Just thought i'd post my thoughts while 'fresh' from potty training my 22mo DD. Hope someone finds them useful.
- Wait until they are ready.
- Once daytime nappies are off, keep them off. No excuses.
- Use a big toilet as soon as possible (on day three when you venture out somewhere)
- Keep kitchen roll in bathroom to dry off potty and prevent damp bottom, and mopping up floor. It's flushable!
- Take the opportunity for you to drink tons more water than you normally do, and go together!
- Use wipes for poos and have somewhere to put them rather than flushing down the toilet.
- Put pictures (animals?), toys or books around at eye/potty level to help distract when a little more patience is needed.
- Write down every trip to loo, time, place, and what the outcome. It will help build up at picture of what their pattern is, and saves endless nagging 'do you need the loo?' You'd also spot any signs of witholding etc. Makes your first trips out easier if you know they can go 45 mins without going.
- Heap loads of praise and consider only offering bribes if your going out and are trying to get them to go before you go.
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Wearing short tops (waistlength) helps until the bottom half is managable.
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Buy pants a little on the large size. Reasonable quality too as cheapy flimsy ones can be prone to 'curling' when being dragged up. Buy at least 12 pairs.
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Bring them with you to the toilet for months prior to starting training and explain what your doing. Let them see their own poo in their nappy, so it's not a shock when they see it in the potty.
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Leave water in the washhandbasin so when they are ready to take a trip to the potty themselves, they can wash their hands too.
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Give them a facecloth as their own towel, it's easier to handle.
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Be patient!
Good luck.