Potty Training 101
Patience, perseverance,
products make the process easier
By Bonny Osterhage

The transition from diapers to underwear is liberating for both parent and child. Getting there, however, can be an arduous process filled with accidents and setbacks.

To make potty training less stressful and more rewarding for both you and your child, there are a few key things to remember.

The first (and possibly the most important) is to wait until your child shows signs of readiness. According to the experts at Kimberly-Clark, makers of Huggies® products, signs can include an interest in the potty as well as a desire to have wet or soiled diapers changed immediately. You should also consider whether your child is able to stay dry for extended periods of time and whether he or she can follow simple directions.

Once you have determined your child is ready, you will need the proper tools. Books and videos on going to the potty as well as the child’s very own potty chair are all effective ways to introduce the concept of toileting. This is also a good time to make the transition from diapers to training pants. Huggies® makes Pull-Up training pants that allow the child to pull them up and down like underwear, but they have easy-open sides that make cleaning up any “accidents” a breeze. They are available in a couple of styles designed to facilitate the learning process: Cool Alert Pull-Ups feel cool when wet, while Learning Designs have pictures that fade when wet.

Once you have made the transition to training pants,
it is important not to go back to diapers.

“Switching back and forth from diapers to training pants or underwear can slow the process,” explains Jana Collier, marketing specialist with Kimberly-Clark. “Potty training is about being positive and consistent from the time you get up until the time you go to bed,” she adds.

In the beginning it is necessary to remind your child to potty frequently and on a regular basis, such as immediately upon waking up in the morning, after a nap, before bath time and 15 to 20 minutes after drinking a beverage. Setting a timer to go off at regular intervals can help.

Once your child has mastered the process, allow him to select his own underwear. You would be surprised at how superheroes and princesses can motivate a youngster to stay dry!

It is important to remember, however, that it can take much longer for a child to stay dry all night. Pull-Ups (or Pull-Ups Night Time for older children) can provide children with extra security for a good night’s sleep.No toilet training is complete without a lesson in good hygiene.

Proper hand washing should be an integral part of toilet training, and Huggies® has recently introduced “Henry the Hippo” hand soap that makes the process more fun. After dispensing a foaming soap, Henry’s head blinks for 20 seconds, allowing children to recognize the proper amount of time to wash. The company also produces flushable moist wipes that make learning to clean up less daunting.

With so many products on the market, you are bound to find the one that meets the needs of both you and your child. And don’t forget the most important weapon in your potty training arsenal: praise.

Reward any attempts at toileting with a sticker or other small treat, ignore the inevitable accident, and, above all, provide lots of encouragement and love.

For more information and potty training tips visit www.huggies.com.

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