Potty training is an important aspect of an infant’s development. While some parents begin with this process early on, others may delay it till the infant is a little older.

Benefits of potty training infants

Early potty training helps in saving on diapers and other diaper paraphernalia and thus generates less non-biodegradable waste. By eliminating diapers babies are protected against diaper rash and diaper-related infections. It also reduces the rate urinary tract infection later in life.

Moreover, early potty training avoids many pitfalls. Kids who have spent years wearing diapers may have learnt to ignore their body signals and are used to wearing soiled diapers. Therefore, they may resist change and may even test the authority of their parents when asked to reform their habits.

The basics of potty training infants

Step 1:

You have to start by recognizing your baby’s signals of his\her need for elimination. These signals include vocalizations like crying or fussy behavior before or during elimination. There may be some subtle or obvious changes in his\her body language like wriggling, twisting, tensing or stiffening of body or your baby may pass gas or may lose interest in his\her favorite activity all of a sudden. There may be some behavioral changes as well. For instance, some babies experience a mood change from happy to grumpy or there may be a sudden change in his\her look etc.

Step 2:

Once you’ve picked up such a signal make a watery sound like ‘sssss’ or ‘pee pee’. Within a few days your baby will learn to associate this sound with elimination. So that next time you think she needs to go, hold her gently over a toilet or wash basin and make the ‘ssss’ sound. She will pick up the signal and eliminate.

Step 3:

Whenever there is a miss, and there are bound to be a few, don’t be disappointed. Just relax and with a positive attitude continue with the potty training. It will take anywhere between 1 to 2 years for your child to learn her\his lesson. Don’t resort to any punitive action if your child eliminates in the wrong place or misses to give you a signal.