Do you need advice on how potty training a 3 year old? Are you worried that you missed the bus to potty training ground? Are you wondering where you went wrong and if it is still possible to potty train your child at three years old?
My own toddler was still yelling “I hate the bathroom!” at three when I finally decided that I had had enough. By then I was also busy taking care of my one year old daughter and she was completely crazy about all the dirty diapers. So despite crying and pleading (which can be touching at times, I must admit), I had to remove her safety diapers.
Surprisingly, my son didn’t take it as badly as I thought he would. A couple of days after our initial “potty talk,” the tears and tantrums started to subside. Here are some tips I found helpful in weaning my son out of the diapers he’s grown accustomed to.
1. Make it a ceremony.
The day you throw out all the diapers in the house, make sure your child is there to watch. Make a show of it by telling him that he’s not a baby anymore but a “big boy” now and therefore he doesn’t need diapers. Ask your husband to join as well.
2. Take your child shopping.
Take your son when shopping for underpants. For daughters, make it a “mommy and me” type of event. Ask them to choose the designs they like. For the children, ask their father to accompany them. This will make your little one feel like he’s going through an important rite of passage, with dad supporting him.
3. Invest in a kid-friendly potty.
Many children are afraid of the bathroom because they can fall. Buy a child-sized potty to alleviate this fear. However, don’t forget to expose them to the full-size bathroom and toilet as well. They will have to get used to it in the future.
Always be sure to offer encouragement and support in potty training your 3-year-old. There will be accidents. Just show them what you would like them to do without making them feel bad about it. And be sure to always offer praise every time they do what they are supposed to do.
Read on for more great and useful ideas on how to potty train your 3-year-old. Feel free to use this great resource to learn more about helping 3-year-olds potty learn.