Expert Advice For Night Training & Ditching Diapers

From Diapers to Independence

Ditch the diapers the moment your child starts walking on their own. The best time for potty-training is around the first birthday. The moment they can stand on their feet, squat, and stand up is the perfect time to stop diapers.

I know that many parents remain in diapers until 3-4 years old. Still, it is much more challenging to teach a child to use the toilet because, for them, this is already a habit. Then things are much more stressful for both the child and you. Don’t worry if you’re late, but the sooner, the better.

When is the best time to start potty-training?

There is no correct answer to this. In general, babies report their need for a toilet from birth. We’ve all seen that thoughtful look with reddened cheeks, and after a while, we smelled the finished products. Sweet memories. But in fact, this is exactly the moment when you can help your child do their job outside of diapers. 

There is research on Elimination Communication and many books written on this topic. If you’re interested, you can look it up and research it, but since this is a blog about how to make parenting easier, not how to make their lives more difficult, here’s my abbreviated program. 

Let’s choose the right moment

You can start POTTY-TRAINING from birth, but the natural discharge from the diaper is from 12 to 18 months. Some say that there is a golden window of opportunity of 0-4 months in which it is easiest to get started. Young babies are very willing to cooperate and are less likely to be distracted. As babies get older, they are more interested in crawling, exploring, and walking than sitting on the potty, but the best time to start is when a child can sit quietly without help. This happens around the 9th month.

From where to start

Take a pot that has a backrest if you can afford to have side backrests for better adherence. If you don’t have any spare cash, do like me, and surround the pot with pillows.

By now, you’ve probably noticed when your child is released. If you have not paid attention, start with the natural rhythm to which you have to get used to it. The usual hours of potty are after waking up, after traveling by car, during or after feeding, and before bedtime. Since during this period, we do not give them up on diapers yet but only introduce them to the potty, you can decide for yourself when you have time to be next to them.

How often

I did it several times a day.

– In the morning, after they woke up, I took them off sleepy and left them on the pot. So, I have two free hands to prepare the food and clothes and make the bed. In the beginning, I even fed them on the pot, but after they came of months 10-11, I put them on the pot after feeding.

– The next pot was while I was preparing lunch after the morning nap. I was setting up a small table with toys in front of them so I could safely do my job while they were doing theirs.

– Before and after each nap, I left them for 5 minutes – if they had something to do. In this way, you create a habit for them that before and after going to bed, they can pee calmly. It also helps for better sleep. 

– The third big pot sitting was when I was making dinner. Again, with toys in front of them so that they do not feel forced that they need to fill the pot. And again, a short one just before going to bed.

Let’s congratulate them on their progress

Some pediatricians and psychologists advise celebrating successes by praising the child for the efforts and for all successful attempts to use the potty. They even offer reinforcement with applause and giving small rewards. If this is your parenting style, it is fine, but I am a supporter of the theory in which to keep the awards and great praise for something else.

Things like personal hygiene shouldn’t feel like heroism, it’s natural, and there’s no need for approval or reprimand. Yeah, I’ll be happy they were able to go to the bathroom on time, but I’ll be happy for them and won’t make it to a big question. That they succeeded should be enough. But again, it all depends on your parenting style.

You can be happy and tell them how good they feel, that they are relieved, and that their pure butt. But that’s good for them, not for you — that’s what they have to believe — potty walking is a nice and enjoyable thing.

Over time, you will see when they really need to sit on a potty and adjust the hours. At this age, babies usually begin to say small words, such as mom, daddy, bai, hi. Teach them to say a word about the pot. Every time before you put it on, point to the pot and say the word. This way, you will build this habit, and when it is needed and ready, it will tell you not to worry if it does not work immediately. It takes time. 

First days without a diaper

When a child walks, usually it’s around the first birthday, you’re ready to start the days without diapers. It would be great if it were summer because then it could be diaper-free even outside. Just load yourself with a plastic bag for the dirty pants and clean enough to change – add at least one pair of socks and shoes because they get wet, too. In winter, you can leave them without a diaper at home, but when you go out, you have to continue to use them, but ask them often if they want to go to the toilet. 

When they get their pants dirty, please do not rush to change their clothes, let them feel the inconvenience of wet pants, but also do not leave them for a long time with them because they may catch a cold or get inflammation. Ten minutes is unpleasant. Don’t scold them or shame them. Be understanding. There are so many more important and exciting things for them to do. Just tell them that you know that next time, they will feel it in time and will reach the pot.

Night training

You will still need to use diapers at night. However, it is better to sleep peacefully and not wake up. Night training usually takes longer as it depends on your child’s ability to control their bladder while sleeping. It is common for children to continue to wear diapers or wear diapers at night, even after they have been potty trained during the day. Encourage your child to use the potty before bed and limit fluids before bedtime.

Remember that every child is different, and the pace of potty learning is different. Some children may take longer to switch from diapers completely, and that’s okay. Patience, consistency, and a positive attitude are key to the successful weaning of the baby from diapers.

If you start after 2 years of age

In case you have decided that it is easier to continue with the diapers until a later period, the process is almost the same. The difference is that you will have to involve the child as a decisive element. I mean, once they’re 18 months old, kids are much more independent and try to impose their opinions on when to sleep and what to eat. Many of them start choosing what to wear. 

After 18 months of age, you should wait until the child is ready. Introduce them to how the potty and toilet work. Let them see you or other family members as you use the toilet and explain what you’re doing in simple terms. 

How to start

Choose the pot or adapter for a toilet seat so it will feel that it is their choice, and they will have a greater desire to use it. Then, create a potty sitting routine. Encourage your child to sit on the pot seat at regular intervals, such as after eating or taking a nap. Turn it into a peaceful and pleasant experience. Reading books or singing songs during this time can help your child relax. If they don’t go, don’t pressure them or scold them. Instead, stay positive and encourage them to try again later.

The longer you wait to transition from diapers to small underwear, the harder it will become. But either way, at some point before school, you’ll have to. At 4 years old, your child is already a person. If you still need to take the diaper off and your child isn’t ready to take it off, you have a problem.

Expert advice

I have no experience with giving up older children, so I sought advice from a behavioral specialist and parent coach. Here’s her advice. 

You can’t force them to poop, and if you do a problem with this, the child may begin to retain gut (emotional control), which can become a severe medical condition that often requires evacuation from a hospital. Right now, it’s emotional/behavioral. You can help alleviate their anxiety.

Please give them a diaper whenever they want. No questions asked. Tell them you’ll be in the bathroom when they are done. Help to change it in the bathroom, in calm, in different circumstances. Prepare a bath basket with wipes, plastic bags, etc. 

Tell them that the poops go to the toilet, so they would like to shake them inside, or would you like to shake them off? It sounds harsh, but check the stool together to find out that the food they ate is digested and comes out. Naturalize the process. If they eat corn, they’ll see it tomorrow. They or you wipe it upright and put the diaper in a plastic bag for the child to throw in the trash. You or they rinse (never force them) and give them the fun bottle of syringe, nice-smelling hand soap (which they choose) to wash their hands. Follow all normal bath procedures.

This is an area that many children have difficulty with. Their poop is a solid part of them that comes out and washes away. Through the eyes of a child, this can be upsetting or scary. Pull out any judgment and frustration to make this an easy, normalized process for them.

As you can see, when you do it on time, everything is very natural and not stressful for both you and the child. Take advantage of knowledge of child development stages to make your parenting easier and more successful. 

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