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Potty Training Older Child

When Should I Start Potty Training My Child

Not all children are ready for potty training at the same age. While it’s ideal to potty train your child as early as possible, it’s perfectly normal to potty train kids by the age of 3 or even older.

You may be wondering when the best time to start potty training your child is. Instead of using age as the main factor to consider, look for signs to find out just when your child is ready to start potty training. 

Here are some signs to tell when to begin potty training older an child:

  • Your child can follow simple instructions.
  • Your child can associate the use of the potty with peeing or pooping.
  • Your child can understand and express words about using the potty.
  • Your child can keep the diaper dry for at least 2 hours.
  • Your child shows interest in using the potty.

Tips on Potty Training Older Child

If you have noticed the aforementioned signs, your child is most likely ready to start potty training. Here are some strategies you can follow when potty training an older child:

Follow a routine.

Creating a routine is vital for potty training your older child. Going to the potty is a new thing for your child, so he may not notice the urge or may not want to stop playing even when there’s an urge. Reminding your child every 1-2 hours about going to the potty helps him view using the toilet as a normal part of his daily routine.

Let them take control.

You might feel the need to control your child’s potty training to minimize mess and avoid accidents, but older kids want control, so you’ll have to relinquish it. Make your child feels like he is the one in charge of his own bathroom habits.

Kids may be anxious and refuse to go to the potty when they feel forced and pressured. Make your child understand that it is his choice and that he can decide to go to the potty on his own when he’s ready.

Offer rewards.

Instead of punishing your child when he doesn’t do potty training, reward him whenever he does. Use different rewards like candies, stickers, and small toys, and see which reward works best and gets him excited. You can give rewards for every successful bathroom trip or accident-free day.

Set rules.

It’s healthy to set rules for what should happen during an accident. You can start by letting your child change into dry clothes after an accident on his own. This reinforces the idea that he is now a big boy who can independently handle his toilet responsibilities.

Take advantage of their copycat behavior. 

Kids naturally have an imitative behavior and you can take advantage of this when potty training. Let your child spend time with potty-trained children to spark their curiosity and encourage motivation. 

Potty training is a crucial stage, so it’s important for you to always keep a positive attitude. Avoid shaming your child and offer rewards or simple praises for potty successes. When accidents do happen, try not to be hard on them and just clean up. Give your child time to get used to this new daily task and be patient throughout.