One of the first challenges we face as a parent, is teaching our little ones to use the potty.
As you read further, I'll discuss some of the costs, and health risks, associated with prolonged diaper usage.
For now however, I want to share with you my experience with this whole process.
Our three-year-old has made parenting seem easy for us.
He just has the best personality.
Right up until we tried to potty train him.
Then I started wondering where our little bundle of joy went.
He made it obvious that it was time to start the training process.
He would let us know that he needed to go to the bathroom.
The problem was, he didn't want to use his potty; he only wanted a new diaper.
We started using the usual techniques probably most parents try.
However, none of those were effective.
In fact, when we tried them, he simple cried his precious head off.
It became obvious, that we were going about this the wrong way.
I subsequently educated myself on the topic and would like to share with what I've learned.
First and foremost, I was shocked to discover the medical issues related to prolonged diaper usage.
By putting off the potty training process (or giving into our child's resistance to potty training), we are risking our child's well-being.
There is a stage when your child may resist potty training, and simultaneously, find soiled diapers incredibly uncomfortable.
During this stage, your child will begin holding back waste.
The longer this stage lasts, the more likely it can lead to bladder infections, intestinal damage, and the need for medical treatment.
I've also learned that most children are ready for potty training far sooner than we think.
In fact, studies indicate that the majority of children are ready a year prior to their parents first attempts at potty training.
That is, when most parents begin to notice the more obvious signs of readiness, their child has already been primed for 12-months.
This delay on our part, is often what causes diaper dependency in the first place.
This also means we end up buying a years of diapers that we didn't really need.
This can equate to $2,000.
00 worth of unnecessary diaper expense.
And now for the technique we used to potty train our son.
This is an aggressive yet simple method that can work if you are committed.
Pick a day that you will be able to invest 100% of your time into.
Plan on your child going bottomless ALL DAY (except for nap-time).
It IS important that they are wearing a shirt.
You do not want them to associate going potty, with being completely naked (unless you want them to feel the need to strip completely nude every time they need to go).
You'll most likely want to be spending your time outdoors, in the basement, on a tile-floor, etc.
for this process.
Now just wait.
When your child indicates that they need to go, attempt to put them on the potty.
If they are willing, great; give them praise and repeat the process for the remainder of the day.
Condition them to use the potty.
If they are not willing to set on the potty, then wait until they can no longer hold it.
With a plastic potty on stand-by, get them on it at that time (that's right - in mid action).
You should have plenty of warning if it is "number two.
" In either case, you are taking the diaper out of the equation.
This is a completely new experience for them and they should look to you for guidance.
They will be more receptive to your attempts.
After a few events like this, they will quickly learn the appropriate response.
After couple of events, introduce underwear.
Remove the underwear when they begin indicating it's time.
If they have an accident, the soiled underwear will be extremely uncomfortable to them (diapers are too efficient at keeping moister away - underwear is unforgiving).
This will strongly enforce the fact that they must remove the underwear before going next time.
A couple more events, and you should be home free.