A word on Toilet Training.....

Toilet training will be handled in a relaxed manner when the child is ready to begin training. When you think your child is ready to potty train please let me know and we can work together to make the transitions from diapers to potty as easy as possible.

I define readyness when the CHILD is able to let me know VERBALLY that they need to use the potty.

15 Signs of Potty Training Readiness

Your child is ready for potty training when he or she:
1. Has bowel movements at about the same time every day
2. Can stay dry for a few hours or wakes up dry from sleep
3. Knows that he/she has to go to the bathroom
4. Understands the association between dry pants and using the potty
5. Can pull her pants up and down
6. Lets you know when he/she has soiled his/her diaper (likes to stay dry)
7. Can follow simple directions like, "lets go to the potty"
8. Understands potty training terms (wet, dry, pee, poop, dirty and potty)
9. Can tell you he/she has to go to the bathroom
10. Imitates other family members
11. Shows interest and asks question while watching you
12. Wants to do things "by myself"
13. Enjoys washing his/her hands (like to be clean)
14. Gets upset if his/her belongings are not in their proper place
15. Wants to please you!

I do not use potty-chairs, I use adapters to an adult toilet. Any soiled clothing will be placed in a plastic bag to go home to be laundered. Please let us know when sending your child training pants so that we are prepared.

Potty training should begin at home over a long weekend or holiday. (HINT: The next long weekend would be Thanksgiving!!) Once you have had success at home for at least a week, your child may begin wearing pull ups at child care. You MUST provide me with at least 2 complete changes of clothing for your child. Under no circumstances will your child be allowed to potty train in regular underwear. This is for sanitary reasons! Regular underwear cannot contain urine and feces to prevent the spread of germs in my home, to other children in care and to my family. Please cooperate with me on this matter. Also, if you begin training, please notify me so that I can continue with all the work you have accomplished. Further, if within 1-2 weeks, your child shows no signs of progress or interest, I reserve the right to put your child back in diapers & try again in a few weeks.

NOTE: Pullups do not hold much urine/feces. If you continue to use pullups when your child is not ready there may be accidents. Your child will have to be changed more often and unfortunately pullups are more costly than diapers.

Please keep in mind that the activity level here can distract your child from responding to an urge to use the potty, more so than at your home. Therefore, I will continue to use diapers or pull-ups until your child can and will announce that he/she must use the bathroom (not just at home, but here, also) and can control his/her bladder and bowels for a few minutes beyond that announcement. Because of the number of children in my care and the fact I have no assistant I cannot bring your child to use the bathroom every hour thus the reason for the required verbal sign from your child needed to start potty training.

During toilet learning parents will need to supply:
• three complete changes of clothing (socks included)
• diapers or pull-ups for naptime.
Do not bring your child in panties or underwear until he/she has naptime and bedtime control established.

I also ask that during toilet learning, the child be dressed in "user-friendly" clothing as much as possible. The best items are shorts and pants with elastic waists, or dresses for girls.

AVOID: tight clothing, undershirt with snaps, pants with snaps and zippers, belts, and overalls . Sweatpant work great! Your child will want to help pull pants, etc. up and down, plus clothing with too many "gadgets" makes it harder to get the child on the potty in time.