One thing you can count on from your little ones is that they will always keep you on the go, but it’s up to you to keep them safe, healthy, and hydrated. Keeping everything you need on hand to get the job done makes your life a little easier, and when you find the right stuff to keep your kid happy and interested, they’ll make your life a little easier too!
If your kid is getting a little too big for sippy cups, then you might be looking for a good big kid alternative to help them stay hydrated, but that means you are probably facing another challenging part of parenting that everyone has to deal with - potty training.
Every kid needs to drink water, but this also means they will have to go to the bathroom eventually. Keep reading for some tips and tricks on how to help your little one go like a big kid, as well as how you can incorporate a kids cartoon favorite into their potty time with a Bluey tumbler!
Potty Training Tips and Tricks
Potty training can be a stressful time for both parents and kids, but luckily for you, you’re not the first parent to have to deal with this difficult part of raising children. This means that you can learn from the experience of those who have paved the way.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can encourage your kid and help them make it to the bathroom or potty chair in time.
Be Sure That Your Toddler Is Ready
Before starting potty training, you need to be sure that your toddler is ready. It’s a good idea to start talking to them about potty training before actually beginning the process. Let them know that the day is coming when they will need to start using the potty rather than going in their diaper, and make sure they know that the potty is for big kids.
Toddlers often don’t know how to recognize when their bodies are telling them they need to go. Have you ever seen your little one squat down as they are going in their diaper? You probably asked them if they needed to go potty, and they most likely replied “no” even though they were going potty at that very moment. When this happens, your toddler isn’t lying to you; they simply don’t understand the relationship between the feeling of needing to go and actually going.
It’s important to help them understand that their body will tell them when they need to go. One way you can do this is by sharing with them when you feel the need to go. Just say, “I feel like I need to use the potty,” and let them watch you make your way into the bathroom. You might even let them come with you so they can see that it’s perfectly normal to use the toilet.
Communicating with your toddler and helping them understand the relationship between the bathroom and going potty is important for preparing them for potty training.
Once you begin the process of potty training, it’s completely normal for your toddler to lose interest in the potty after a few weeks once the excitement of it wears off. If this happens, it’s ok to take a break for a week or two while you do your best to reestablish their interest.
Keep in mind that you can’t force your child to potty train - no matter how hard you try. If they don’t want to go on the potty, they won’t. If they’re just not having it, go ahead and put potty training on hold for a few weeks while you regroup your efforts.
Keep Track of Their Drinking Habits
One way you can plan your child’s potty training better is to keep track of or even plan how often your child drinks water.
Most children between ages 1 and 3 will need to pee within one hour of drinking a full glass of water, and they need about 4 cups of water per day. Start a timer from the moment they start drinking their water so you can be ready to get them to the toilet or potty chair before they have an accident.
If you’re looking for a way to make sure that your child is drinking enough water while planning for trips to the bathroom, using a Bluey tumbler will help you measure how much water they are drinking. A Bluey tumbler holds 15 ounces of water, so they will need to drink 2 or more full tumblers every day.
If you want to be precise, just fill up their Bluey tumbler a little over halfway at meal time to give them about a cup of water, and remind them that they need to go to the potty soon after drinking. Wait about a half hour after they finish their water, then take them to the bathroom or potty chair and have them sit until they go.
Make Potty Training Fun
It goes without saying that most kids would rather be running around and playing than sitting on the training chair waiting to go pee. This is why it’s important to do your best to make this time enjoyable for them.
There are lots of potty training games that you can play with them while they are on the toilet, so try to find one they like so they will look forward to potty time. One quick way you can add fun to potty time is by adding something to the water that will make it obvious that they peed. This can also make it fun and interesting for them!
Try adding blue food coloring so they can see how the water turns green when they go. Or you can pour in a bit of liquid dish soap so they can watch the water bubble up!
Be Encouraging
Have you ever heard a small child proudly say that they’re 4 and a half? This is because kids want to be big kids, and every little bit counts to them when they’re that young. That’s why it’s important to remind your little ones that big kids go pee in the potty and give them praise when they do it successfully.
Positive reinforcement can make a huge difference in how a small child feels about going potty, so remember to be excited and give out plenty of high fives when they pee in the toilet or potty chair.
Small children can have a lot of emotions when it comes to potty training because it’s often the first responsibility that they have to learn in their lives, and sometimes they may even find it frightening to go on the potty.
Another way you can encourage your child during potty training is by giving them rewards for remembering to go in the toilet. This could be a piece of candy, a small toy, or a cup with their favorite cartoon character, like a Bluey tumbler.
You can also motivate your child by buying them some big kid underwear. Letting them know that big kids wear underwear instead of diapers will give them some extra encouragement, especially if you let them know that mommy, daddy, and their older siblings also wear underwear instead of diapers.
Be Patient
Remember that potty training is a process, and there are going to be some accidents along the way. When accidents happen, it’s important to let your child know that they shouldn’t feel bad because they are still learning.
Kids will pick up on your emotions, so be sure to stay calm and collected while you are cleaning them up. Potty training takes even more effort from parents than it does from children, and it’s not something that happens over night.
Potty training usually takes about 6 to 8 months before children are fully ready to use the bathroom by themselves, but this process usually goes quite a bit quicker for girls than for boys. However, potty training will be different for every kid, so try to not set your expectations until you have seen how your toddler reacts to the process.
Add a Bluey Tumbler to Your Potty Training Routine
If you are looking for a way to make your potty training routine more enjoyable for your toddler, try adding one of their favorite cartoon characters to the mix. A Bluey tumbler can help get your toddler excited to go on the potty and stay there until they get the job done.
Bluey Tumblers are perfect for kids who are graduating from sippy cups but are not quite ready for a Bluey water bottle. Here’s some of the reasons why Bluey tumblers are great for any toddler.
Leak and Spill Proof
Bluey tumblers are totally leak proof, with a water tight lid and a sip-activated straw, your toddler won’t be able to get a drop out of this kid proof cup unless they are drinking.
The Bluey tumbler, along with all of our other kids’ tumblers, features a valve inside the detachable silicone spout that is only activated when your child is drinking. Also, the silicone spout is watertight when attached, so you won’t need to worry about spills with the Bluey tumbler.
This perfectly kid-sized tumbler also has a leak proof lid that keeps their water or juice inside when the Bluey tumbler is dropped, or even if it becomes a projectile!
Lightweight and Durable
Our Bluey tumblers are the perfect size for small hands, and they are light enough that your kids will have no trouble hanging on to them when you are out and about. Whether you are out for a picnic, going for an adventure, or just need something for everyday use while at home, the Bluey tumbler is the perfect piece of lightweight drinkware for your kids.
Bluey tumblers are also made from durable BPA-free plastic that can stand up to just about anything your kids put them through. Even if your toddler drops, throws, or otherwise attempts to destroy their Bluey tumbler, you can rest assured that the sturdy plastic body won’t break or shatter.
Although the Bluey tumbler is lightweight and durable, we do not recommend putting it in the microwave - the Bluey tumbler is meant for cold drinks only.
Easy to Clean
The Bluey tumbler can be completely disassembled into four pieces for easy cleaning. Your Bluey tumbler breaks down into a cup, lid, silicone sipper, and detachable straw. After separating all the pieces of the Bluey tumbler, you can put it on the top rack of the dishwasher for a quick clean.
However, to get the best use out of your Bluey tumbler, we recommend washing it by hand to keep its design and colors looking bold and bright for longer.
Once your pieces have dried, putting them back together is as easy as taking them apart.
Kids Drinkware by zak!
zak! has a huge line of drinkware products that kids will fall in love with. With all of the color options and designs, your kids can choose a different water tumbler every day of the week!
In addition to our water tumblers, we also carry stainless steel water bottles with pop tops and flip straws for your bigger kids!
Click here to take a look at our full line of kids tumblers, water bottles, and meal time kits!
