Potty Training 101
This guest blog was done in collaboration with Allison, Potty Training Consultant
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Doctor of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Kailee and potty-training expert and author, Allison Jandu teamed up to discuss potty training tips from a physical therapy standpoint.
Many parents reach out to us asking for tips to help their child successfully poop on the potty. This is an age-old question that doesn’t have just ONE answer. There are many factors that play an important role in how our bowel movements work, and why toddlers may struggle learning this new skill in the beginning.
Children often struggle more with pooping on the potty than with peeing, because they have fewer opportunities to practice this new skill! Occasionally children will withhold their poop out of fear from poop anywhere but their warm, snug diaper. This can lead to constipation which is a whole other can of worms that we are going to address!
So you may be wondering, what is the best position for my child when sitting on the potty? Should we use a floor potty or the big toilet? Are my child’s pelvic muscles strong enough to both hold and release their bladder when necessary?! Well, we’re here to talk about all of these aspects of the potty-training process with you!
Positioning: First of all, let’s address proper positioning. We want our child’s feet flat on the floor, their body arched slightly forward, and their knees bent just a tad. Floor potties are great for achieving the proper potty positioning. However, there are specific toilet seat inserts that work well also. They should have a foot stool that is high enough for your toddler’s feet to comfortably rest on, and handles on either side for extra support if needed.
Learning through play: Did you know that children learn 40 times faster through play?! It’s true! Role playing peeing and pooping on the potty with a doll, stuffed animal, or favorite toy is a great way tom expose your child to what it will be like when they do it themselves. Role playing can also help your child to feel less alone in the process because they’ll be placed in a leadership role while they are teaching their doll/toy to use the potty.
Strengthening muscles through play: Encourage you child to interact in deep squatting play. Have them hop around like a frog, crawl on all fours like a bear, or bend over and do a puzzle by their feet while sitting on the potty. These are all fun and creative ways to help our children strengthen their pelvic floor muscles before, during, and after the potty training process.
Introducing potty training through books and videos: Replacing several of your kiddo’s daily books and videos of fun, potty training themed content is a great way to normalize peeing and pooping on the potty and to help them feel comfortable with the idea of doing it themselves. Not to mention, reading with your child is a wonderful way to bond and grow closer during big milestones that can often feel a bit scary or overwhelming for both our toddler and ourselves.
Some more resources:
If you’re looking for more in-depth help, please take a look at Allison’s course here! I also recommend her book How do you Poo? You’ll find some of my favorite potty-training books in this highlight. You can also shop for some potty training necessities here at my Amazon storefront. And you can find the full Q&A with Allison here on my YouTube Playlist!
