Quick Tip: Preparing

"I have found that potty training can be somewhat tricky depending on the child.

Here are some tips.

1. Find out if your child is ready to begin potty training.

• Does she not want to stay in her wet diaper, or does she make mention of the fact that she wants her dollies to go to the bathroom?

• Does she ask you if she can go on the potty herself?

2. You may want to start by reading her a book about going to the potty so she can have a little understanding of what to expect.

3. Buy her a potty for herself.

• Watch for signs of her needing to go to potty.

• Encourage her to use her potty when she feels the need to go.

• Then reward her for her attempts, whether fully successful or not.

4. Get her potty training panties, and when she has shown that she is able to control herself somewhat, encourage her to use the potty and try to allow her to wear the potty training panties longer each time. "

By ClubMom Member Mary Jo, Farmington, MI