If you are like many parents who are potty training their child, you have wondered if the toilet training resources available today can actually help train your child.

That’s an important question. For example, the potty training watch is a great concept. There are different styles available for this watch, but the basic idea is that a parent can set a time – say, 60 or 90 minutes – and when the time is up the watch will vibrate or play music to remind the child that it is time to go potty.

Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using this popular resource.

The pros of using a potty training watch.

– No hovering; no nagging.

Probably the number one reason parents love potty watches is that it puts the responsibility for going potty back on the child. The parent doesn’t need to constantly remind the child “it’s time to go potty” or “do you need to go potty?”, since the child is expected to simply use the potty whenever the watch tells her to.

– The watch is flexible.

In other words, as a parent, you can set the potty watch to go off at whatever intervals you choose. If your child is new to potty training, you can set the watch for shorter periods of time. Once your child has progressed in his training, you can set the watch for longer periods of time.

– High “wow” factor.

Most children are highly attracted to and motivated by the potty watch, at least initially. They feel they are being given something “adult” to use and are therefore excited to use it.

A parent can take advantage of this natural attraction by regularly checking their own watch in front of the toddler or preschooler, thus encouraging their child to stay enthused about the potty watch.

The other side: the cons of using a potty training watch.

– The excitement can fade.

The initial excitement of using a toilet training watch is generally high but often that interest fades quickly. Parents must be prepared to use creative and subtle ways to reinforce the child’s use of the watch.

– Age matters.

A very young child may not have the developmental maturity to effectively use the watch. Most children would need to be at least two years old and possibly older in order to connect the ideas that when the watch goes off the child needs to head directly to the potty chair.

– Value considerations.

Some potty watches are quite inexpensive, making them reasonable potty resources. Some watches, however, are quite expensive and are marketed with the notion that a child can continue to use the potty watch as an everyday watch beyond the toilet training target window.

This is a good idea; however, these days, children’s watches are quite inexpensive so paying a lot for any kid’s watch is dubious.

Bottom line? Potty training watches are a clever idea that can be used to get a resistant child over a toilet training hump. However, the cost needs to be factored in and that depends heavily upon an individual child’s interest in the watch.

Stack a training watch up against all your other potty training resources, consider your child’s unique temperament and you’ll be able to make a reasoned decision that will get you the results you want.

Author Bio: Colleen Langenfeld has potty trained four kids and helps other moms get more out of their mothering at http://www.paintedgold.com . Toilet train faster using her potty reward charts and creative ideas plus uncover more about using a potty training watch by visiting her website today.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: potty training watch,potty training,training watch,toilet training,potty watch