Oh Crap! Potty Training

Does your child dress herself? You might want to get started teaching
this skill if your child doesn’t already possess it. I find it’s something
we don’t even really think about until we start potty training, and
then it’s like AHHHH!
It’s important to remember that a lot of kids don’t yet know how
to manipulate their clothing. Nothing is more frustrating to you or to
your child than knowing he has to pee and making the move to the
pot, only to get tied up in mangled attempts to get his pants down.
Ahhhhh!
A few things can help. First off, who the heck started saying “Pull
your pants down?” Toddlers are very literal. While teaching them
how to use their pants, use the words “Push your pants down.” That’s
really what they’re doing, right?
Definitely start having your child dress themselves. This, in and of
itself, is huge. It gives them such empowerment! It also makes for
some massive skill building. When you are teaching your child to
dress herself, it can sometimes require a few more words than “I’m
putting your pants on.” Remember, this is a brand-new skill to her!
So really break down what you are doing: “I’m hooking my thumb
into the elastic, see? And then I can grab them and push them
down.”
Some parents have found a “dressing party” has helped. Much like
playing dress up clothes, spend an hour trying on outfits. Make it
seem fun! Practice is the key here, and most kids at this age don’t get
a whole lot of practice. And the pressure of a looming need to pee
doesn’t make for the best learning, either. So set up some teaching
time to get the pants down, literally and figuratively. I can’t tell you
how frustrating it is to be this close to consistent pee in the potty and