Parents, is your toddler ready to transition from diapers to underwear? Learn about the signs here.
What can you read in this article?
- What is the best age to potty train?
- Signs your child is not ready for potty training
- Tips to help your child be successful at potty training
If your toddler gives you signs of potty training readiness, then it's probably time to transition from diapers to underwear. This process is usually arduous for most parents, but it is certainly not impossible.
When to potty train boys? And at what age is it advisable to start potty training your baby girl?
While there seems to be a difference in how the two sexes develop and reach their milestones (for instance, boys walk earlier and girls tend to be advanced in talking), the American Academy of Pediatrics think that the average age of full potty training doesn’t really differ between boys and girls.
According to Healthline, the average age that parents are potty training their kid is around 27 months. However, some experts believe that before 18 months, toddlers don't have control over their bladder and bowels so training before this time may not yield the best results.
So, can you suddenly begin the diapers to underwear transition?
The answer is, NO!
Signs that your child is ready to potty train
Your first task should be to track your child's readiness in order to make the transition. This is crucial because you cannot force this change onto him unless he is ready. So begin by tracking the following signs in your child:
- Pulls down his dry diaper
- Hides when he poops or pees
- Takes interest in how you do your business or sneaks into the bathroom when you are there
- Doesn't soil his diaper for a few hours
- Wakes up with clean and dry diapers and then proceeds to remove his diaper to poop
- Informs you that he has either soiled his diaper or wants to go to the bathroom to pee or poop
Remember that your child has been in diapers since birth. He has always been peeing and pooping in the snug feeling of a diaper. So moving from diapers to underwear can be strange. But if you observe these signs, he is certainly ready.
How do you know if it's not time yet?
Meanwhile, even if he's already at that age where most toddlers are already being potty-trained but if your child is always constantly wet (and doesn't mind it), or if he is unable to sit still in the potty for at least 5 minutes and can't pull his pants down yet or even communicate when he needs to go to the bathroom, then don't stress it.
Potty-training can wait, and it will never work unless your child is almost 100 percent ready for this big change.
And if he is, then you should also prepare to help your child make the big leap.
From diapers to underwear: How to make the transition easy for your toddler
So how do you begin? Here's how.
1. Get ready with new underwear
As soon as you notice the potty training readiness signs mentioned above, get ready to make the transition. Now is a good time to purchase new underwear.
These can include pull-ups and padded underwear just to ease the toddler in. It's actually best to transition from diapers to pull-ups, especially during the day.
For nighttime, you can get padded underwear before you attempt to go through the night without any protection. Also check if your child is waking up with dry underwear after his night's sleep. Or take note if he wets the bed and the time he does it. But don't worry, your child will eventually get through it and come out successful. Every child does.
2. Allow your toddler to lead
Just as is the case with breastfeeding, the transition from diapers to underwear should also be toddler-led. Allow your child to lead you and don't pressure him too much.
You can do this by placing potty seats in each of your bathrooms. Ask him if he wants to sit on the potty, and teach him how it's better than using a diaper.
This may sound strange and even gross to others, but if your toddler has seen somebody using the potty, it can encourage him.
You can try this method if you feel nothing else works. He might learn quickly through a practical approach.
3. Wait until he asks for underwear
In order to interest him in wearing underwear, you can take him shopping. Ask him to select the undies he likes best. This will give him something to look forward to as he makes the 'diaper to underwear' transition. You can also find underwear with really cute designs that may encourage your toddler to wear them.
Since he has already seen his new underwear, allow him to ask for it. Wait until he tells you himself that he is ready. While he isn't ready, do not pressure him or remind him of the purchase. This transition should not be forced. In fact, it should feel natural to your kid.
4. Dress him in the underwear
When your toddler asks to wear what you bought together, allow him to dress in it. This indicates his desire to make the big move and start potty training. But don't forget to stay positive and encouraging. You may notice that he fails the first few times, but don't worry, your toddler will eventually come around.
Encourage him to understand that mistakes happen and that it's all right. But he must slowly move towards using the potty you've set up for him.
Ask him to follow the sensations of his body. When he feels the need to take a dump or pee, he should come straight to you.
5. Be persistent about the transition
Just as with every other parenting activity, you will need all your patience for this task as well. If your toddler had an accident on the very first day, don't fall straight back to diapers. Give him some time to adjust.
Ask your toddler every 20 minutes if he wants to use the potty. If he nods in agreement, help him do his business and teach him how underwear is the best option for doing it in the pot. If he says 'no,' ask him again later.
But don't just stop after trying for a day. Keep at it and you will notice how quickly your toddler will learn.
READ MORE:
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6. Remain vigilant and supervise
It's not enough to just let your child do his business and make him understand the importance of transitioning from diapers to underwear. You have to be there to help him and supervise his actions.
Right off the bat, you should also expect some accidents. As with everything new that he learns, it will take him some time to pick this up too. So help your child in a matter-of-fact way, without being harsh or strict with him.
Don't worry, he'll soon become adept at potty training. And soon, he'll do his business on his own.
7. Set a nighttime routine
In the beginning, you will have to manage a lot of accidents during the night. So just to give yourself a bit of rest from all the potty training work during the day, switch to pull-ups or even cloth diapers at nighttime.
Once your toddler begins using the potty for his business and gets comfortable with underwear, you can try nap times with diapers.
A recent study by the University of Michigan notes that a child may not stay dry during the night till he is five or six years of age. The experts suggest that you can try eliminating fluids from his supper in order to check if he wets the bed during the night. And also, encourage your toddler to pee before he hits the sack.
8. They can rely on you
Assure your child that if he has any accidents in the night, he can rely on you – even if it means that you have to wake up in the middle of the night.
If you react angrily or protest about waking up in the middle of the night to clean up, it will send the wrong signal. Your toddler might feel that he is wrong in waking you up.
This might even set him back a step, and he might start bed-wetting more often. So be calm and help your child get comfortable with you.
What you must know during the transition from diaper to underwear!
Now while these steps will help you set a smooth transition from diapers to underwear in place, there is something you should know. If your toddler struggles or resists this transition, he is telling you that he is not ready yet. So back up and stop pushing him.
Sometimes pressuring your child into transitioning can be harmful to his self-esteem. He may feel that he is unable to learn something important and his failure will take away your love.
The best thing to do in such a situation is to always stay positive. You should know that there will be accidents and your toddler is too sensitive for forceful pressure. It might shake his confidence. So it's up to you to remain strong and positive, especially during the long nights where you're constantly changing sheets.
But one day, your child will triumph. You will reap the benefits of your patience and succeed in this transition along with your toddler.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Singapore