Potty Training Tips That Work

Between the ages of 2 and 3, when most parents want their child to learn to use the potty seat, is often a stressful time – for both parent and child. Some children miss the signals and forget to inform mum or dad until its too late, while for others, it takes a long time to get the concept. Still others find the potty seat scary and outright refuse to go to the bathroom or get into tantrum mode!

These potty training seat tips will stand you in good stead when it comes to helping your child learn the ‘right way’ to go to the toilet. 

Stick to a routine
Young children love the familiarity of a routine. As far as possible, stick to a routine especially before bedtime. Build potty time into a routine before bedtime, as part of a bathing, brushing the teeth and potty routine. Combine it with a song that your child likes to listen to. This makes the potty seat part of a routine that the child soon becomes familiar with.

Be firm, but gentle
Every child is different, and ‘gets’ potty training at a different pace. While some children are able to gauge the signals very early on and inform parents when they need to go to the toilet, others may take longer. Potty training usually takes place between the ages of 18 to 36 months. Unless your child is significantly past this milestone, do not compare with other children and get anxious – your anxiety will communicate itself to the child and make the process harder.

Even children, who have learnt to let their parents know, will miss quite often in the early stages, especially if they are engrossed in a fun game. Don’t be harsh on the child when she misses telling you – this associates potty time with unpleasantness and fear, and only delays the process, making it harder for both of you. Instead, be firm but gentle and keep reminding her.

Choosing a potty seat
Choosing the right potty seat or chair can help make the process easier. Here are some ideas:

• Take your child along when buying the potty seat or chair. Let her get involved in picking one, so she is excited about using it later on
• Getting a potty seat for back support as well, can encourage a child who is fearful of falling off the potty
• While a potty seat that you can simply place over the regular toilet is much easier to clean and maintain, the potty chair may be easier to start with for young children, since their legs will reach the floor and they have no fear of falling off. Of course, the negative is that potty chairs need to be emptied and cleaned each time they are used. If you do not have adequate help at home, you may want to choose a potty seat over a chair
• Some chairs come with a removable potty seat that you can use once she is ready to move to the ‘big toilet’
• If you start directly with using the potty seat on an adult toilet, consider getting a small stool so your child can climb up herself and feels more in control than being placed by you on the seat

Reward and praise
Rewards for informing you each time she needs to go to the toilet need not be material, but do make sure to praise her and tell her what a good job she is doing. The natural desire of the child to be praised and appreciated will very soon ensure that she lets you know each time!

Why You Need A Baby Carrier

Baby carriers are very handy for mothers (or fathers) who would like the option of carrying baby along while on their usual round of chores whether at home or outside.

Should you buy a baby carrier online?
Given the number of things that modern babies seem to need, you may wonder as to whether you need to buy a baby carrier. While it is true that no one solution works for every parent, many parents do find baby carriers very useful.

The second reason to buy a baby infant carrier is that mothers today lead much busier lives than before; the arrival of a baby does not mean that everything else needs to stop. Baby carriers allow mothers to continue with other activities such as folding the laundry or talking on the phone, while the baby is secure and comfortable.

The third reason is that especially in a country like India, we are often have bumpy, uneven terrain where it is difficult to use strollers. If you live in a locality with poor roads, then a carrier is a much handier way of taking your baby out. It can also supplement a stroller when you are travelling, if for instance you take a vacation at a hill station.

Finally, one of the best reasons to buy a baby carrier is simply the joy of having your baby snuggled up close to you!

What to look for when buying a baby carrier

Whether you go online baby shopping or visit a store, here are some things to look out for when you a buy a baby infant carrier:

• Check if the straps are adjustable and can be worn in a couple of different positions – this also helps as your baby grows a little older, and larger.
• Some carriers come with both a back and front carrying option – this is very useful for babies over 6 months old, where carrying them in front can get heavy
• Look for a carrier with sturdy straps made of durable material that will not give away or wear out
• The carrier should be made of soft material that will not irritate or harm the child’s sensitive skin
• There should be no fastenings with rough edges that could hurt the child. Make sure that all buckles or buttons are made of good quality, have no sharp edges and are stitched on well and not liable to be plucked off by curious little fingers!

You could also check with friends who have bought carriers for their brand recommendations, or read up reviews online.

For all mothers who lead an active lifestyle, and would like to include baby in all parts of their lives, baby carriers are a very good buy indeed!