Potty training in daycare can be extra challenging. Not only is your child learning a new skill, but he’s learning it in different environments with different caregivers, routines, and structures. All that said, many children learn to use the potty at daycare and your child can too. Below are some tips for success:
1) Choose a Daycare that Potty Trains
Some care providers just won’t participate in potty training, no matter how well your child seems to be doing. When choosing a care provider, look for one that supports potty training in daycare and is willing to work with you so your child can practice using the toilet
both at home and at daycare. Hopefully the center will have other toddlers who are potty trained, so your child has the opportunity to witness them using the potty correctly.
2) Daycare Potty Training Plan
Communicate well with the staff at the daycare center. Let them know that you’re potty training and discuss what is and isn’t working for your child. Find out what potty training techniques they use and how they may or may not be able to accommodate your toilet training preferences. Together, come up with a daycare potty training plan. The right hand needs to know that the left hand is doing.
3) Be as Consistent as Possible
Your child will be potty training in two different environments with multiple care providers. Try to be as consistent as you can with everything else so your child has a sense of continuity. For example, if you use a potty chair at home but the daycare uses a potty seat on the big toilet, consider switching to make it easier for your child. If the daycare potty trains using a sticker system, try doing that at home too. If you have a potty schedule at home, see if the daycare will follow it as well.
4) Feed Your Child a High Fiber Diet
Feeding your child a high fiber diet will keep his bowels regular and help prevent constipation, which can hinder potty training. You want your child to be using the potty regularly in order to create a consistent routine. Constipation can also cause pain for your child which creates negative potty associations that can make potty training at their daycare and home difficult.
5) Prepare for Potty Accidents
Dress your child in clothes that are easy to remove so that your child’s caregivers can get him on the potty quickly. Discuss with your daycare provider ahead of time and decide if your child will be kept in diapers, training pants, or underwear during potty training and pack appropriately. During daycare potty training be prepared for accidents and pack a few changes of clothes.
6) Keep Training at Home
Just because your child is potty training at daycare, doesn’t mean you should slack off at home. Keep up with at home potty training anytime your child is in your care. Remember consistency is key. The more consistent and routine potty training becomes, the quicker your child will make a habit of going potty.
7) Be Patient and Flexible
Remember, that potty training takes time and if child just isn’t ready, there isn’t much anyone can do change that. Know that potty training at daycare can be more difficult, so be flexible and work with the daycare providers to make it easier. In reality, daycare providers probably have a lot more experience than you do with potty training. While they may do something differently than you, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Perhaps they may have something to teach you. Try not get stuck in just one way of training. Be willing to try different things and see what works for your kiddo.
Additional Potty Training Resources:
How to Potty Train a Child in Daycare How to Potty Train Successfully in Daycare
