Potty Training: With Other Caregivers
Potty Training: What to discuss
When more than one set of caregivers are involved it is important that all participants be in agreement as to how potty training will be handled. A few things to discuss are:
The type of potty seat being used
Some choose to use a regular size toilet with a potty seat placed on the seat, others choose to use a child size potty chair. When discussing these options with your caregiver, keep in mind if you are using a potty chair at home this may not be a realistic option for the caregiver. If this is the case, then you can determine if you will use both or decide to use the more convenient seat on the toilet method. Even though it may make the process easier if both places were the same, it will not necessarily hinder your child from being potty trained.
Will you use pull-ups or underwear
Often when we start to potty train we get much advice as to which is better, those from the old- school think that pull-ups are a waste of time. “Let them feel it” is the consensus. While this may not be far from truth, the use of cloth underwear can be a messy task to take on, but the old-schoolers swear by it. Again when having this discussion with your childcare provider keep in mind that cloth underwear, especially in the beginning stages may not be a realistic way to go. You may first want to work with using cloth underwear at home and then gradually introduce it at daycare along with rubber pants for sanitary reasons.
Reward system used to praise child
This may seem like a small thing yet it is so very important in the process of potty training. Most providers use stickers and peer praise to encourage a child that has successfully used the potty. It would be a good idea for this reward system to apply both at home and at daycare for consistency purposes. If a special accumulative prize is given at the end of a dry week or after every few days, follow through is important to keep the momentum going. Work together in determining a good reward system so the child knows exactly what to expect for his successful potty training efforts.
Potty training is not an exact science, so do not treat it as one. If it were, there would not be so many different books and helpful tools to assist in getting our young ones potty trained. Remember to be patient, and never let your frustrations show. Working together with your child’s caregiver takes joint effort to accomplish one common goal of getting your child potty trained. Keep in mind that your caregiver may very well be you first line of defense having gone through the experience repeatedly with other children. Be careful not to alienate the person who cares for your child and who can if they chose too, not help at all. It is also important to remember that your child is not the only child that is in their care so stories of how you can tell when your child needs to use the toilet is irrelevant and annoying. The same loving care you expect for your child, they are also giving to other children in care. Be considerate in the process of those who are helping you and you will find this journey to be a smooth one.
