Poop, Sweat & Tears: Surviving Potty Training

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As any parent that has been through it knows, potty training is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. Not only for the child, where they have to be ready emotionally and physically, but you need to be prepared too. As a parent, it can feel stressful, time-consuming, but incredibly frustrating, especially if it doesn't catch on straight away. We've put together a simple list to help you ease the process for both you and your child. 

There Will Be Mess
Let's get this out of the way, there are going to be accidents! And it can be frustrating if you are cleaning up the mess on a regular basis, but with this part of the process, mess is an inevitability, no matter how many toddler training pants they wear. If they make a mess, there's no point in getting frustrated about it, because they will associate accidents with negativity. Instead, it's much better for you to have a calm tone of voice, and explain in a calm tone that “we need to clean this up” and get them to help you. Sooner or later, they will learn that they need to go to the toilet rather than doing their business on the floor.

Reward Your Child Appropriately
It can be very tempting to reward them with candy as a reward for every time they sit on the toilet, but this is making a rod for your own back. By doing it this way, they'll feel that junk food as a reward. Instead, you can implement your own rewards system. It could be a sticker chart, or you could heap lots of praise on them for doing it right. After a while, they will end up losing interest in the reward system because they will view going to the potty as something normal, at which point you've nailed it.

It Might Not Work Straight Away
It could very well be this way. If you've done everything in your power to potty train your child, and they are not getting the hang of it, stop. It's far better for you to put it on pause if you are at your wit's end, and come back to it when you are refreshed. There are so many aspects of parenting that can make you miserable, and potty training shouldn't be one of them. There are so many books that say it can be done in a week, but that's if you spend every single second with them, which isn't feasible. Instead, if you can spend time with them and start the potty training procedure again when you have the time, this is going to benefit you and your child.

Nobody says it's easy, but with all these potty training books that say it can be done in a week, it's important for you to bear in mind that it can take a long time. You might find that it takes longer than you anticipated, but if you take the opportunities when they arise, but also make sure that it's not a stressful process for you or the child, it will be better for everyone.

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​By Iconic Chica Mag Contributors