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March 8, 2024 • 11 mins

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Get ready to embark on a journey towards stress-free toilet training! Our groundbreaking strategy, presented in five simple steps, is all about creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere, keeping your little one hydrated, and offering gentle guidance every step of the way. Whether your child is clinging to their diaper or feeling anxious about the potty, our method provides practical solutions and priceless insights to help them overcome any obstacle. So, join us as we dive into the world of potty training and unlock the secrets to success. Tune in now and discover how you can pave the way for confident and independent toileting habits, one step at a time!

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Episode Transcript

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Jenefer (00:07):
Welcome to the Toddler Troubleshooter.
Hello Sage Sprout's parents,I'm your host, Jenefer.
As a parent of a toddler, andwith over 20 years of experience
working with young children,I'm excited to share my tools
for troubleshooting your toddler.
In each brief podcast, we'llexplore the different challenges
that arise in toddlerhood andI'll provide you detailed
troubleshooting strategiesDrawing from my extensive

(00:29):
background.
You'll not only gain practicaltools, but you'll also discover
how to make this journeyenjoyable for both you and your
little one.
Toddlers are an adventure.
From toilet training totransitions, our little ones
love to take charge.
I will arm you with the SageSprout's strategy to
troubleshoot and modify yourapproach as challenges arise.
So if you're ready totroubleshoot your toddler and

(00:50):
transform toddlerhood into apositive and manageable
experience, let's get started.
Hey there, awesome parents andcaregivers, welcome back to
another episode of ToiletTraining Adventures.
Diving into the world of toilettraining with your toddler can

(01:12):
feel overwhelming, right, butfear not, I've got a cool method
to share today that will helpease some of that stress as you
guide your little one throughthis milestone.
Ever wonder why your childwon't pee on the potty, even
though they're willing to sit onit, if you're dealing with a
stubborn little one who holdsback until they're back in a
diaper.

(01:33):
This episode's for you.
Today.
We'll delve into the story of alittle girl who faced a similar
challenge and how the SageSprout's strategy helped her
overcome it.
Our story today revolves aroundSusie, who is eager to start
toilet training.
However, her parents jugglingfull-time jobs wanted to know if
Susie was truly ready beforethey embarked on this journey.

(01:55):
Recognizing Susie's readiness,but acknowledging the need to
address her reluctance to let gowithout a diaper, they reached
out for support.
After careful observation anddata collection, it was clear
that Susie needed someassistance in transitioning away
from the diaper before theycould proceed with traditional
toilet training methods.

(02:15):
I worked with Susie and herparents over the weekend to help
her unlearn the diaper and feellike letting her bladder go was
a good thing.
Through playful interactionsand positive reinforcement,
Susie gradually becamecomfortable with using the
toilet, paving the way forsuccessful toilet training.

(02:35):
Now let's delve into how you canapply this method with your own
child.
Today's tip how to unlearn thediaper.
Before we jump into thisstrategy, let's understand why
some toddlers struggle torelease their bladder when not
wearing a diaper.
Research suggests that childrenlearn to associate the diaper

(02:57):
with a safe place to urinate.
They may have developed musclecontrol, but find it challenging
to let go without the familiarsensation of something against
their skin.
Essentially, they've learnednot to pee unless something is
touching them.
Now let's explore how we canhelp them unlearn the diaper.
Today's strategy definitelyrequires some preparation.

(03:19):
Head over toSageSproutsParentPodcom to grab
your downloadable checklist.
Step one set up your space Firstthings first, let's create a
designated play area in yourhome.
Choose a spot with a waterproofsurface.
Your kitchen or dining areawith hard floors works perfectly
.
Or you can venture outdoors ifyou have a private area where

(03:43):
you can keep an eye on yourchild.
Set up some toys and activitiesto keep your child engaged for
at least an hour.
Use toys like the water table,messy crafts, anything that's
easy to do standing.
Step 2.
Fuel up.
Make sure your little one iswell hydrated.
Offer plenty of drinks andwater-rich snacks like

(04:04):
watermelon, cucumber, yogurt,applesauce.
The more they drink, the moreopportunities you'll have to
practice.
Step 3.
Play and relax.
It's time to let the fun begin.
Remove their pants and diaperand start playing.
Follow your child around,keeping the potty within arms.

(04:25):
Reach.
Let them relax and enjoythemselves without pressure.
Don't ask if they need to pee.
Instead, create a relaxedatmosphere and let nature take
its course.
Step 4.
Focus and watch for dribbles.
It's really important to stayfocused at this step.
Remove all distractions.

(04:46):
Put your phone out of sight,don't put on that extra load of
laundry and avoid unloading thedishwasher, even though it's
within arms reach.
Keep your eye on your child andwhen you see them starting to
dribble, or even if they end uphaving a full accident, whisk
them over the potty and placethem on.
Our goal is to get a few dropsin there.

(05:08):
Be fun, be playful and becasual.
Step 5.
Positive reinforcement.
When your child is sitting onthe potty, shower them with
praise and encouragement.
Use positive language like look, there's pee in the potty or
you did it.
That's where pee goes.
To reinforce the behavior,celebrate every success, no

(05:32):
matter how small.
Don't focus on the stuff on thefloor.
If they are concerned about it,throw a paper towel over it and
say no big deal.
Head back over to play andrepeat the process for a couple
of hours.
I recommend trying to get atleast three peas in the potty
before moving on and putting thediaper back on for the day.

(05:52):
Keep going as long as both youand your child are happy and
relaxed.
If you are losing your patienceor they are resisting the
strategy, then close up shopback off for a few hours or
until the next day and try again.
If your child is alreadyfearful, then frustration and
forcefulness will not benefityou or them in the long run.

(06:13):
While playing, if you noticethey're getting fidgety, don't
ask them if they have to go pee.
Don't tell them to go to thepotty.
Just relax and let naturehappen.
If your child is older and hasbeen hit or miss with this, then
you can calmly say remember, ifyou have to go pee, the potty
is right there, but avoid sayingthings like you should go or do

(06:38):
you have to go?
Now, as we move forward, let'sacknowledge some potential
challenges that may arise, suchas resistance to being naked or
a fear of sitting on the potty.
You might wonder how you shouldreact, as they get upset when
you put them on the potty.
This can happen, especially ifthey've had a bad experience

(06:59):
with the potty before.
For these kiddos, I would makesure the potty is very, very
close and that they basicallyjust need to sit down where they
are to be successful.
I would be very casual andcarefree with these kiddos and
just let them be naked.
Perhaps the first few peas goon the floor, but I would never
force them to sit.

(07:19):
Do your best to whisk themcarefully in a fun way, but if
they resist, just back off andremain calm.
Reward their efforts withverbal praise and let them know
you'll try again next time.
Trust your instincts, go slowand make it fun.
Other kids might not want tostay naked, or they start crying

(07:42):
for a diaper when the urgestarts to build up.
This can be a tricky one.
They have learned that thediaper is the way to go.
We don't want this to be apainful or negative experience
for either you or your child.
If you cannot get them to staynaked or they're very adamant
for their diaper, then thismethod might not be for you.

(08:03):
If you feel confident, workingthrough some tears, you can say
diapers are not available andput them in underwear.
You never want to force a childto be naked.
However, while wearingunderwear, they may soil the
underwear but still place themonto the potty without removing
the underwear and allow them topee through the underwear into
the potty.
Reinforce this effort and workco-ords, doing it without

(08:27):
underwear on.
Our goal is to move past thefear and be able to release the
bladder when naked.
So you might ask how is thisdifferent from the pants free
method I hear other moms talkingabout?
Well, I prefer this method topants free when starting out,
because doing this all day canbe exhausting and there will be

(08:48):
lots of accidents as you can'tkeep your eye on them 100% of
the time.
It can become disheartening ifyou are experiencing more
accidents than success.
When your child is having lotsof accidents, you have less
opportunity to reinforce and, ifyou're like me, you feel
defeated each time you miss anopportunity and they have an

(09:09):
accident, even though it'stotally normal.
I also find that if you do thisall day, then transitioning to
underwear can be a real hurdle,as they still have the sensation
to only release their bladderwhen they are wearing underwear.
I am not suggesting this methodto successfully toilet train
your toddler.
There are many more stepsneeded.
However, this is a greatprecursor step to get you and

(09:33):
your little one ready for thebig show, just like Susie's
parents.
If you were wondering how toget started, I recommend trying
this out one weekend to seewhere you and your little one
are at Once your little one ismaking the connection and easily
voiding.
When you place them on thepotty, you know you're on your
way.
Stay tuned for other episodeswhich will outline what to do

(09:55):
next.
In conclusion, this methodserves as a foundational step
towards successful toilettraining, providing valuable
skills for both parent and child.
Experiment with this strategyover a weekend or shorter
sessions to gauge your readinessbefore proceeding.
Remember every child is unique,so be patient, adaptable and

(10:16):
celebrate every milestone alongthe way.
With patience, consistency anda nurturing approach, you're
setting the stage for a lifetimeof confidence and independent
toileting habits.
So let's embark on this journeytogether, one successful potty
trip at a time.

(10:37):
Thanks for joining us on ToddlerTroubleshooter.
That's a wrap for today'sepisode.
Thank you so much for tuning inand being part of our parenting
community.
If you found value in today'sdiscussion, don't forget to hit
that subscribe button so younever miss an episode.
I'm Jennifer, a parent coachand fellow mom navigating the
joys and trials of toddler lifealong with you.
To hear more about my journeyand get access to more tips and

(11:00):
tricks, follow me on Instagramat Sage Sprouts underscore
parent pod, or find us onFacebook at Sage Sprouts parent
pod.
Look forward to seeing you inthe pod.
Remember, parenting is ajourney we navigate together and
your support means the world tous.
If you have any topics you'dlike us to cover in future
episodes, feel free to reach outthrough social media or through

(11:24):
our website, sage Sproutsparent podcom.
Stay tuned for our next episode.
Until then, take care, and mayyour parenting journey be filled
with joy and laughter.
See you next episode.
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