How to Potty Train your child

Travel pottys, folding toilet seats and rewards pottys. In this blog Bunny Bumpkin gives some tips on potty training and introduces some of the great products that are available to make toilet training easier.

Potty training can be a challenging time for both mother and child. Bunny Bumpkin has pulled together this guide from various reliable resources on the subject to help. We have also included some products to help with the process. Just click on the pictures for more product information.

When to start

Every child is different and it is important not to try to force them before they are ready.
Generally speaking most children are ready to start between 18 and 24 months.
It is always easier to start in the summer as there are less clothes to take off when they need to go and you can let them run around in the garden without a nappy on.(Don’t forget the sun screen)
Your child will give you clues that they are ready such as telling you that they have had a wee in their nappy or if you are lucky, telling you before they want to go.

How to start

Always have a potty in sight in the main rooms the child uses.
It is good to let the child see older children and even yourself using the toilet (which you may refer to as the big potty)
Leave the nappy off at times of the day that they usually go. (as long as this doesn’t distress them. If it does then leave it a few more weeks and try again)
If you see them weeing, put them on the potty even if it is too late so they get the association. Do this with a minimum of fuss or they may become anxious about going to the toilet.
You will often have to clean up the mess when it doesn’t work out. Do this without complaint but cheerfully point out that it is better to use the potty.
Give them praise when they use the potty. Using the potty should be a fun and rewarding experience. This Safety First rewards potty available from Bunny Bumpkin is a great idea. It gives encouraging phrases and songs, guides them through the steps of using the potty and then dispenses stickers when they are successful. Avoid using sweets as rewards.

Safety First Smart Rewards Potty

Be patient. It can take months to potty train a child and there will be setbacks even when things have been going well. Don’t get angry with them.

Prepare for travel.

Putting a nappy back on your child when you are travelling will confuse them. Keep a travel potty in the car .This Babyway travel potty is also available from Bunny Bumpkin.

Babyway Travel Potty

Graduating to the toilet

As they get the hang of the potty it will not be long before they want to start using the big toilet like mummy, daddy and siblings. They may ask to do this. Using the toilet is a lot more convenient for you, particularly with number twos.
Invest in a toilet trainer seat. This Little Wonder training seat can be used for travel also as it folds up.

Little Wonder Toilet Trainer Seat

Night Time

Although most children learn night time bladder control  between the ages of three and five, it is estimated that a quarter of three-year-olds and one in six five-year-olds wet the bed. If bedwetting persists beyond 6 or 7 then it is worth consulting the doctor to check there is no underlying medical condition.
Encourage your child to go to toilet before going to bed.
Do not punish the child for wetting the bed. They are unaware that they are doing it. Making them anxious about it will just make it worse.

Bunny Bumpkin is an online retailer providing everything a mum needs for pregnancy, nursing and the childs early years. Subscribe to Bunny Bumpkins newsletter at www.bunnybumpkin.com

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Can I swim when pregnant?

The simple answer is yes but with some precautions. Swimming is often encouraged by midwives in the UK.

Here  are some of the benefits of swimming while pregnant

• Swimming is a great low impact aerobic exercise that takes the weight off the joints.
• It allows you to move freely in the water which is something you may struggle to do out of the water as your pregnancy advances.
• While you are in the water your blood pressure is likely to be lower
• Swimming is great for relaxation and exercise helps you sleep better at night
• Its low risk. With land based exercises you risk hurting yourself and baby if you fall. Once you are in the water you are supported so any slip is much less risk. Be careful before getting in though.

A few words of caution though.

• If you have never exercised before, start slowly, warm up  and cool down gradually before getting out.
• Avoid any stroke that feels uncomfortable
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration as it can get hot in indoor swimming pools
• If in doubt, check with your GP
• Swimming is ok but scuba diving isn’t because the baby has no protection against decompression sickness and gas embolism (gas bubbles in the bloodstream)

So now that you have decided to go swimming, the next important question for a pregnant woman is:

What to wear when swimming?

In the first trimester of pregnancy you should be able to wear your existing swimsuits. However by the second trimester you will need to invest in a maternity swimsuit. Swimsuits like this Emma Jane Swimsuit available from www.bunnybumpkin.com  have ruched sides to allow for body changes during pregnancy. There is also an elasticated bra shelf for comfort and support.

Emma Jane Maternity Swimsuit available from www.bunnybumpkin.com

The swimsuit you buy in the second trimester should also see you through to the third.
Another option is a maternity tankini. The tankini has the advantage of not having to remove the whole swimsuit when you need to go to the toilet.

Emma Jane Matewrnity Swimsuit available from www.bunnybumpkin.com

So what are you waiting for? Take the weight off your feet, cool yourself down and take a dip

For more blogs about pregnancy visit our pregnancy blog page