As super-dads, you begin to learn very quickly that the world of fatherhood moves very fast. Just as you have learnt to master nappy changing as if it was a black belt in karate, you are faced with the next phase dads, potty training!
One things for sure, when it comes to potty training you will have advice coming at you from all angles. You may quickly discover how conflicting that advice is from one person to another. That’s because despite what they tell you, there is no one size fits all…scratch that. There is no one potty fits all solution.
The personality and adaptability of your child can not be underestimated for learning to toilet train. You may have your own tricks and technique in how you feel best to do with your child. Fathers can play a huge part in this chapter of a child’s life and guide them on to the next phase of their journey in life. It will be hard-work so Daddiife has come up with 5 sure fire ways to help you alongside your very own techniques.
5. Prompt constantly
By constantly reminding them of the potty, you are instilling how important it is to you that your child follows your lead. The chances are at the start, they will have a few accidents as they are not used to approaching you for help. They usually just rely on you to clean them up.
By engaging in this type of dialogue, your child will process their response in accordance to pleasing you. They may even say yes at first to avoid the chance of accident but this will only get them more used to the potty even if it is a false alarm, don’t give up.
4. Communicate through stories
We all know the benefits of reading to your children, as you strike a chord with their imaginations sparking something magical in their little heads. Well, you can achieve a similar fate through stories about their favourite characters using an adventure relating to a potty.
This once again, puts the importance of toilet training at the forefront of their mind. It also takes the pressure off the child a little bit as they see the fun side of ‘life on the potty’. This is a great form of education and entertainment for your child and it also creates the opportunity for some great dad and child bonding.
3. How to potty train quickly? I need to potty train my son! Be patient.
It’s really not about how to potty train quickly at all because it’s not like flicking a light switch. Some children can be a little slower in learning to pick up the potty routine. If your child happens to be one of them, it is important that you stay patient. As frustrating as it may be for you as a dad, just remember it is a process and it’s just as hard for them as it is for you.
Don’t cause unnecessary stress or anxiety to yourself. Your patience will act as a great boost of confidence for your child. Just like in the rest of their lives, they will need their father to guide them patiently at every obstacle.
2. Customise their potty – make it a fun retreat.
It’s a well known fact that kids return to the places they feel more comfortable. Whether that is in a heap of toys or in a tent, they create their own little world. Using that imagination, you can create an environment for the potty to be comfortable and inviting when toilet training.
Try putting some stickers to customise the potty or move it to an environment where they can easily go by themselves if they need to. You could create a rewards chart or incentivise how much it would mean for a successful visit to the potty. You are once again making the potty a central part of the child’s life but letting them know it is theirs and they can make it their own.
1. Celebrate when successful
So you managed to get a successful visit to the potty or perhaps it’s the 3rd one of the day. Ensure you celebrate each visit so they can see how much this means to you. It will put you both in a good mood and encourage them to make more successful visits which results in more practice and interaction with the potty. Also, another great opportunity to reward and celebrate together with sticker charts as they subconsciously learn to become more ambitious at the same time.
