Jamie?
Okay. Number one: does she actually know how to manipulate her
clothing? This is a very big issue, and yet we all tend to forget about
it. I discussed it in chapter 4, but again, you probably glossed over it
because it didn’t seem very important two weeks ago when you first
read the book. It’s important. If she has to pee and has trouble getting
her pants down, she will lose a few vital seconds. You want her to
practice actually pushing her pants down when she doesn’t need to
use the potty so the skill is in place when she does.
Be sure she’s in very loose, elastic-waist pants or shorts or leggings.
For girls, dresses with no panties work great. For boys, boxers are
pretty magical, but make sure he is commando. This means he’s
wearing boxers and only boxers, not boxers as undies. The idea
behind this is that they need as little fabric on the bum as possible.
Again, I know we talked about this already, but it’s worth repeating.
The Feeling of Having to Go Pee
Start using the phrase “The feeling of having to go pee . . .” with your
child. Some kids don’t realize they need first to feel it, then make the
move to the potty, then take the pants down, then sit and pee. Most
kids respond best to short, direct commands. You don’t have to bark
this out like you’re training a dog, but be short and direct, and state
things in the order you would like them done. This is vital. Potty training
is the first thing your child is learning that has a set order with only
one desirable outcome. That order can get mixed up, so make sure
your kid is clear: Go. Pants. Sit. Pee.