The business of “poop” and “pee” can be a messy one. Some times washing hands isn’t enough.
Teach your child how to keep hygiene
- Weather you use the potty chair or the removable bowl, your child need to know how to clean it out by themselves. Teach your child how to wipe the seat when they are done. Germs can be present whether the seat is wet or dry.
- Teach your child how to wipe properly.
- Teach your child to wash their hands. It will reduce the spread of disease. Use antibacterial soap and warm water. Scrub hands for about 15 seconds.
The products you get should be gentle on the children’s extra sensitive skin but also should be strong and absorbent like pre-moistened wipes which are are ideal for toddlers because they are gently and clean the children’s skin effectively.
Some say that reciting the ABC song fully while washing your hands will get them clean enough. You can also teach your child to count to ten or say a rhyme while washing hands to help them gauge the right amount of time.
They should dry their hands on a towel (which should be laundered at least on a weekly basis). Hand washing should be routinely done, even if your child didn’t actually “go” in the potty. And don’t forget to wash YOUR hands, too.
When accidents happen
It is important to change your child’s underwear or training pants as soon as possible after soiling so they won’t become comfortable with or even enjoy, being soiled.
Soiled underwear falls into one of two categories: save or trash. When it is just urine, a run in the washing machine will make it smell like new. When it is a bowel movement, it depends. Most likely, if the BM is wet or mushy, pitch the underwear in the trash. But there may be occasions when few or no traces of BM are apparent and the underwear can be saved.
Children need repeated reminders to close the toilet lid before flushing to avoid contact with germs that might spray up.
For easy potty chair clean up, place cling-wrap or a coffee-filter in the bowl before your child sits down. When they’re done, there’s minimal mess – just lift the wrap or filter out and throw it in the trash. Don’t flush the wrap and filter because it’s not biodegradable like toilet paper.
Clean the potty periodically with a bleach/water solution after each potty training session. To avoid cleaning carpets, place the potty on an easily cleaned floor or invest in a mat that can be cleaned to avoid any spillage on the carpets. One mom puts down painter’s plastic which is cheap to buy and easy to discard.
Your child may be curious and try to play with the feces. You can prevent this without making him or her feel upset by simply saying, “No. This is not something to be played with.”
While potty training, it’s a great time to teach your child (especially if a boy) to lower both the seat and the lid when they are finished as a necessary part of the ritual. Their future wives will you!
Washing hands can be difficult for your little one. They probably won’t be able to reach the bathroom sink, so that’s where the stool we talked about before can come in handy!
After your child has mastered daytime potty habits, it’s time to work on staying dry throughout the night!