If you have a small child, you might be dreading the day when potty training begins. It is important to know that every child learns differently and on a different schedule but with the potty tips provided below, the process would be easier and a lot more successful. Please, vote on your favorite suggestions or add your own potty training tips for girls or boys to the list.

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1. Follow the child's lead

Although you would certainly want to encourage your child to use the big boy or girl potty, the truth is that children will decide when they are ready. This means you will need to start paying attention to your child’s level of attention and interest in the regular bathroom and follow his/her lead.

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Points: 19

2. Associate words with the action

Start early and choose words for urinating and bowel movements so when your child goes in the diaper, you can call it the name, “pee pee”, “poopy”, or whatever you choose. That way, you are educating your child to associate bodily functions with names that would make potty training easier.

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Points: 17

3. Make it enjoyable

Try to make potty training more enjoyable. If you force it on them or you become too serious, the child is probably going to revolt. Instead, keep a favorite toy or book near the potty chair so when he/she is placed on the seat there is something fun to do.

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Points: 15

4. Never scold

As you go through this process, you will quickly discover that the child may use the potty several days in row and then suddenly start going in the diaper again. If your child decides not to use the potty, scolding him or her when the diaper is used would do nothing but push the training back to the start. Therefore, never get angry or upset as this process generally takes months, if not a year for some children to complete.

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Points: 14

5. Regimen

One of the most helpful potty tips is to try to get your child on a regimen. For instance, you need to identify your child’s normal bathroom patterns and then place him/her on the potty only a few minutes prior.

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Points: 13

6. Reintroduction

It would also be beneficial to place your child on the training chair every three to four hours, again for just a few minutes at a time. This establishes a habit and makes the child even more comfortable with the regularity of using the potty.

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Points: 11

7. Flushing

Many parents have learned this lesson the hard way – never flush in front of the child. Seriously, some children panic if they see stool being flushed away. It causes fear and anxiety in that the child believes a part of their body is being lost or destroyed.

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Points: 9

8. Praise

When your child indicates a need to potty or actually goes in the potty chair, offer lots of praise. Encourage the child to show the contents of the potty to the rest of the family and engage everyone to cheer the big success.

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Points: 9

9. Preparation

It is important to stick to a routine so if your child goes to daycare or you are planning a trip, make sure you take everything with you so the training can continue no matter where the child is.

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Points: 7

10. Bribes

While this one of the controversial potty tips, bribing can sometimes help. Keep in mind that there is a right and wrong way of providing a bribe. Instead of offering the child something sweet to eat or drink, you can give them a small sticker or play a special game as a reward.

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Points: 6

11. Underwear

One option that works great when it comes to potty tips is purchasing big boy or big girl panties in his/her favorite cartoon character or action figure. You can explain to your child that once the potty chair is used full-time, the diapers would disappear and the child can switch to the big person underwear.

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Points: 5

12. Patience

One of the best tips that go along with potty training is to be patient. The truth is that potty training wears on your nerves because children rarely do what you want when they are still young. However, the more patient you are, the better response you will get from your child.

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Points: 3

1 MORE USER SUGGESTION

1. Potty training board (by anita4)

Introduce a potty training board. Decorate it with your child. Every time he/she goes to the potty, give them a sticker to put on the board. Keep them excited about collecting more and more stickers.

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Points: 0

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