Have you ever noticed how quickly young children learn new words, skills, and concepts? They are like little sponges, eagerly soaking up everything in sight, even fleeting observations and seemingly forgettable experiences! And what parent hasn’t been pleasantly surprised to find that their little ones mimicked their behaviors or repeated their words (unless, of course, it’s the unfortunate cuss word or bad habit) before they realized their kids noticed!

But have you ever wondered why this happens so often? Well, according to experts, children have deep and abiding desires to become more and more independent. To that end, they actively seek to discover, learn, and ultimately master new skills. What’s more, young children whose learning efforts are supported in a nurturing environment and whose achievements are recognized and celebrated are much more likely to acquire new information and skills more quickly and more fully than children who are ignored or discouraged. , passively or openly, of doing it.

These statements are surely not epiphanies or “AHA!” for most of you. Rather, they are simply common sense. After all, it is entirely logical to assume that the vast majority of us, adults and children alike, are more likely to learn quickly when our efforts are supported and our achievements are noted and rewarded.

And so it is with potty training… I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve worked with parents who indicate that their goals are to potty train their young children quickly (ie, within 24-48 hours). ), but set yourself up for failure by dismissing this hard-earned tip! Do they do it intentionally? Absolutely not. In fact, most of them are very well-intentioned and caring people who sadly believe the common myths about potty training to be true. As a result, potty training your child takes much, much longer than it should, often several months or more, and they are left wondering what went wrong.

Many learn the hard way, but you don’t have to… that is, if you truly believe that children, including your own, want to be potty trained as quickly as possible and need your encouragement, support, and insight. for it to happen. But that’s not all… You must be armed with a solid and proven plan, one that uses behavior modification techniques in a supportive environment, and follow it carefully.

There are many fast-forward methods out there; in my opinion, some are excellent, some are good, and sadly, many are just plain awful. So choose carefully. Otherwise, you will waste a lot of time and money, and you could even unknowingly sabotage your child’s progress.

The following are my top four tips for getting potty trained fast. Use them as guidelines in deciding which method to use.

1. Believe in your heart of hearts that it can be done. I have personally potty trained many young children in 24 to 48 hours. And no two were exactly alike and EVERYONE had “challenges” of one kind or another. Some could speak the King’s English; others could only understand simple commands. Some were extremely cooperative and others were stubborn as mules. Some had never seen a chamber pot before and others had already decided they wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. Some were 17-month-old boys and others 24-month-old girls.

Hopefully, you get the idea…the point is, as they say, “I’ve seen it all” and in my experience there are only two reasons why the great “fast forward” potty training methods don’t work . to work. Is it so:

* Child was physically and/or developmentally unready (see #2 below)

* The “teacher” (usually a parent) did not follow the instructions carefully and completely. For example, they did not prepare properly, lost focus, and/or lacked consistency and follow through.

2. Make sure your child is ready for potty training, physically and mentally. Although there is no specific age that is right for all young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has concluded that the vast majority of children can be potty trained between 18 and 27 months.

Use this as a guide, but remember that experts generally agree that developmental cues are much better indicators of potty-training readiness than chronological age (e.g., self-dressing and undressing, mimicking to others, frequent statements of “I can do it all by myself!”, and the like). If you’re still not sure, check with your pediatrician or take one of the online potty training readiness assessments.

3. Do your homework. Don’t settle for the first one you find. Rather, give this important rite of passage the attention it deserves. (Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!) Forget the hype and choose a reliable, time-tested, accelerated potty training system backed in practice and theory by respected pediatricians, child therapists, and other experts . Here are some additional guidelines to help you choose an effective and fast method.

Should:

* Provide details on how to determine if your child is ready

* Provide comprehensive instructions, from the soup to the nuts (from the planning stage to implementation) using easy-to-understand language and format.

* Combine positive behavior modification techniques in a happy and nurturing environment

* Require a teacher (usually a parent) to devote their full attention to the process until it is completed

* Discourage any form of sanction for accidents or non-compliance or excessive “push”

* Include a detailed list of supplies needed, and this list should not be long or encourage you to buy equipment, toys, books, etc. “fancy” or expensive.

* Prohibit the use of pull-ups (which are guaranteed to slow you down!)

4. Reserve the necessary time (24-48 hours); give your full attention to the process; And whatever happens, stick with the program and be consistent. Bottom line, the best-prepared and most tenacious parents win this one: Goosebumps aren’t enough if you want to potty-train your child quickly. If you’re not ready to spend two full days on the process, this isn’t for you. If that’s your style and you’re determined to approach it this way, it’s best to hunker down and be prepared for the long haul.

But let me clarify one last point: Although I specifically suggest setting aside two full days, many kids learn in 24 hours or less (no kidding). However, even if they do, I like the idea of ​​adding an extra “no pressure” day to reinforce things and allow toddlers to start mastering their new skill before heading back to “real life.” Also, and trust me, many kids finally “get it” right before they go to bed on the first day, and it’s wonderful to have an extra day to repeat, repeat, and repeat some more!

I hope this tip has been helpful to those of you who have already decided, or are considering, potty training your child quickly. Remember, it can be accomplished quickly, joyfully, and thoroughly with a little planning, the right mindset, and lots of love!