Parent to Parent: Potty training

From diaper duty...

Amanda Frank, mom
"Do you need to use the potty, Sweetie? No."

To potty patrol, teaching toddlers the bathroom basics is a tough task for parents.

Amanda Frank, mom
"It's been a long process. I never knew how long it takes."

Kids usually begin potty training anywhere from 18-months to 4-years-old, but doctors stress moms and dads need to flush away the rulebook. Every toddler has their own timetable!

Dr. Claire McCarthy, Martha Eliot Health Center
"If they can't tell you what it is they want to do, you're not going to get very far. They need to have the motor skills to pull down their diaper or their pants and sit down on the potty."

Potty training can take several months, so avoid "tackling the toilet" when your schedule is hectic.

Dr. Claire McCarthy, Martha Eliot Health Center
"There's times in every family's life when this is just not going to fly. Maybe, it's a new baby, a new job [or] a new house."

And if your kid is struggling with the big change, take a bathroom break!

Amanda Frank, mom
"Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. We're just letting her do it at her own pace."

Dr. Claire McCarthy, Martha Eliot Health Center
"Maybe the kid is on overload and feeling bad about it. Maybe they need to give it a break and come back to it."

Plus, don't make it all work and no fun!

Dr. Claire McCarthy, Martha Eliot Health Center
"Sing songs, play games, make it a fun thing, draw pictures about it, read books about it.

And don't forget the potty praise.

Amanda Frank, mom
"Good job!"

When it comes to praise, doctors say it's not a good idea to always give kids a prize for using the potty.

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