Five Must Have Essentials For Potty Training a Child - Fast, Joyfully, and Completely

Toilet training a child successfully - and quickly - does not happen accidentally. Rather, parents who want to potty train a child in days must arm themselves with a time-tested system and a well-thought-out plan of action - one that builds their self-confidence and allows them to tap into their strengths and avoid the most common - and costly - pitfalls.

But, if you're like many parents you're convinced that potty training your strong willed child is likely to become a contest of wills. Or perhaps you're already frustrated after one or more unsuccessful attempts at potty training your child. If so, you're not alone.

I've safely and effectively potty-trained numerous boys and girls over the last three decades. Some were stubborn and resistant; others were open-minded and compliant. Some were developmentally advanced; others were delayed. Some talked a blue streak; while others only understood simple commands. So, I can tell you with confidence that successful potty training has more to do with the parents' attitudes, demeanor, consistency, and follow-through, than their children's personalities.

In other words, the vast majority of toddlers can be potty trained joyfully and completely in days - not weeks - if their parents expand their knowledge by learning valuable insights from experts (not their friends and relatives) and come to grips with their own misconceptions.

Obviously, I am personally committed to my own BRIEFS™ potty training system for many, many reasons even though I recognize that you may choose to another method for potty training your child. However, regardless of your approach, you'll achieve far better results if you remember and use the advice I've provided in the following 5 tips.

1. Your child wants to be potty trained. Study after study confirms that toddlers have a deep and urgent desire to grow, become more independent, and master new skills. So, even if your child is strong-willed, or resistant, he or she wants to achieve this milestone.

2. Potty training a child must never become a battle of wills. Parents who push too hard, punish, or get angry with their toddlers, severely cripple the process. Even worse, they risk jeopardizing their parent-child relationship. Period.

3. Consistency is king. In my opinion, one of the biggest potty training blunders is lack of consistency. Let me explain. Potty training is a learned skill, but until the process begins your child only knows to pee or poop in their diaper. That's what's they're expected to do, yes?

But now, you're changing the rules and if you want them to sink in, you'll need to keep confusion to a minimum. So, be prepared (and make sure others who are in frequent contact with your child does the same) to repeat the exact same advice, using the exact same words, often and regularly.

Also, avoid sending mixed messages. For example, if you expect your son or daughter to use the potty chair, do not let them wear diapers or pull-ups (pull-ups are the biggest potty training inhibitors of all time!). If you do, you'll have no one to blame but yourself, because by doing so, you're giving your child tacit permission to pee or poop in their pants. And, trust me, I've heard every excuse in the book for doing so, but the only legitimate reasons for doing so are in the event of an emergency during the early stages; nighttime diapers initially (and only for a very short time); and/or if your daycare provider has specific rules. However, the last two situations can be eliminated all together by waiting to potty train your child until you wake up to more dry, than wet, diapers and/or scheduling his or her training over long weekends or when they have a break from daycare.

4. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, your child should be ready for potty training between the ages of 18 and 27 months. By this age, their sphincter muscles (needed for elimination) are fully developed so physically they're good to go. However, pediatricians also agree that developmental signs are better predictors of potty training readiness than chronological age. (If you'd like more details on this topic, read my article titled, "The 5 Best Ways for Determining Whether Your Child is Ready For Potty Training" at the website address in the resource box at the end of this article.)

5. A solid potty-training plan is not enough. You'll get nowhere if you don't act consistently (there's that "c" word again!) and follow the plan to the letter. I cannot emphasize this enough! A solid plan with poor execution is no better than a lousy plan with great execution - you're still going to end up nowhere.

So, if you've reached out to experts for help, listen and learn and then follow their plan carefully. Makes sense doesn't it? But in my personal experience you'd be surprised at the numbers of very well-meaning parents who spent considerable time and energy researching the best potty training methods; chose one; purchased the recommended supplies and/or equipment; set aside the time (and even used vacation days); eagerly began their child's training; and then, several hours into the process lost focus and ignored key principles.

Then, when they fail to achieve the desired results, they either continue down this non-productive path until they give up or in the case of my clients, I receive a frantic call or email with a cry for help. However, nine times out of 10, their less-than-stellar results are due to Mom's or Dad's distraction and/or their inability or unwillingness to follow the directions to a tee.

Once they realize this, most correct their mistakes and try again - with far different results the second time.

I hope you've found my advice to be helpful and that you'll learn as much as you can before embarking on your journey to potty train your child. Remember, potty training a child should be a memorable and joyful rite of passage - one that strengthens the bonds between parents and toddlers.

Potty training a child successfully - and quickly - does not happen accidentally. Rather, parents who want to potty train a child in days must arm themselves with a time-tested system and a well-thought-out plan of action - one that builds their self-confidence and allows them to tap into their strengths and avoid the most common - and costly - pitfalls. Information about the Author: Mary E. Eule, BA, MS is a professional writer and researcher who has spent the last three decades helping parents potty train their children. She is the developer of the BRIEFS potty training system and author of a comprehensive e-book for parents, "The Official BRIEFS Potty Training Guide." Visit: http://www.AskThePottyTrainers.com to obtain her e-book, download her free e-course, or get more free information about potty training your child. Home and Family Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

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