Toilet Training Made Easy

Juliet was just a baby when I started Brindabella Baby. Now, at two and half years old, she's a toddler who speaks in sentences and wants "two more minutes" before bedtime. And she's toilet training... a long and difficult phase compared to her big sister, perhaps because Juliet is so determined to do her own thing and I'm busier than I was when Sophia was toilet training.

Some tips that make it easier:

• Tell, don't ask. If you ask, there will always be something more fun than going to the toilet. So I tell them "in two minutes we're going to the toilet", and that's exactly what we do.
• Put a potty in the lounge room. Saves on cleaning up in the hallway if they're in a hurry for the toilet.
• Have a couple of books in the toilet to keep them sitting for a minute or two.
• Get cloth pull-ups and undies. You'll find cloth pull-ups in the Nappies section - great for overnight or car trips when you don't want to clean up accidents. Towelling or cotton undies are good at home - perhaps with an "oopsy catcher" (in the Nappies section) to catch the first couple of drops. The idea is to let them feel wet so they learn what their body is doing when they get the urge to go to the toilet - disposable nappies and pull-ups are so absorbent that they won't feel wet for hours.
• Don't worry, be happy. Some days they'll get to the potty every time. Other days will be more miss than hit. Don't get too attached to achieving results that you have very little control over. You provide the opportunity to use the toilet at times they might need it, and make the toilet a pleasant environment to be in, and they'll do the rest when they're ready.

If you want to check out our range of toilet training products, or want to try on baby carriers, come see me at the Baby & Kids Market on Saturday 21 June from 9am til 1pm at Phillip CIT. I do accept credit cards.