Potty Training Tips for a Child in Daycare

Over sixty percent of children, who range in age from newborns to six year olds, attend a day care on a regular basis. For this reason, when potty training time rolls around, it is important that parents work with the staff at the daycare to make sure the process will go along as smoothly as possible. Proper guidance, support and encouragement from parents and daycare staff can make a tremendous difference in how fluid the adjustment is from wearing diapers to being a big kid who is completely potty trained.

First, it is essential for parents to determine if the timing is right to train their youngster on the potty. Most children are ready to be potty trained somewhere between the ages of two and three but it is necessary to pick up on cues from your little one that he or she is ready.

There are specific cues that signal potty training readiness such as -

• When your child expresses a curiosity as well as an interest in knowing about the potty and how it works
• When your child shares with you either through words or through body language, such as pointing or pulling at the diaper, that she needs to use the toilet or potty
• When your child has mastered the art of both dressing herself and undressing herself
• When your child has no problem remaining dry for a period of two hours or more
• When your child shows distaste or discomfort with wearing a wet diaper
• When your child begins to have consistent bowel movements
• When your child begins to show an interest in wearing underwear as opposed to diapers

When your little one attends daycare, she is likely to notice other children around her who successfully use the potty and who wear cotton underpants instead of diapers. This subtle form of peer pressure often motivates children in a positive manner toward potty training.

Make sure the daycare provider and other staff members are aware that you have begun to introduce potty training to your child. The staff can assist in this process by watching for the appropriate signs as well as being forthcoming when the child asks questions about the potty during the daytime hours.

Parents should rent or buy a video about potty training tips and then watch it with their child. Another option is to read a book about the process and then have time for questions afterwards. Be as upfront as you can with your child and let her know that you are always there to talk about potty training with her.

The staff members at your child’s daycare are likely to have plenty of useful tips and suggestions for you as the potty training process begins. Discuss your plan and coordinate your efforts to make sure you are on the same page. In order not to confuse your youngster, it is important that the approach at home is similar to that used at the daycare.

Guidance for potty training is very important, as is the setting down of certain rules regarding the process. Work with the daycare staff to come up with rules that can be taken advantage of both at home and at the daycare center. For example, you should decide that a child will not be scolded or punished for having an accident in her pants while she is being potty trained. Additionally you might decide to give the child a happy face sticker for her hand or shirt as a reward every time she uses the potty properly.

Regular potty training progress reports need to be communicated between the parent and the daycare provider. When your child had a good evening or weekend potty wise, let the daycare know. When a child has shown progress in using the potty, make sure the parent is told. This open line of communication goes a long way in helping potty training proceed along a successful track. It also helps a child feel supported and encouraged with the entire procedure.