Don’t Dread Potty Training

This post is sponsored by Pull-Ups® Training Pants.  All opinions are my own.

Potty training is something I honestly dreaded as a first time mom. First, I had no idea what I was doing as a mom in general, and second, to think that I had to potty train a child seemed impossible. However, like every mom – I got through it with my first son, then my next child, and then once again. Through it all, I found that each of my three kids was truly different in the way they potty trained. Most importantly –I learned to be flexible with each child’s unique personality.

Understanding how to work with your child’s potty training personality instead of against it will save your sanity. My kids were all stubborn and there was no way they were going to listen to anyone, so I had to turn to my bag of tricks. However, because they all have different personalities – my tricks didn’t always work. For example, I used M&M’s as a reward with my first child, but they didn’t work for my middle child. Small toys in a treasure chest were another reward that worked for some, but didn’t appeal to all my kids.

The Pull-Ups® brand has developed a whole new way to potty train based on research and observation on the different personality traits of children. Pull-Ups, along with child development expert Dr. Heather Wittenberg, believe that children should be brought on as a true partner, with a partnership that is tailored to each child’s unique personality and how they learn to reach success. Based on this research, they developed five potty training personalities: Puppy, Owl, Bear Cub, Turtle and Squirrel.

Not sure what personality your child is?

The Pull-Ups® brand, along with Dr. Heather Wittenberg, has developed a potty personality quiz to help parents determine which potty personality their child resembles. The quiz also provides information for parents to help customize the potty training journey from the beginning. The Pull-Ups Potty Partnership offers tips, tools and advice to guide and support you and your child as you learn together – including potty charts, stickers and games.

What signs of readiness should you look out for?

If you’re not sure if your little one is ready to start training, see if you notice any of the following signs of readiness, and take this readiness quiz:

• Pulling at a wet or dirty diaper
• Hiding to pee or poop
• Interest in others’ using the potty or copying their behavior
• Having a dry diaper for longer than usual time
• Telling you that they’re about to go, going or have just gone in their diaper

Why use Pull-Ups® Training Pants?

Pull-Ups Training Pants are designed specifically to help teach potty training skills. They look and fit more like underwear. I remember when I first saw Pull-Ups – I doubted their absorbency but boy did they surprise me. Pull-Ups make it easy for children to slide their own pants on and off, providing independence for any learning style throughout their potty training journey. The stretchy sides of Pull-Ups make it easy to re-use them after using the bathroom. I like that they are re-useable because it helps me save money and know how long my child was able to stay dry.

Switching from diapers to Pull-Ups shows your child you appreciate and support all the growth they have accomplished on the road to becoming a Big Kid. It is important to not revert back to diapers while they may be more familiar. Toddlers thrive on consistency and diapers don’t teach potty training skills like Pull-Ups Training Pants do.

Just starting Pull-Ups Training Pants with your child? It is important to make it special. When I bought my first pack of Pull-Ups, I actually took my daughter with me to the store and let her pick it off the shelf. She was so excited to bring them home and put them in a drawer in her bedroom. Ditching diapers is a big deal and it’s important to make kids understand that.

Pull-Ups also has some great varieties available:

• Pull-Ups® Learning Designs® Training Pants have designs that fade when wet – so kids see the difference between wet and dry.
• Pull-Ups® Cool & Learn® Training Pants provides a brief cooling sensation when wet to help to help you teach your child the signs of when they need to go.
• Pull-Ups® Night*Time Training Pants have Extra Absorbency so parent and child can stay consistent during potty training – even at night.

To find out your child’s potty personality – take the personality quiz at Pull-Ups.com, and get tools and advice to help you and your child partner together throughout the potty training journey.

Pull-Ups Training Pants are designed specifically to help teach potty training skills. Try them now at your local retailer and visit the Pull-Ups.com to learn more about the Pull-Ups® Potty Partnership and discover your child’s potty personality.