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Top Tips for Potty Training Girls
Potty training is a big decision for all parents. When is the right time to start potty training your little girl and how do you go about it? How will your little girl make the transition from nappies to the potty?
All children are different and some are ready earlier than others to begin potty training. In general though, children usually are ready to start using a potty anywhere between the ages of 18 months and 4 years, with many successfully using the potty by the time they start pre-school. Many parents find that potty training boys takes longer than for girls.
Here are some of our top tips for potty training girls:
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Look for signs that your little girl is ready to move away from nappies. Your daughter may start showing more of an interest in using the toilet like mummy and daddy do and it's a good idea to let her see you using the lavatory as she will learn by imitation.
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Spring and summer time are good times to begin potty training as it will be warm enough to let your little girl run around without so many clothes on. Many parents like to let their children wear just a pair of pants or go naked at this time as it makes it easier for the child to make it to the potty on time.
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Be prepared for a few accidents and watch carefully for signs that your daughter needs her potty. She may start dancing or clutching at herself at which point you should suggest she sits on the potty. You should also watch for facial signs. Often children who are ready to start potty training stop what they're doing when they are using their nappy and pull a few strange faces!
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Take your daughter shopping for new pants! Let her choose some that she likes and that you know she will be keen to wear. Most children have a favourite fairytale or cartoon character and if you can buy pants with these on them they can help encourage your little girl to try to keep them dry.
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Read stories to your daughter about potty training. There are many suitable books in bookshops and local libraries which help to make potty training fun.
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Buy her a potty of her very own! Little girls love having their own things and a potty is less intimidating for small children than sitting on a big toilet. It's also mobile which means she can keep it close by so there's a reduced risk of little accidents! However, if you would rather not use a potty then buy an adaptor seat for the big toilet which fits securely and provide a step so your daughter can get onto the toilet easily and safely.
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Let your little girl have as many practice runs on the potty as she needs. Remember, potty training is all very new to her and it will take time for her to get used to the idea of using a potty. She may want to look at it, feel it, show it off, decorate it and so on. When she is feeling a little more confident she may try sitting on it fully clothed or you could play some games with it, for example, letting some of her toys sit on it and explaining that they are doing a wee or a poo!
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Make a fuss of her when she uses the potty! You can clap or heap lots of praise on her or let her choose a dvd or story. It's not necessary to do this every time as she may not like attention being drawn to the fact, but the first few times it's important so she knows she's doing it right! Some children respond well to using reward charts and this can be a great way to encourage use of the potty. Every time your daughter uses her potty let her choose a sticker and place it on a reward chart which the rest of the family can see.
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Try not to get frustrated or cross with her if she isn't picking up on the concept as quickly as you'd like. She'll get there in her own time and by getting annoyed with her you may end up setting things back. Try to remain patient and calm and just keep encouraging and praising when she does use the potty. If things aren't going according to plan she may just not be ready yet and it may be necessary to call it a day and try all over again a few weeks or months down the line. Don't see this as a failure on your part or on your daughter's part. It's just not the right time for her.
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Try to have some sort of a schedule especially if you aren't the sole carer. Let childminders/ grandparents know what is going on and ask if they're willing to go along with it. It's important to keep some sort of a routine going as you are more likely to have a successful outcome if everyone is working towards achieving the same outcome. It's also important that everyone is using the same training technique!
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When your daughter is feeling more confident and is using her potty regularly it's a good idea to encourage her to wipe herself. Show her how to do this and explain that she needs to wipe from front to back, otherwise she may end up getting a bladder or kidney infection. It's also important that you encourage her to wash her hands after using the toilet to prevent the spread of germs.
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She may start having dry nights before or during potty training and if that is the case it's a good idea to sit her on the potty or toilet first thing every morning. At this point she will probably use the potty and will soon get into the habit of holding on during the night. However, for many children night-time training takes much longer and depends on physical and hormonal development, how deeply they sleep, the size of their bladder and even a fear of the dark. To help things along you should encourage plenty of drinks during the day to help the bladder expand and then no or limited amounts of fluids after 6pm. You should ensure your daughter uses the toilet immediately before going to bed and it may even be necessary to waken your child and walk her to the toilet when you are going to bed. Don't lift her out and let her go when she is asleep as this will just confuse her body. She needs to be awake and aware that she is using the toilet.
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Avoid using nappies once potty training is established; this can lead to confusion and may set things back.
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