Parents everywhere often dread the potty training aspect of raising a child; no one can be expected to look forward to the inevitable messes that come with teaching your kids an invaluable life skill. Nonetheless, potty training your toddler is an essential step of parenting that no one can avoid, and you should brief up on the basics ahead of time if you want to avoid failure from the get-go.

So, how can you potty train your toddler as quick as possible? Are claims that you can quickly master the potty training process true? What common missteps should you avoid? Read up on the basics of potty training your toddler below, and you’ll be prepared to tackle your looming toilet troubles.

Avoid the messy mistakes

The first and most imperative lesson for budding parents everywhere is how to avoid common, messy mistakes. Every child is unique, but kids as a group are often very similar, and children who are being potty trained often behave similarly to one another. Namely, these kids often resent being told what to do, and have other, more pressing matters like play on their mind. That’s why you should review common mistakes made by parents before getting started if you want to avoid having an unpleasant accident on your hands.

Once you’ve figured out how to avoid common mistakes, like being overly harsh with your child when they fail to immediately grasp a new concept, you’re ready to move on to the next step. Pushing your kids into potty training before they’re ready to tackle it is a surefire way to create a disaster from yourself, so be sure that you’re not rushing your kids to keep them “on level” with their peers. While you may worry that your child isn’t developing fast enough, forcing them onto a training toilet will likely lead nowhere, and only build resentment between the two of you.

Parents should praise their kids adequately when they’re mastering their training potty, but shouldn’t go overboard; you don’t want your kids viewing going to the bathroom as a massive deal, and while mastering the potty is a big step for any toddler, you should keep them grounded from an early age. Cheer your child on, and don’t be afraid to let them know they’ve done a good job when they start to master potty training, but understand that overdoing it can spoil the training process, too.

When it comes to teaching toddlers, patience is the chief virtue; you need to understand that not all kids can master new concepts like potty training in just a few days’ time. Teaching your kids proper bathroom etiquette shouldn’t be a drag, however; if your child takes more than a few months, as is frequently recommended, you’ll want to consider enlisting outside help on your crusade.

Don’t beat around the bush

Some parents may be hesitant to embark on the potty training process because they don’t want to approach difficult topics with their rapidly-growing youngsters; discussing the intimacies of the bathroom is never easy, especially when it’s with children. Nonetheless, parents have a responsibility to bring their kids up right, and you shouldn’t shirk from your duties of informing your kids about their bodies and how to be healthy.

Use short, simple terms for body parts and what comes out of them, and don’t be afraid to smile when it comes to discussing embarrassing body functions with your kids for the first time. Humor in this situation is completely natural, and any parent who’s potty trained can tell you stories about a giggling child who refuses to take the process seriously. Don’t force the situation, but instead recognize it as the important but nonetheless funny scenario that it is.

Having your children be comfortable with their bodies is a vital part of any development process, and you’ll want to take steps to give them the space and privacy they need sometimes. In some instances, how child friendly your bathroom is, goes a long way in making your child feel comfortable. You can search for tips on how to make a small bathroom look bigger or more child-friendly, but in the end it depends on your child’s personal preference. You can’t force your children into the limelight when it comes to training them, and shouldn’t expect them to perform under pressure. Potty training books aimed at children are a great way to get them engaged and serious about potty training without forcing them to do something they’re uninterested in, and will help you along the way.

Parents should remember they live in the digital age, too; a myriad of online resources exist to help you out in your time of need. Don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself about the process, as it’s perfectly normal for your toddlers to fire off a thousand questions a minute at you the moment they learn something new. Be prepared, be calm, and be lighthearted as you explain potty training to your kids, and they’ll learn faster than you ever imagined possible.