Potty Training

It might seam silly to be asking this because it’s the child that’s being potty trained, however before you start to potty train your child you should make sure you are prepared. Don't rush into potty training, many parents will jump into this without fully giving it their all or being ready for the commitment it can require. You must be willing to follow it completely and to be mentally prepared for what will come. Toilet training is not the most difficult thing but you must mentally and emotionally be prepared to have an ugly mess on your hands - changing potty nappies is much easier than changing potty underwear. Potty training will probably be one of the more emotional, stressful, frustrating and difficult things you will do in a very long time.

If you’re a working parent, potty training can be very difficult and you may need to take time off from work. It will take about three days to toilet train your child. If you have multiple children make sure to focus on the one child being potty trained and try not get distracted with the other children. This is easier said than done, but it really does help. You really do need to give your child 100% of your attention. Wait to potty train until you are completely prepared for this. Starting toilet training and then giving up in the middle of it will send mixed signals to your child. When you start, you must not quit.

Before you start, make sure that everything is relatively calm in you’re his or her life. If you are having another baby, starting your child in a new school, moving, or anything else that is life changing in your child's life put off the process until things have stabilized. If you add potty training to a list of upheavals in your child's life, the experience may be forever linked in your child's mind with a sense of being out of control and unsure rather than with confident, happy feelings. In toilet training it is important to avoid feeling pressured to train your child ASAP. Many people feel pressure from time limitations or caregiver considerations, but resist that pressure. Your anxiety about potty training can create anxiety in your child. Toilet training is not a competition! You should encourage your child by fostering independence, and let your child master each step at a reasonable pace. Potty training takes time, be prepared to devote some of your own time and emotional energy to encouraging, motivating, and reinforcing the lessons on a daily basis. If you've been looking at a the preschool that won't take children until they're toilet trained, for instance, then you might have to checkout other preschools (it's not the end of the world). What is important is to let your child go to a place that's comfortable.

Potty Training: Girls vs. Boys

Most moms potty train in hopes of (finally!) being able to walk past the diaper aisle. But the difference between teaching boys and girls can seem like night and day. Both genders begin by sitting, but boys eventually learn how to stand and aim. Girls learn more quickly but have to figure out how to position themselves and wipe correctly.

To train boys and girls in their own special way:

Girls

The equipment
Try using a potty chair -- her feet will touch the floor, which relaxes her pelvic muscles. If she's using an adult toilet, give her a step stool.

Positioning
Limit spray by having her sit all the way back so her bottom and vagina are over the potty opening. Encourage her to sit with her knees apart, which will also hep relax her pelvic muscles.

Toilet tactics
Teach her to wipe (or pat) from front to back by letting her watch you. Keep her entertained and sitting with books, stickers, or music next to the potty.

Boys

The equipment
Let him use a potty chair to pee if he's not ready to stand and aim. For pooping, use a potty chair or toilet-seat insert (plus a step stool).

Positioning
Have him push his penis straight down before he sits on the potty chair to avoid scraping it on the splash guard. If he's standing, be sure to position him, feet slightly apart, directly in front of the potty.

Toilet tactics
Have him watch his dad, or show him how to aim his pee into the bowl. To improve his aim, drop a few Cheerios or goldfish crackers in the toilet, then offer him a fun sticker for hitting a few. If he's making poop, give him a book or play some music to encourage him to sit.

Potty Training: Girls vs. Boys, By Jessica Kowal, Parenting