5 Tips to Potty Train Your Preschooler

From the moment you found out about your little one you started calculating all the costs, and from the moment you realized how much you would spend on diapers you’ve been ready to ditch them right? Congratulations! You’re that much closer to becoming diaper free with these 5 tips to potty train your preschooler so you can get your preschooler out of diapers, and diapers out of your budget.

1. MAKE SURE THEY’RE READY

You’re ready to get rid of diapers, but it’s important to make sure your child is ready too. There is no right age to start potty training, only the right time. Children can start showing signs they’re ready to potty train as early as 18 months or they may not be ready until they’re closer to 4 years old. There’s a lot of factors that go into when your preschooler will be ready to potty train, but there are a few things you can watch for to help clue you in to whether or not your preschooler is ready to ditch the diapers too.

• You’ve been changing less wet diapers lately
• Your preschooler wants out of their soiled diapers
• You’ve had extra eyes on you when doing your business
• Your preschooler wants way more privacy than they’re willing to give you when they’re doing their business

2. STICK TO A SCHEDULE

Preschoolers learn by routine. Say it with us. Routine, routine, routine! Create a potty training schedule and stick to it. Preschoolers often get lost in play and don’t let us know when they need to go, so take them a lot. You may want to start out by setting a timer for every 20-30 minutes and taking your child to the restroom. It sounds tedious, but just keep thinking about all that money you’re gonna save when this is over. When your preschooler wakes up in the morning, after any snacks or meals, and right before bed are also important times to give them a chance to use the toilet.

It’s important to keep up a routine even when going out. Potty Training doesn’t mean you can’t leave your house, it just means you have to get creative. Yes, even if that means bringing a potty chair with you when you go on a trip, or packing a week’s worth of pants for a trip to the store in case of accidents.

3. MAKE IT FUN

Learning should be fun, and potty training should be no different! When they’re having fun potty training, you will have more fun with it too! Wondering what could possibly be fun about potty training? Luckily we have some ideas for you!

Make a Sticker Chart

Who doesn’t love stickers right? The best part about charts is you can find free downloads all over the place. Just do a quick google search for “potty training sticker charts” and you’ll find unlimited resources for downloadable charts, and even stickers. Don’t want to buy or print stickers? No worries! Teach your preschooler how to color the spot in themselves! If you’re the crafty type you could even make your own chart.

Buy “Big Kid” Undies

Get them some new undies to sport with their favorite characters on them. Make sure they know these are their big kid undies and give them something to be proud of.

Read a book/Sing a Song

Read a book about potty training to your preschooler, or pick out your child’s favorite book and read it together. Your child will be able to relax more when they don’t have to focus so much on going potty.

Dye the Toilet Water Blue

When your preschooler goes potty the water will turn green, and you can use this as a great tool for teaching your child about colors! Not only is it great for learning, it’s also super cool!

4. LEAD BY EXAMPLE

You are your preschooler’s best example. Your child is watching everything you do, and at this point probably following you to every trip to the toilet. That’s great! Use these times to show your preschooler that using the toilet isn’t scary. Sometimes children can start to feel pressured to go potty and this can lead to fear of using the toilet, which often leads to constipation. With some reassurance you can help avoid these fears. Let your preschooler celebrate with you after you use the toilet just as you would with them, let them help you flush the toilet, and sing your potty song while you encourage them to go too.

5. DON’T PUNISH MISTAKES

Just know ahead of time, your preschooler will have accidents. Be patient, and never punish them or get angry when they don’t use the toilet. Instead, redirect your child to the toilet and let them know thats where they need to go next time they need to potty. Continue to celebrate every success your child has, and soon these 5 tips to potty training your preschooler will have you living in a diaper free world!