Is Your Child Ready for the “Big” Potty? 3 GREAT Tips
Potty training a little one is exciting. Your child has a newfound sense of independence, and you have fewer diapers to buy (or wash). So with things going so well, you may wonder: “is my child ready for the big potty?”
Parents whose children are a little older usually want their child to transition to a regular-size, functioning potty. That’s natural — you’ve finally ditched the diapers (whew!).
But if you start the transition when your little one isn’t ready yet, they may regress. And no parent wants that.
Here’s what you need to know for a smooth transition.
In This Article:
- 3 Ways to Know They’re Ready For the Big Potty
- Tips for the Transition
- If Your Child STOPS Using the Big Potty
- Need More Help?
3 Ways to Know They’re Ready For The Big Potty
#1: Your Child is Getting Taller
The most intimidating part of the family potty is an obvious one. Your little one is so small…and that toilet seat is so high.
But if your child is a little older and taller than when they first toilet trained, the family potty won’t seem so intimidating.
If your child is small for their age, you may want to wait for a few more inches’ growth before making the switchover.
#2: Your Child is Interested in The Grownup Potty
This may have happened with their training potty, too: all of a sudden, your little guy or gal is fascinated with the toilet.
When a child points to or talks about “going” on the toilet, they may be ready for the big potty.
Check out Tips for The Transition below to get them started.
#3: Your Child is Verbal, or Can Understand Signs
Many toddlers are able to speak by the time they toilet train. However, various factors can mean your child has limited expressive language at this stage.
Other children are very verbal by the time they are ready to transition to the big potty.
If your little one is able to speak well or uses baby hand signs, they may be ready to use the big potty.
Tips for Transitioning to the Big Potty
- Introduce the idea of the big potty enthusiastically — but don’t go over the top. You may make your child nervous.
- Use a training seat with a stool so your child feels secure.
- Give your child a limited amount of toilet paper for each potty session.
- If your child wants to use their training potty once in a while, let them. Don’t make the transition a big deal.
- Keep extra pants and underwear in your car or bag, just in case.
- Let your child flush. Believe it or not, this is big fun for toddlers!
If Your Child STOPS Using the Big Potty
Many preschoolers have moments when they want to go back to their original training potty. These can include:
- A recent illness
- A need for more attention than they’ve been getting
- A change in the household that makes them want to go back to being “little” for a bit
- A new baby in the house, or a younger sibling training on their very own potty
Be casual if your little one wants to go back to “their” potty. This may happen once in a while, or it might be a full-time request for a few days.
Remember: your child is out of diapers — that’s a big plus! If your child seems to go in “reverse,” praise them for going in the potty. Never tell them they are not a “big boy” or “big girl,” and never shame your child for wanting to act littler every so often.
Eventually, your child will potty on the family toilet for good. Taking steps now to help them make the switch happily will pay off in the long run.
Need More Help? Contact Me!
What if you think your child should be ready for the big potty, but they just won’t make that transition? Contact me! I’ve helped thousands of toddlers and preschoolers with achieving potty milestones.
Check out what my clients say about my program on my home page.
Is Your Child Ready for the Big Potty?
Or Is He Insisting on His Training Potty Instead?
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