Hello and welcome to Toilet training basics: Getting ready.

I'm Melany, a pediatric occupational therapist with Alberta Health Services.

Spending a bit of time preparing for toilet training can really help the whole process go smoothly and have fewer surprises along the way.

There are 3 things that need to be ready before you start with toilet training: your home, you, and your child.

Getting your home ready to begin toilet training includes, getting the bathroom ready.

Planning activities to help with training.

Choosing the reward to reinforce going pee and poop in the toilet.

Deciding what your child will wear.

And knowing how to deal with accidents.

You won't need much to begin toilet training.

For most parents or caregivers, your first decision is whether your child will start with a stand-alone potty or use the toilet.

If you choose a potty, please keep a few things in mind.

Keep it in the bathroom.

A huge part of toilet training is learning that when you need to pee and poop, you have to stop what you're doing and go to the bathroom.

If the potty is moving around the house with your child, they are not learning this important skill.

A moving potty isn't much different than wearing a diaper.

After your child learns to use the potty, they'll have to make the switch to the toilet at some point.

For some children, this is an easy switch.

For others, this will be another step and it may make toilet training take longer, especially if they're used to the potty moving around the house.

One advantage to using the toilet from the start is that it's already in the bathroom.

You may need to get a foot stool and a child's potty seat to help your child fit and be comfortable on the toilet.

Smaller children may need help getting on and off the toilet for the first few months.

In order to learn to use the toilet, your child will need to spend time in the bathroom.

This is not always the most exciting place in the house.

Activities that will entertain your child while they are sitting on the toilet can really help with the toilet training process.

It'll help pass time for the first few days, while your child's learning to pee in the toilet.

What activities can help with toilet training?

Basically, anything.

You can use toys, music, books, or any activity your child enjoys.

The night before you start toilet training, bring the toys and the books that you'll be using into the bathroom, so that you don't need to run around the house to find something for your child to do.

Rewards are an important part of toilet training.

Your child will be learning a new skill and you want to reinforce success.

This will help them want to do it again and again.

Rewards can be as simple as being praised after they pee and poop.

Some children are motivated by getting to put stickers on a chart.

A small treat, like a potato chip or a raisin, can also be motivating.

The reward could be an activity, like getting to pop bubbles, playing with a balloon, or playing with a special toy.

The important part of getting a reward is that it should be available right away after your child pees or poops in the toilet.

Think about what your child will wear when toilet training.

Starting with underwear is a great choice for many children.

Some children think underwear is still a diaper because it fits like a diaper.

Instead of underwear, have your child wear a longer shirt, loose pants, shorts, or nothing at all for the first few days.

It is not recommended to use Pull-Ups.

Pull-Ups keep your child dry, just like diapers.

Your child knows exactly what to do in a diaper.

Pee and poop in it.

Pull-Ups really don't help with toilet training.

Getting your home ready for toilet training includes thinking about places where you don't want your child to have an accident.

Many parents use Pull-Ups to keep accidents from happening in these places, but this doesn't help toilet training.

There are other ways you can protect these areas.

Roll up small area rugs and move them out of the way.

If possible, keep your child out of carpeted rooms for the first few days.

You could also lay down plastic tablecloths or training pads on the carpet.

If an accident does happen, pet stain and odor remover spray can help with spot cleaning.

You may consider steam cleaning carpets after toilet training, if needed.

It's not an easy job to wash a car seat and its cover.

One solution is to lay a training pad into the car seat.

They're thin, the car seat still works properly, and they'll absorb the pee.

This way your child won't be confused by going back into a diaper or Pull-Up.

Avoid using the couch for the first few days of toilet training.

If your child can't stay off the furniture, use a training pad or a washable blanket in the spot where your child sits.

You don't need to start nighttime training on the same day as daytime toilet training.

Until you're ready to start nighttime training, put your child to bed in a diaper.

Planning for nighttime training is covered in another video in this series.

Now that you have a plan to get your home ready, here are some things you can do to get yourself ready.

Look at your calendar to find a few days when you can stay home with your child and focus only on toilet training.

Let your family and friends know when you're going to start toilet training so they can be there to support you and your child and cheer both of you on.

Prepare for mess.

Your child is learning a new skill, and you're learning how to teach.

Accidents are part of the learning process and there will be some mess.

The most important part of getting yourself ready is having a plan.

Keep the plan simple, like the one we'll talk about now.

Another video in this series will give you more details about each of these steps and how to actually teach and help your child.

We've already talked about picking a start day and getting ready.

Some more things to think about are, getting everything ready the night before you start.

Having the reward or praise ready.

And then start.

Remove your child's diaper when you're ready to begin.

Take your child to the bathroom.

Know when you're taking your child to the bathroom.

Know when to leave the bathroom.

Let's talk about getting ready the night before.

Make a checklist of the things that you want in the bathroom while toilet training and the things you need to protect or cover in your home.

This might include:

Toys, music, books to keep your child entertained.

Having drinks or snacks available in the bathroom.

You may be spending a bit of time in there.

Rewards, stickers, treats, bubbles.

Decide when and how often you'll take your child to the bathroom.

Pick how long you'll wait between bathroom visits.

It's usually between 45 and 90 minutes.

You know your child best.

How often do they need their diaper changed now?

Consider if they have a predictable time of day that they go poop.

These are good things to make note of, so you'll have fewer surprises when you start toilet training.

Knowing when to leave the bathroom is as important as knowing when to go.

Keep it simple.

Don't leave until your child pees or poops.

Yes, this can take some time at first.

Use the praise and the rewards you've planned when your child does successfully use the toilet.

Your home is now ready.

You're ready.

What can you do to help your child get ready?

Here are 3 things.

Using stories can help to get your child ready for toilet training.

Switching from using a diaper to using the toilet, it's a big change.

While some children handle big changes just fine, many do better if they know what's coming.

One great way to introduce the idea of toilet training is to read books about it.

Your local library will have children's books that talk about toilet training.

If you can, move all diaper changes into the bathroom.

This helps your child get used to the idea that the bathroom is an OK place, that peeing and pooping happen in the bathroom, and that the toilet or the potty is an OK thing to sit on.

Changing diapers in a bathroom can be different.

Try a standing diaper change.

Walk your child into the bathroom and stand them in front of the toilet or the potty.

Take off the diaper and have them sit down on the toilet or potty while you grab the clean diaper and get a diaper wipe ready.

They're just sitting there for a moment to get used to how it feels.

Then wipe them and put on the new diaper.

Put clothes back on and have them wash their hands.

If you do this with every diaper change during the day, learning to pee and poop in the toilet doesn't seem like such a big change for your child.

Bathroom diaper changes should include the first diaper change in the morning and the last diaper change before bed.

Check their poop.

Being constipated can make toilet training harder.

Your child might be constipated if they don't poop every day, if their poop is hard and dry like rabbit poop, or if they have pain when pooping.

Talk to your family doctor or other healthcare provider if you have questions about constipation.

Watch the last video in this series to learn more about dealing with constipation.

Taking the time to get your home, you, and your child ready will help toilet training go more smoothly.

Now that you're ready, continue to watch the videos in this series to help you teach your child to use the toilet.

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