What are some tips to help ease into potty training and make it a good experience for her?
Beginning to exercise some control over bodily functions can be a big confidence booster and source of much pride to a small child. You want to nurture this budding independence and support your daughter’s developing mastery. You also want to make the “tools of the trade” very available to her, but let her make the ultimate decisions about timing their use. Open up the topic of toileting. One of the odd things about our grownup toilet habits is that we tend to be quiet, even secretive about our own bodily functions—we say nothing when we feel the urge to pee or poop, but go off silently, close the door, and come out again afterward. No word about how we knew it was time, how it felt to let our bodies do what they were meant to do, no delight or interest in the whole process. So you might begin by creating more openness around your own elimination process—let everyone know when you feel you have to “go,” sigh with pleasure when you’re done on the toilet, invite your child’s company whil
