Parenting advice to help your child ditch diapers

[greenfingers]

Before starting on the journey towards ditching diapers, it's important to remember that every child is different and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to potty training. However, this forum has lots of tips and tricks to help you and your little one navigate this exciting, messy, and sometimes challenging process!

There are various methods to prepare for and begin potty training - from incremental steps to full immersion. What worked with your older child might not work with your toddler, so it's worth exploring the different strategies others have used successfully. Share your own stories and experiences too - good or bad, as every insight can help other parents!

Some questions to get the conversation going:
- How old is your child when you began potty training? Did you notice any developmental milestones that signalled readiness?
- What specific challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Were there any accidents or regression periods?
- Did you use rewards or incentives? If so, what worked as a motivational tool without creating unhealthy habits?
- How can we as parents prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for this transition? Any tips on remaining patient and positive throughout the process?
- For those who have successfully potty trained, what advice would you give on managing public outings and travel once the training begins?

Remember, every successful potty-training story is unique, so share away! Let's help each other prepare for a diaper-free future.

 

[bubblyfish]

My son turned three in June and we started potty training around April. I knew he was ready because he started showing interest in using the toilet like his big cousins. He would ask questions about it and even attempt to use it himself without any prompting.

We took a slow and steady approach since he's our first child. We didn't face many challenges, thank goodness, as he picked up the routine quickly. We made sure to take him every hour, sat him on the toilet, and explained what he needed to do. We celebrated every time he peed in the potty and made a really big deal out of it, which encouraged him even more.

We also prepared a small tote bag with his favourite snacks and some new toys to keep him occupied while we were out. This seemed to work because he loved the idea of having his own little 'big boy' bag. He's always been a massive fan of stickers, so we put a sticker chart on the door, which he got to decorate every time he used the toilet successfully.

The most significant challenge was overnight. He'd often pee multiple times in his sleep, and this continued even after he was consistently using the potty during the day. We didn't want to resort to Pull-Ups, so we woke him up twice during the night and took him to the toilet. It was a hassle, but it worked, and within a week, he started sleeping through without accidents.

As for advice, I'd say keep a change of clothes handy wherever you go, embrace the mess, and don't stress too much when things don't go according to plan. Also, invest in some waterproof sheets! They're a lifesaver and save so much laundry time.

 

[musical]

My son turned three in June and we started potty training around April. I knew he was ready because he started showing interest in using the toilet like his big cousins. He would ask questions about it and even attempt to use it himself without any prompting.

We took a slow and steady approach since he's our first child. We didn't face many challenges, thank goodness, as he picked up the routine quickly. We made sure to take him every hour, sat him on the toilet, and explained what he needed to do. We celebrated every time he peed in the potty and made a really big deal out of it, which encouraged him even more.

We also prepared a small tote bag with his favourite snacks and some new toys to keep him occupied while we were out. This seemed to work because he loved the idea of having his own little 'big boy' bag. He's always been a massive fan of stickers, so we put a sticker chart on the door, which he got to decorate every time he used the toilet successfully.

The most significant challenge was overnight. He'd often pee multiple times in his sleep, and this continued even after he was consistently using the potty during the day. We didn't want to resort to Pull-Ups, so we woke him up twice during the night and took him to the toilet. It was a hassle, but it worked, and within a week, he started sleeping through without accidents.

As for advice, I'd say keep a change of clothes handy wherever you go, embrace the mess, and don't stress too much when things don't go according to plan. Also, invest in some waterproof sheets! They're a lifesaver and save so much laundry time.

Having a slow and steady approach sounds like a great idea, especially for first-time parents like yourself! That's great to hear that your son picked up the routine quickly. It's fortunate that he was interested and keen to learn from his cousins too.

Using snacks and toys as incentives seems like a fun way to keep his enthusiasm up, and the sticker chart is a clever idea as well. I love the idea of involving him in the process by letting him decorate the chart - making it a real 'big boy' activity!

It's helpful to hear about your overnight solution too, as that's often a tricky part of potty training. Your strategy of staying calm and embracing the mess is spot on! Some challenges are inevitable, so parents shouldn't stress over them too much either.

Waterproof sheets sound like a practical investment Thanks for sharing your experience; it'll no doubt help other parents navigating the same stage. Lisa.

 

[chickadee]

Having a slow and steady approach sounds like a great idea, especially for first-time parents like yourself! That's great to hear that your son picked up the routine quickly. It's fortunate that he was interested and keen to learn from his cousins too.

Using snacks and toys as incentives seems like a fun way to keep his enthusiasm up, and the sticker chart is a clever idea as well. I love the idea of involving him in the process by letting him decorate the chart - making it a real 'big boy' activity!

It's helpful to hear about your overnight solution too, as that's often a tricky part of potty training. Your strategy of staying calm and embracing the mess is spot on! Some challenges are inevitable, so parents shouldn't stress over them too much either.

Waterproof sheets sound like a practical investment Thanks for sharing your experience; it'll no doubt help other parents navigating the same stage. Lisa.

That's right, keeping things upbeat and fun is such an important part of the process! Happy to share our experiences, especially since it might help other frazzled parents!

 

[koala]

It really is all about making it a positive experience with lots of encouragement and rewards! Using a sticker chart worked wonders for us - each time they used the potty/toilet, our little one got to pick a sticker to add to their chart. And on a related note, we also made a big deal out of toilet paper - singing songs about TP and letting them help pick out fun prints definitely made it a more exciting process!

 

[nature]

That's awesome! We're thinking of using a sticker chart too, it seems like such a simple way to make things fun and rewarding! And we love the idea of making toilet paper an exciting aspect - anything to sing songs about is definitely worth trying! Did you guys do anything else that worked well? We're all ears for tips because it's such a daunting process!

 

[musical]

The sticker chart was honestly the biggest help, and making a big deal out of toilet paper selection was a close second! We also found that letting our little one pick out their own "big kid" underwear really helped - they were so proud to wear them and it gave them an extra incentive.

We tried to make the whole process very structured too - timing attempts seemed to help, especially because our kiddo has always been quite routine-oriented. We'd take her to try at set times, and then remind her throughout the day that soon we would try again. It gave her a sense of what to expect and seemed to help her understand her body and prepare for it too - especially helpful for when we were out and about or not at home!

It was definitely a mixture of all those things together that made it work, but mainly the structure and the fun incentives! Good luck, hope it goes well!

 

[bookworm]

The sticker chart was honestly the biggest help, and making a big deal out of toilet paper selection was a close second! We also found that letting our little one pick out their own "big kid" underwear really helped - they were so proud to wear them and it gave them an extra incentive.

We tried to make the whole process very structured too - timing attempts seemed to help, especially because our kiddo has always been quite routine-oriented. We'd take her to try at set times, and then remind her throughout the day that soon we would try again. It gave her a sense of what to expect and seemed to help her understand her body and prepare for it too - especially helpful for when we were out and about or not at home!

It was definitely a mixture of all those things together that made it work, but mainly the structure and the fun incentives! Good luck, hope it goes well!

Having a structured plan sounds like a great idea! It's wonderful how you tailored the process to your child's preferences and personality; picking out "big kid" underwear seems like a lovely incentive too. It's amazing how effective and motivating these simple strategies can be. Thanks for sharing! I wish you luck as well - hopefully, it'll be a smooth transition!

 

[chickadee]

The underwear trick really worked wonders and made the whole experience much easier than anticipated! We also made sure to follow a consistent routine and use lots of positive reinforcement - it's incredible how much children thrive with that. Thank you for the well wishes; I hope your parenting adventures go well too!

 

[nature]

The underwear trick really worked wonders and made the whole experience much easier than anticipated! We also made sure to follow a consistent routine and use lots of positive reinforcement - it's incredible how much children thrive with that. Thank you for the well wishes; I hope your parenting adventures go well too!

Yeah, it's incredible what a difference positive reinforcement makes - it's a tactic that never fails to put us adults in our place too, eh? Haha. Thanks for the good wishes, and likewise, I wish you and your little one all the best in this exciting journey!

 

[bookworm]

Positive reinforcement certainly goes a long way! It's been an exciting journey - a challenging but rewarding experience. Thank you for your kind words! All the best to you too.

 

[lioness]

It's a great strategy and one that builds their confidence too! Kind words and encouragement can make a huge difference in their mindset, which makes it all the more fun for everyone involved Best of luck to you too!

 

[sunflower]

Thank you for the good vibes! Positive reinforcement is such an important strategy - we fawn our little ones with praise and it makes them feel so proud! It's a win-win because it boosts our confidence too when we see them succeed

 

[mamamia]

Thank you for the good vibes! Positive reinforcement is such an important strategy - we fawn our little ones with praise and it makes them feel so proud! It's a win-win because it boosts our confidence too when we see them succeed

It sure does. Praising our children helps in their holistic development and encourages us as parents to be more observant of their progress, which is rewarding in itself!

 

[lioness]

Absolutely! Positive reinforcement through praise and encouragement can go a long way in building their confidence and motivating them to continue progressing. It's a win-win strategy!

 

[sunnybunny]

Absolutely! Positive reinforcement through praise and encouragement can go a long way in building their confidence and motivating them to continue progressing. It's a win-win strategy!

The little ones pick up on these things so quickly too, amazing how observant they are! Yes, that's the beauty of this method - everyone feels good No harm in that!

 

[bananarama]

The little ones pick up on these things so quickly too, amazing how observant they are! Yes, that's the beauty of this method - everyone feels good No harm in that!

It's astounding how absorbent children are; they observe and mimics our every action and reaction. When we shower them with praise for achieving seemingly small tasks, it encourages them to continue pushing forward. You're right; the positive reinforcement method leaves everybody feeling cheerful, warming our hearts as parents!

 

[stargazer]

It's astounding how absorbent children are; they observe and mimics our every action and reaction. When we shower them with praise for achieving seemingly small tasks, it encourages them to continue pushing forward. You're right; the positive reinforcement method leaves everybody feeling cheerful, warming our hearts as parents!

Yes, it's heartwarming to see our children absorb and react to our positive encouragement. It's a joy to witness their little faces light up with pride when they accomplish something and get praised for it. These little milestones are what make parenting such a fulfilling journey.

 

[happyfeet]

These little victories are the ultimate motivators for tired parents, rewarding us with a sense of fulfillment that makes all the effort worth it! Positive reinforcement really is key, and it's amazing how much our kids' inherent drive to please us can help speed along toilet training. We're on this journey too, so keep us posted - it's great to share these experiences and learn from each other!

 

[bananarama]

These little victories are the ultimate motivators for tired parents, rewarding us with a sense of fulfillment that makes all the effort worth it! Positive reinforcement really is key, and it's amazing how much our kids' inherent drive to please us can help speed along toilet training. We're on this journey too, so keep us posted - it's great to share these experiences and learn from each other!

It's reassuring to hear about the successes of other parents going through similar stages and the strategies they employ. These little milestones bring a deep sense of satisfaction, confirming that all our tired eyes and sacrificed sleep are worth it!

The joy on our children's faces when they accomplish something is a universal delight among parents, a secret club we're fortunate to be part of. Parents often forget the impact of their encouragement; it appears that the inherent desire to make our folks proud is an intrinsic motivator. It's a humbling realization that our support and positive words can go so far and, as you said, speed along toilet training (or other developmental milestones)!

I'll be sure to share my experiences and learn from others' insights too; it's a great parenting hack! Thanks for the chat, have a good day!