| When I was potty training my two young boys, I | | | | water to play with the toys, if the child needs to |
| discovered this method of potty training that made it | | | | physically go, they nearly instantly go potty (it's almost |
| an enjoyable, yet very effective way to potty train | | | | an instinctive type of physical reaction), then cheer, |
| toddlers. | | | | cheer, cheer! Give lots of praise, and if you wish to |
| First, make sure your child is ready for potty training, | | | | give some type of a treat, go ahead. |
| shows interest, wants "big kids pants" etc. If they show | | | | Let them play as long as they want, as long as they sit |
| no signs of readiness, it may be best to let them | | | | on the potty. When they are done playing, put the toys |
| mature a bit more. | | | | away for next time. This is really great because it |
| Make this a game, make it fun and you will not run into | | | | makes it fun for them so they cooperate, it totally |
| stubborn opposition (after all it is the child's body). Go | | | | ends all power struggles, and also no more waiting and |
| out and buy or find around the house items you don't | | | | waiting for them to go only to have them go potty as |
| normally let your child play with. Some examples might | | | | soon as the diaper goes back on. They also feel good |
| be toys that can be used in water (3 or 4 things), like | | | | because they have immediate success. Potty training |
| little plastic pitchers, balls, tiny cups, whatever, but make | | | | no. 2 was more difficult I found, that just came with |
| them SPECIAL. The only real rule to this game is these | | | | some time and patience and them learning in their own |
| special "potty" toys can only be played with while the | | | | space and way, relax, it will happen. |
| child is sitting on the potty! This is very important; no | | | | Do you want to know how I get this idea? It's kind of a |
| breaking this one rule, or it won't work. | | | | funny thing, my husband used to be in the military and |
| Once the child is sitting on the potty fill a large bowl or | | | | when he was young in boot camp they used to |
| small bucket with lukewarm or tepid water, place the | | | | always play jokes on each other in the night by dipping |
| new "potty" toys in the bowl and set the bowl of | | | | the hand of someone who was sleeping, into a pan of |
| water in front of the child. On the floor if the potty seat | | | | lukewarm water, thus making the person wet the bed. |
| is low, or if it's a potty seat that sits on top of the | | | | It just seemed like a natural progression to use this |
| regular toilet, set the bowl of water on a TV tray or | | | | trick for good use in the potty training area and it |
| something that provides a step, in front of the child. | | | | worked great! |
| When the child places his/her hands in the lukewarm | | | | |