Potty Training Tips for Boys and Girls - Party Time!

Here are the steps to follow:

• Place underpants on the doll or teddy (preferably the child’s intended underpants if roughly the same size as the doll or teddy, and show your child where they can be found).

• Give the doll plenty of water (if using a doll that can be fed water and then pees) or imitate giving plenty of water. Tell your child that Dolly needs to pee, or it will wet its underpants, so it needs to go to the potty quickly.

• Rush the doll to the potty.

• Take the doll’s underpants off and place the doll on the potty. Touch the Dolly’s underpants and say “Dry underpants Dolly – well done” (let your child touch the underpants as well). Let Dolly do a pee (or imitate doing a pee by using a water filled medical syringe or dropper hidden behind the doll). Make a big deal out of the doll doing its pee – say “wow, Dolly is doing a pee, isn’t that faaantastic!! Dolly is a big boy/girl now!”

• Role play teaching Dolly to wipe him/herself with toilet paper

• Put the Dolly’s underpants back on and say “Keep underpants dry Dolly”, take the potty to the toilet, empty contents and flush the toilet.

• Get the doll to wash its hands.

• Let your child put a sticker on the wall chart for Dolly

• Praise the doll for doing a pee on the potty. Make it a Big Deal. Make it party time! You can for example go dancing with the doll to music, blow whistles, make it a real fanfare (something that your child will really get a kick out of)!

Repeat the above five to ten times in a row, then get your child to progressively take control over the doll to take to the potty by themselves, five to ten times. Let them take control as soon asthey want to, just be sure to remind your child to follow the above steps exactly. Children learn best if following a specific routine.

If your child is showing disinterest in continuing with higher repetition of the 'game', do not force the issue until your child is in the mood again. You want to make the experience as positive and exciting as possible! 

You should also intersperse the doll doing a pee with an imaginary poo, and it is a good idea to also show the doll having an accident a couple of times and wetting its underpants (use a medical syringe or dropper with water to wet if you don't have a peeing doll).

Respond in this way "Uh-ooh, Dolly has had an accident and peed in her underpants. Look her pants are wet" (get your child to feel Dolly's wet underpants) "Dolly should have done it in the potty, but that is OK. She can try again next time." Get your child to help take the wet underpants off and replace with dry underpants (you may want to remind your child where the fresh underpants are again). Ask your child to take the wet underpants to the laundry and place them in a bucket. Say "thank you" to your child for 
helping.

 Once your child has the routine established (this should in most instances take one day), it is time to move on to potty training day one!

If you want to get all the details and specifics for potty training girls and boys to ensure the potty training of your child is a success, we recommend you get a copy of our guide, "Potty Trained in 1 to 3 Days"