Choose (and Use!) Potty Words for Potty Training

Got a potty mouth? Well, as a parent of a potty trainee, you're gonna need one. OK, a different kind of potty mouth. After all, you can't get your toddler to pee and poop if you can't even get the words out!

Here's how to start talking potty:

• Make a list of your potty words. Decide what words you're going to use to describe pee, poop, the potty and all of your kid's body parts. Then write or type them up. If you want to use the textbook terms, great! But if you squirm at the word "penis," then think of a word that you are comfortable saying—39 times a day.
  
  
• Spread the word. Share your list of potty words with anyone who may be involved in the potty training process (your partner, your parents, your babysitter, etc). That way, everybody's onboard this potty train!
  
  
• Be consistent. If you ask your child in the morning if she has to go pee-pee and then ask if she has to tinkle in the afternoon, she'll only be confused. So everyone, stick to the script!
  
  
• Avoid negative terms. Whether your child goes pee and poop in the potty or in his diaper, avoid using words like "stinky" or "yucky" to describe it. Just flush it away and say something like "Bye-bye poo-poo!" Using negative words can make your toddler feel like he did something wrong instead of something natural!

Remember: Whatever words you choose, be clear and confident when talking to your child about the potty—even if it makes you a little uncomfortable at first. Toddlers don't know the meaning of embarrassment—so the more comfortable you are with the words you're using, the more natural your child will feel about the whole potty training process.

Bottoms up!

Sharing time: What words are you choosing to use in your family. (Don't be shy!). Post your answers in the comments below!

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