By Colleen Brunetti, M.Ed., C.H.C

How do you get over the almost potty trained hump?  (Maria K)  First, take stock of where you really are. Is your child overall doing well, but having a few accidents here and there? That’s normal! Ride it out with your regular routine and things should soon be on their way.

Maybe there’s been a little glitch, such as a regression where accidents are happening more frequently. If this is the case, try to assess what caused the regression. A change in routine, a new baby, a parent going back to work, anticipation of a big event… these can all lead to some pretty natural regression. Again, stick to your routine, or if need be, you can back up a bit. You might re-visit a reward system (such as our free downloadable chart) or go back to more frequent reminders, including something like the Potty Watch or a timer. Also, try to address the area of regression by offering some extra reassurance and attention around whatever is troubling. Sometimes there is no real tangible reason for regression, and that’s okay too. Again: routine-routine-routine!

Pretty soon that “almost potty trained hump” will be a thing of the past.

Undies or not during the first few weeks of potty training? (Sabine S-D): I think this is ultimately a pretty personal decision. There are some parents who really like pull-ups or need the reassurance of dry pants during a busy day. However, I also have many parents tell me that pull-ups just replaced diapers and weren’t a great help. Personally, I ditched all things absorbent and went for the undies. However, I kept a pack of pull-ups handy for things like long car trips (just in case!), and they did come in handy from time to time.

What about early potty training when they don’t talk much yet? (Jennifer B.): This is where our Potty Time program is very unique! Because we encourage signing while potty training, the actual words don’t even have to be there yet! Just consistently use the signs from our program (also available in free downloadable flashcards)  POTTY, WIPE, FLUSH, WASH (you can throw in ACCIDENT too), and if your child is otherwise ready for potty training, the signs can easily be used instead of the words. Oh… and don’t forget to CELEBRATE!