Every parent has been there – you decide you’re ready to potty train your child. You tell family and friends and you’re hit from all directions with stories, advice, horror tales, and more. This can make any parent nervous, but we’re here to tell you that you can do this. Here’s a list of the most popular, nerve-inducing potty-training myths, and our busting facts for each.
Myth 1: YOU HAVE TO DO NIGHT-TIME POTTY TRAINING AT THE SAME TIME AS DAY TRAINING.
Take a breath – this is not true. No need to prep for daytime and nighttime training in one go. Other potty training courses teach you that you must potty train day and night time altogether. In fact, there are negative and even physical consequences to this. Our medical experts believe that holding urine all night long is a hormonal and physical growth process. Actually, you shouldn’t have to night train ever – your child will be able to make it through the night dry all on their own when they are developmentally ready.
Myth 2: YOU MUST STAY IN YOUR HOUSE FOR AT LEAST 3 FULL DAYS.
Is this realistic for any modern parent? We have other children, jobs, school, responsibilities, etc. While having quick and easy access to a potty is key during the early days of potty training, you can potty train without doing a boot camp.
Myth 3: YOU NEED TO USE REWARDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
You know your child and what motivates them best, but we believe you can motivate your child to be excited about potty training and learning a new skill without getting stuck in a reward loop. Going potty isn’t about getting a prize – it’s about learning, developing, and growing.
Myth 4: YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK TO DIAPERS ONCE YOU START POTTY TRAINING.
You’ve probably heard that putting your child back in diapers after potty training will set them back. As a parent or caregiver, you know your child better than anyone. In the Gentle Potty Coaching program, we have no hard and fast rules and encourage you to follow your own intuition. There are certain circumstances when going back to diapers is OK. Every child is different and should be supported in their own timeline.
You CAN Potty Train Gently + Successfully! Learn more about our Gentle Potty Course HERE.
Myth 5: YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG IF YOUR CHILD ISN’T FULLY POTTY TRAINED IN 3 DAYS.
Learning a new skill is a process for any child! If you think about it, a child has to learn to recognize the urge to use the potty before they can successfully get to the toilet, pull down their pants, sit, wipe and wash their hands. It’s a lot to learn, an entirely new skill! You are doing nothing wrong if this doesn’t happen in 3 days. In our program, we help you take it one step at a time and encourage patience with your child and yourself.
Myth 6: IF YOUR CHILD HAS SENSORY DIFFERENCES, POTTY TRAINING WILL BE DIFFICULT.
While you may need extra support and techniques, potty training children with sensory differences can be stress-free. Think about all of the skills your child has already learned – take those experiences and use them to boost you up on this new endeavor.
Myth 7: YOU NEED TO WAIT UNTIL YOUR CHILD WANTS TO TRY THE POTTY TO START.
While some children will love and be very excited to use the potty as soon as they see one, other children might not ever be interested, and this is just fine! Learn more about other signs and signals that your child is capable and ready to learn this exciting new skill.
