the begining and have the child try to go every time the timer goes off. Even if they don’t go every time still have them sit their and try. We learned that really cut down on accidents. And once you start underwear don’t go back except for at night when they go to bed. If they get wet a few times and don’t like it they will stop going in their pants.
Jeffery Gill: Take them with you everytime you go and when you sit on pot, they sit on pot. I have 4 boys and all of them were fully potty trained by 18 months. When they go, make a big deal out of it.
Adam Preston: Literally “wing it” I left a potty lying around from 18 months with my girl so she knew what it was and what it was for… Accidents along the way obviously but then one day it all came together… You just can’t force it.. She will surprise you one day.
Charles French: When my son turned 3 I stopped being nice about it. He had already been shown how to use the toilet by then. Whenever he had an accident, he had to go into the bathroom, strip, start a bath, clean himself, put his clothes in the laundry and then go get some new clothes on. I supervise but would not help. I don’t remember exactly how long it took but I don’t think it was more than a week before he was completely self-sufficient in that aspect. I think it was a couple of those five accidents in one day, five baths, type deals that finally made it click for him.
Tony John Burton: My ex wife asked me to potty train our daughter. I was fortunate enough to have time off work so we took advantage of it. Every hour or so I would put my daughter on the potty and I would sit on the toilet next to her and pretend to go. While doing this we would sing or read or watch music clips on my iPod. It was hard work, she had the odd accident but I had my daughter fully potty trained in 12 days at the age of 15 or 16 months old. I’d make a huge song and dance everytime she did her business. Always make it fun for them. She is now three and I’m proud of what we accomplished.
Kyle Hutton: My daughter is 2 and she showed interest about 6 months ago, used potty a few times but now has no interest at all. We encourage potty/toilet (we have a special seat with steps) but if she’s not ready she’s not ready. If we spot her obviously going in her nappy we ask her if she would have preferred potty and to let us know.
Michael Atkins: Go straight to using the toilet if you can, bypassing the potty. It will mean you won’t have to empty the thing and also eliminate having to then train them to go from the potty to the toilet. Also, if you have a difficult kid like my son was, get a really special toy and tell them they can have 30min play with it after each successful “visit” to the toilet. Worked a treat for us.
You could take them outside of course
Matthew Pring: Teach your young boy to draw his name on a wooden fence. Not in public of course….
Or have target practice…
Nicholas Verbose: With boys, cheerios or any dry cereal works great for target practice and getting them interested in going number 1… just toss a few in and go for it.
I wonder what else we could do with Cheerios?
If all else fails… Take your kids to the experts.
Laura Jefferies: You and you wife go on holiday for two weeks and leave the kids with your mum or in laws. My husband and I went away for a few days for our birthday and when we came back our son was potty trained.