Potty Training

When it comes time to potty train your children, you may not even know where to start. If you have used cloth diapers with your children all along, or even disposable diapers that resemble real underwear, you can help to make your transition from needing changes to going on their own much easier to deal with. Studies have shown that children who wear cloth diapers begin potty training at younger ages and learn how to effectively use the potty much faster than children who use regular disposable diapers.

Why would children who wear cloth diapers potty train at a younger age? Because cloth diapers do not store away as much waste as disposable diapers, they have to be changed more often or feelings of discomfort will occur. Because of both those feelings of discomfort and the more regular routine of changing diapers, the act of going to the potty can be more easily reinforced. And because cloth diapers more readily resemble big kid underwear, that transition can be more easily accomplished.

How do you know if it is time to start potty training? When your child becomes extremely mobile on their own and begins to recognize when they have gone to the bathroom in their diapers, it may be time to start potty training. Begin leading your child to the bathroom when they talk about having to poop or pee. Even if they still do so in their diaper, they will begin to learn where it is appropriate to go when they have to go!

When they have already gone to the bathroom, take them into the actual bathroom to change their diaper. This will also help them to be able to associate the act of going potty with where the potty is actually located. When you get to a point where your child alerts you before they go to the bathroom in their diaper, lead them into the bathroom and place them on the toilet to encourage them to use it. The first few times will be really hard and awkward, but again, this is just establishing a routine. Once they have figured out where to go and what to do once they get there, it will all become easier in the long run.

Potty training can be made to seem extremely stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. Placing your child on a potty when they don’t have to go will only frustrate both your child and yourself. Instead, follow their natural instincts and help to guide them by building sensible routines that they can easily adapt to and follow. Before you know it, your cloth diapers will be a thing of the past and your child will be potty trained!