Between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, many children start showing signs of being ready to shift from diapers to underwear, with girls beginning the said process earlier than boys.
According to a pediatrician, Dr. Ari Brown, girls start potty training earlier than boys because they reach an age where they are more aware of soiling their diapers.
You may notice your daughter reaching the said age if she is becoming uncomfortable in her diaper or is communicating with you - in her ways - that she needs to be changed.
However, you may want to avoid potty training your daughter when significant changes are coming up like starting nursery or arrival of a new sibling, because she may feel overwhelmed for another challenge in her life. Best if you wait until your daughter is settled down, so as your potty training to be off to the best start.
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To help you get started, here are five potty training tips for your daughters:
Start having an open-door bathroom policy at home
Your daughter will have the opportunity to see how you use the bathroom and learn from it with this policy. After all, children learn by imitation. It is your chance to guide her about the mechanics of how a boy and a girl use the bathroom differently, as she notices how you use it, and how her father uses it. However, it would help to be thoughtful of the language you use. You must be clear and consistent. If your daughter resists, do not pressure her because this will only lead to a power struggle that could spoil the whole training process.
Look out for potty time signs
As parents, you must remain aware of your daughters' need to use the toilet, especially when little girls like them tend to get bladder infections because of having their dirty diapers on for a long time. And the sooner you get your daughter to the bathroom, the better. Observe and recognize signs that she needs to use the toilet; she could be hopping from one foot to another, wriggling, and holding her hands between her legs.
Help your daughter to relax
Since your daughter is used with diapers, a big change, such as going to the bathroom for her potty breaks, can be overwhelming. Help her to relax by staying inside the bathroom with her. You can also read and talk to your daughter during her potty break. Your little one may only need your encouragement and comfort.
Invest in the right potty-training equipment
Each child differs and has a unique personality. For parents, this can help consider what potty training tools you should buy. If your daughter feels uncomfortable using the adult toilet with her potty training, you may want to invest in a smaller and toddler-friendly toilet rather than a removable seat. And if you finally bought her potty, you could let her personalize it by writing her name on it or designing it with her favorite stickers.
RELATED: Goodbye Diapers! Portable Potty for Your Little One
Stay positive and calm
When it comes to training a child, there is nothing stronger than a positive and calm attitude. Talking to your daughter about her potty training in a casual and upbeat manner can help her grasp that it is something that everyone does and is something that she can master. While training her, reward or praise your daughter whenever she does a good job. However, be careful with punishing her if ever she did not make it in the bathroom in time. Do not make her feel bad, and just tell her to continue trying.
