10 Easy Ways To Potty Train a Baby

Potty training a baby is an uphill task this I only understood after becoming a parent. Here in this post, I will share my experience and 10 easy ways to potty train a baby.

As a grown-up using a potty seat is a daily routine thing, we hardly consider it an achievement.

But as a parent, seeing your baby reach tiny milestones makes you so proud.

All our professional accomplishments are side-lined, when we see our baby’s first smile, his first walk, listen to his first words.

These achievements make you a happy and relaxed parent.. 

It assures you that everything is fine with your child.

Your child is on par with other kids in the growth-chart.

Here, I am discussing one such accomplishment of my baby, how I potty trained him, which got me relieved from a perplexing situation.

 It was the month of March in a fortnight my 3-year-old was all set to start his nursery in a big, formal school.

He used to inform us comfortably when he had to use the washroom.

But my dilemma at this stage was that he was still using a diaper, for potty and was not ready to use a potty seat.

I tried both fancy tiny potty seats and toilet trainer seats, but he was so comfortable doing it in diapers, that he was not ready for the transition.

I discussed my problem with some of my friends, one mommy with two kids suggested that as soon as he starts feeling pressure you quickly make him sit on the seat.

She said she tried this with her younger son, and it worked.

I liked her idea and thought of applying it, the very next day.

So, the next morning I was all set to employ the same action as soon as I saw him trying for potty. 

I quickly came and made him sit on the potty seat. 

But my problem worsened because seeing me hurrying up confused him, he started crying and controlled the urge to poop.

Not pooping on time gave rise to other issues like stomach ache and constipation.

Then one day, it came to my mind to put enema so that he cannot control the desire to poop, and then I will make him sit on the seat.

I consulted about it with my mother-in-law, who is a doctor, but she didn’t entertain my idea, saying give your child some time. Everything will be fine, no need to panic.

In an attempt to potty train him I tried tempting my child with the chocolates, playdate with friends, and toys if he starts using the potty seat.

But all my tactics to lure him had failed miserably, and he remained adamant to poop on diapers only.

The more I panicked, the more rigid he became.

I knew it was urgent, but all my efforts were going in the vain because of my attitude and techniques I implemented to potty train him.

The situation was getting tougher to handle.

It was time to stay calm, do some introspection, and carry out things in a planned and friendly manner.

So, here are the ten things that I did to Potty Train my baby come out from my difficult situation:

1. It is tough to stay calm and composed when you have a timeline to make your child learn something, and your child is not cooperating. As a parent, you know its importance and gravity but remember your child is too small to understand that. Therefore, do not panic or show your fears and urgency to the child.
2. Parents should grant their children some amount of time to readily get accustomed to the change. Giving time helps in preparing a child’s brain to adopt newer things in life happily and willingly. This will allow the transition from using diapers and switching to the potty seat a lot easier.
3. Focus on the child’s lateral learning. Tell your child steadily and consistently why being potty trained is important and what are the hygiene-related benefits of using the washroom.
4. I told him about how normal it is and how easily all adults have adopted it. Every day, I used to talk to him and tell him that big boys like your father and grandpa use washrooms only babies use diapers.
5. Other family members also supported him by telling him every day that using washrooms is so much fun how he is deprived of the same because of his fear and not ready to try something new. 
6. Every day, I used to read these three books from the Caillou series- Good Night Caillou, No More Diapers, and Potty Time. These books inspired him a lot. He liked the character of the little boy, Caillou so much that he wanted me to call him, Caillou. This helped in positively sowing the seed in his mind, that as we grow big, we need to adapt ourselves to newer things in life. I kept telling him how Caillou is growing big and independent with time. Caillou has now started sleeping all alone, he has stopped using diapers, and has started using Potty Seat. This is how gradually we overcome our fears as we grow old.
7. Play pretend games with toddlers- In which they take their dolls or soft toys on toy potty-seat when they poop.
8. Show the video Elmo’s Potty Time- This video is very useful and interesting. Kids can relate to it. It can influence them to use the potty seat.
9. Daily, give kids lots of fruits and vegetables to eat so that their poop time remains fixed.
10. Daily I use to remind him of the toys and goodies, I promised to get for him, once he starts using the potty seat. We used to discuss which toy we can buy.

The consistent efforts and no forceful trials, from my end, helped in evaporating the fear of the unknown, he had in his mind. 

Every day he used to say to me -‘Mom see I am also growing big, and I will surely use the potty seat tomorrow morning’.

I was anxiously waiting for that tomorrow to arrive when he will be potty trained. 

After my persistent efforts one morning, it finally happened.

When I saw him trying, I instantly made him sit on the potty seat.

But that day I got a little late, and he pooped on the diaper only. 

Still, I pretended that he pooped, after sitting on the potty seat.

I showed him his poop in the pot, and he believed me.

That day, I told this to everyone I spoke on the phone, in front of him, that my baby has grown big, and he has started using a potty seat now. He has, therefore, earned a toy of his choice. 

Appreciative words made him feel proud and excited about his accomplishment.

So the next morning was crucial, he again hesitated in using the potty seat. 

Then I said baby yesterday you did a great job, you already defeated your fears, and see how easy it was for you. 

Let’s go to the washroom and try on the potty seat now this time he was willing and felt motivated, so he agreed. 

For the next few days, I kept on motivating him the whole day, so that the next morning he feels comfortable and excited.

Gradually after some days, he got accustomed and comfortable. 

I fulfilled the goodies promise I made to him. 

Thankfully, this ended my dilemma and made me so relaxed.

Parents are indeed on cloud nine, seeing their babies achieve every tiny milestone in life. These are some happy and rewarding moments in a parent’s life.