My boys are both old enough that they’re pretty much independent when it comes to bathroom routines. From using the toilet to brushing their teeth, they don’t really need Mom’s help anymore. (Though their aim sometimes could use some work!) Building that independence has taken time and effort, especially when it was time to brush teeth. So having innovative ways to get my sons involved in their personal care was something that I really appreciated.
That’s why I love the new Bathroom Buddies program created by Today’s Parent and P&G. The two companies have created a handy chart to celebrate your child’s bathroom routine successes and get them excited. Simply post it in your bathroom and use a dry-erase marker so you can use the chart over and over each week. This helpful tool also comes with great tips and tricks to make the bathroom experience even easier. And if you’d rather use tech to track your child’s progress, the new Today’s Parent Milestone app for iOS lets you record your child’s milestones as an interactive “bathroom buddy” helps children learn their bathroom routines through fun games on potty training and brushing their teeth.
Looking for a few ideas to help develop your child’s independence? Check out these handy tips:
- Get kids in the habit of good brushing – let them brush on their own first, then review to make sure no areas are missed! Find the right toothbrush for your little ones’ brushing stage. Oral-B Stages are made for their stage and make brushing fun with their favourite Bathroom Buddies characters by their side. For kids three and up, try Oral-B Pro-Health Stages Disney My Friends Tigger and Pooh Power Toothbrush or Oral-B Pro-Health Stages Disney Pixar Monsters Inc. Power Toothbrush.
- Make sure your little ones know that an essential part of the bathroom routine is cleaning up when you’re done. Teaching them the right way to wipe is especially important for girls. For their precious skin, find a soft bath tissue, like Charmin Ultra Soft, and teach them how much to use.
- Setting a routine for potty training is an important step for success. Visit the bathroom together after all meals and liquids, and before and after sleeps and going out. When your little one is ready, they can start the potty training journey with friends Dora and Diego on their Pampers Easy Ups, designed for all day training.
If you have a little one that’s starting to develop independent bathroom routines, P&G wants to help him on his way with a fabulous Bathroom Buddies prize pack worth $87! Containing Pampers Easy Ups Boys 2T-3T, Pampers Easy Ups Girls 2T-3T, Pampers Sensitive Wipes, Charmin Ultra Soft, Today’s Parent with the Bathroom Buddies charts, an Oral-B Pro-Health Stages Disney My Friends Tigger and Pooh Power Toothbrush and an Oral-B Pro-Health Stages Disney Pixar Monsters Inc. Power Toothbrush, it has everything a child needs to gain independence in the bathroom!
You can find P&G Bathroom Buddies products from Pampers, Charmin and Oral-B at Walmart stores across Canada or online at Walmart.ca, so pick up some essential supplies for your household and get ready to build your child’s independence at bathroom routines!
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let them pick out their own potty, toothbrush, and kid friendly toothpaste.
i make toothbrushing like a game of tag
I like to buy different toothbrushes and toothpastes — it makes it more fun for my son. He also likes to brush along to a timer.
When I was toilet training Sara, I really just went with the flow…no pun intended. My Mum bought a little toilet that I kept in the bathroom and eventually she just started using it…she was so easy!
Use rewards like stickers or books. Be patient
while potty training, we tossed cheerios in the toilet for my son to use as targets.
No tips here yet with a 3 month old, but I’ve enjoyed reading other posts!
Watch for signs of readiness, make it fun, don’t rush and don’t punish :).
At the beginning my son hated brushing his teeth so I let it go! He chooses his toothbrush. He chooses his toothpaste. And once he was ready he started. It has always been a part of our daily routines. This helped as well!
I used to give them a childrens book to look at while sitting on the potty.