Practice Being a Good Potty Coach

Toddlers can't potty train themselves. (Boy, if they did, how awesome would THAT be?) So in order to be masters on the porcelain throne, kids need a good potty coach. That means YOU! As a potty coach, it's important to be cool, calm and collected and show your child that you can take whatever they throw at you (sometimes literally)—and smile through it all—even if you're ready to throw that potty seat against the wall!

Here are my tips on how you can be the best potty coach you can be:

• Clear your schedule. Potty training takes time (and effort) on your part, so if you have looming deadlines or big projects going on, find some things to take off of your plate—or at least give yourself permission to scale back so you can focus on your kid's potty needs.
  
  
• Define your potty training expectations. Recognize that there will be ups and downs, your child will have accidents and stuff will hit the fan (sorry, we couldn't help ourselves) from time to time. This will take some of the pressure off both of you.
  
  
• Get a support system. You already have your mom (and your girlfriend who has potty trained before) on speed dial—now head over to our Potty Training Boot Camp Message Board to find other aspiring potty coaches just like you who will support you when you need it most.
  
  
• Give it a whirl. Now that you're in the right mind-set, try a practice potty session. So today, after a dirty-diaper change, instead of immediately putting on a fresh diaper, place your child on the potty for a few minutes. No pressure. No biggie. Just getting the feel for this newfangled thing.
  
  

Remember: The potty-training phase goes the quickest when children can learn in a fun atmosphere. This means you have to be at the top of your coaching game: be positive and encouraging, even when you feel like screaming. One day, you will look back on this and laugh (OK, so maybe not laugh, but at least smile a little).

Bottoms up!

Time to share: Are you ready to step up to the plate and be a positive, encouraging potty coach? Who can you turn to for support? Tell us in the comments below.
Read all of Teri Crane's potty training tips. GO!

Get support & tips from other potty-training parents on our Potty Training Message Board. GO!