Diapers

What do you do with a baby who continues wetting through their diapers? Yell and scream in anger? Well, yes, but after that calm down and get to action!

Try one of these best diapers for blowouts if you haven’t already. There is nothing more disgusting than scooping up your infant and realizing that your fingers are now smeared in horrible baby excrement. Your baby had a diaper blowout, and there are feces all over the place.

One blowout may not seem like a huge concern, but if your kid is experiencing frequent blowouts, it may be time to switch diaper brands.

Table of Contents

• Blowout-Causing Factors In Diapers
  • Be Sure The Diaper Fits
  • See If The Cuff Fits
  • Confirm The Size At The Waist
• Ways To Decrease The Regularity Of Diaper Leaks
  • Think About What You’re Feeding Your Baby
  • Be Aware Of Your Diet If You Are Breastfeeding
  • Watch That Your Baby Has The Correct Size Diaper On
  • Size Up If At The End Of The Size Recommendation
  • Try A Diaper Aid Pad
  • A Baby Blowout Blocker May Help
  • Find A Diaper Of A Different Brand
  • Ensure That The Ruffles On Your Legs Are Tucked Away
• 7 Best Diapers For Blowouts
  • 1. Huggies Little Snugglers Baby Diapers
  • 2. Honest Company Clean Conscious Diapers
  • 3. Select Kids Sposie Absorbent Booster Pads
  • 4. Pampers Pure Protection Diapers
  • 5. Babyganics Baby Diapers
  • 6. BabyBackups Diaper Extender Pads
  • 7. Baby Blowout Blocker Diaper Extension
• Bottom Line (Pun Intended)

If you’re at a loss as to where to begin, we suggest we examine the fit of your baby’s diaper and search for any mistakes in the way the diaper is being put on. If that doesn’t help, we’ll tell you which diapers prevent blowouts and you may try a different brand.

Blowout-Causing Factors In Diapers

Be Sure The Diaper Fits

On every box of diapers, you’ll find a size chart that specifies what age range and weight range is best for using that particular diaper size. If your infant falls within the safe range, you won’t have to worry. The baby may need to go up a size if he or she is on the heavier side of the average.

Make sure the diaper has enough room to go around your baby’s legs and stomach without being too tight. When a diaper doesn’t fit properly, it’s time to move up to the next size.

If the diaper does not fit, you must acquit! Wait, wrong topic, wrong decade…

Sharon Dunn – 2022

See If The Cuff Fits

We suppose that sometimes as mothers we get sidetracked when changing our children. Diaper waistbands have gone unbuckled before, too. To prevent leaks, it is important to make sure the diaper’s leg cuffs are secure. You’ll need to untuck the diaper’s leg cuff.

It’s probably something minor, but it could be what’s causing your kid to wet through their diaper. Check to see that the ruffled section of the diaper is visible on the outside and not tucked inside. Diaper leg cuffs should be fastened as shown in the first image.

Confirm The Size At The Waist

Keep your baby’s diaper securely tied at the waist. While the diaper must fit without being too tight to cause discomfort, wearing the diaper too loosely will cause it to leak and possibly even come off.

Good Read: Boppy Lounger Vs Dock A Tot: What’s The Difference?

Ways To Decrease The Regularity Of Diaper Leaks

Think About What You’re Feeding Your Baby

You may want to change your infant’s diet if you suspect certain foods are causing digestive distress. You could also want to take a break from feeding them a certain food if you just introduced it. If you’ve recently introduced solid foods to your infant, you might also see a change in his or her bowel movements.

Be Aware Of Your Diet If You Are Breastfeeding

What you eat as a breastfeeding mother can have a direct impact on your infant’s digestive health. Foods that make your stomach turn can also cause problems for your baby’s digestive system. Your baby’s diaper blowouts could be caused by your consumption of gas and bloating-inducing meals like broccoli and cauliflower.

Watch That Your Baby Has The Correct Size Diaper On

When a baby’s diaper blows, it’s often because the diaper is too small. You may find that the diaper doesn’t fit your kid just right, even if he or she is within the weight range specified on the packaging. Consider upgrading to a larger size of diapers if this occurs.

Size Up If At The End Of The Size Recommendation

Likewise, if your baby is nearing the limit of the weight range for the diaper size she is presently wearing, you can try sizing up to see if it solves the problem of diaper blowouts.

Try A Diaper Aid Pad

A diaper booster pad can help if your child still wets the bed frequently despite using a properly sized diaper. Sposie diaper booster pads can be placed inside a standard diaper for added absorbency.

A Baby Blowout Blocker May Help

If you’re looking for more ways to prevent diaper blowouts for your baby, consider getting a baby blowout blocker. The diaper blowout blocker velcros around the baby’s waist and absorbs any liquid that makes its way up the back, preventing it from soaking through clothing and dripping over the baby’s car seat, bed, etc.

Find A Diaper Of A Different Brand

Trying a new brand of diapers is an easy way to see whether it helps with the blowouts. Diapers may look the same, but not all disposable diapers are created equal. In the same vein, cloth diapers have their advantages and disadvantages. Also, in my opinion, a more expensive diaper is not necessarily a better diaper. Even the cheapest diapers can often be used to prevent blowouts.

Ensure That The Ruffles On Your Legs Are Tucked Away

If your baby’s diaper is leaking around the leg cuff, a quick fix is to check to see if the cuff is fanned outwards. If the leg ruffle is tucked inside the diaper, then the diaper will leak easily because of the elastic band.

7 Best Diapers For Blowouts

1. Huggies Little Snugglers Baby Diapers

Huggies diapers are designed for infants weighing between 12 and 18 pounds. The pockets waistband helps to contain the mess, and the GentleAbsorb liner offers a protective layer that is soft and breathable. Leaks can be contained for up to 12 hours, according to the diaper’s leak-lock technology, and you’ll know when your baby needs a change because of the diaper’s color-changing wetness indicator. When your baby is ready to start crawling or walking, the double-grip strips will ensure that the diaper stays in place.

2. Honest Company Clean Conscious Diapers

These diapers are designed with a cutout that will allow the baby’s healed belly button to continue to heal without interference. The moisture can be quickly drained away from their quilted bubble liner. It lacks chlorine because it is derived from plants. The diaper’s wetness indication might help you know when to change your kid. Here’s a video summary of the product’s features if you’re interested.

3. Select Kids Sposie Absorbent Booster Pads

The absorbent materials used in Sposie ultra-soft booster pads have been vetted by pediatricians and dermatologists, so you know your child can feel comfortable using them. They don’t contain any smells, latex, chlorine, or phthalates, and they won’t irritate sensitive skin. The diapers are effective in preventing diaper rash, balancing the pH level, and relieving the discomfort associated with dampness.

4. Pampers Pure Protection Diapers

Pampers diapers are made with natural fibers like cotton and shea butter to keep the baby’s skin soft and supple. To determine when your baby needs a change, just look at the wetness indication. These diapers are hypoallergenic and feature lovely patterns without the use of dangerous components. Please watch this YouTuber’s video discussing the benefits and drawbacks of the product if you still have doubts.

5. Babyganics Baby Diapers

NeoNourish seed oil combination, which includes tomatoes, cranberries, black cumin, sunflower, and raspberries, is used in the production of Babyganics diapers. They’re soft and stretchy on the sides, so they fit like a diaper but are more comfortable. They are created from leak-control mechanisms and absorbent materials to keep accidents to a minimum, and they contain wetness indicators to let you know when your baby needs a change. No potentially dangerous substances were used in the production of these diapers.

6. BabyBackups Diaper Extender Pads

Back blowouts can be avoided with the use of these extension pads, which means less laundry and less cleaning. These pads are disposable and can be used with any disposable diaper. You can keep the mess inside the diaper thanks to the hypoallergenic, ultra-soft pads that come in a bundle of 25. These long-lasting containers are great for containing messes at home or on the go.

7. Baby Blowout Blocker Diaper Extension

Pads like the Baby Blowout Blocker can be used as an addition to either disposable or washable diapers to prevent blowouts. They are worn below the waistline and around the hips, behind the baby’s back, and wrapped around the waistband of the baby’s current diaper. If there is a leak, these extenders will catch it. They include a waterproof exterior and an absorbent soaker layer made of 100% polyester mesh. The stretchy, pliable, and soft fabrics will help the diapers to suit your baby well.

Bottom Line (Pun Intended)

The reality is that almost every baby has a diaper blowout now and then. You should always put your kid in a diaper that fits properly and is pleasant for him or her. Make sure the diaper’s tabs in the front and on the leg cuffs are properly fastened. From then on, you’ll just have to observe your baby’s response to the new diapering system.

Is corn starch good for diaper rash? Since there has been so much debate regarding the safety of baby powder in recent years, it can be confusing to determine whether or not alternatives like cornstarch are safe to use on your child. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of using cornstarch for diaper rash, so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your little one. My name is Sharon Dunn and I created this site to share my experiences for young parents to benefit.

What Are Diaper Rashes?

As an infection, diaper rash can manifest at any time, leaving many parents scrambling to find a solution. You may feel like the worst kind of parent when your kid gets a diaper rash, but there are things you can do to assist alleviate the discomfort they’re in. The germs that cause these rashes are produced by the moisture in feces, which is more harmful to the animal than you may assume.

Since it is impossible to prevent a child from soiling their diapers, parents must resort to alternative measures, such as regular diaper changes, to reduce the risk of skin infections in their infants. We should not disregard diaper rash because it may indicate more significant health problems.

Talcum Powder’s Potential Health Risks

The talc in conventional baby powders is the main ingredient. Talc, a mineral derived from magnesium, silicon, and oxygen, is refined into talcum powder. Due to the prevalence of talc mines in locations with high asbestos content, the mineral is sometimes contaminated with carcinogenic minerals. Asbestos has been linked to lung and ovarian cancer in several studies. Talc is a known respiratory and pulmonary irritant. Because of how easily irritated a baby’s lungs are, talcum powder is not a good idea to use around the diaper area. Particles in the air can still enter their respiratory system even if they take extra precautions. Johnson & Johnson has been the target of multiple lawsuits alleging that cancer and other health problems can be traced back to their baby powder.

What Is A Cornstarch?

Corn starch is a natural product that is made from dried corn kernels. It has been used as a topical treatment for diaper rash for many years and is thought to be effective because it helps to absorb moisture and keep the skin dry. Additionally, corn starch is gentle on the skin and unlikely to irritate.

Regular Baby Powder vs Corn starch Powder

Cornstarch and talcum baby powder differ in two key aspects:

Larger Particle Size

This is because cornstarch has larger particles than talc, making it less likely to cause respiratory problems. Cornstarch has an average diameter of around 15 m, while in the United States, talc particles are between 2.4 and 3.1 m in size.

Note that the particle size of American talc (tenth percentile diameter 2.4 to 3.1 m) is much lower than that of French talc (10.5 m) used in Europe, as reported by ScienceDirect.com. Due to the vast size difference, cornstarch is significantly less likely to penetrate deep into the respiratory system.

Cornstarch’s Origin Is Safer

Cornstarch (or corn flour) is a food additive and thickener that is produced from ground-up maize kernels. Talc is a clay mineral that is frequently found in deposits alongside asbestos. Brands of cornstarch such as Maizena and Fleischmann’s can be purchased in the baking section of most grocery stores.

Is Corn Starch Good For Diaper Rash?

Cornstarch, like talc, can greatly lessen the frequency and severity of diaper rashes in your kid. Let’s go over the five benefits of cornstarch that make it a great choice for treating rashes:

Natural

Corn flour, despite still requiring processing, is a well-known pantry essential on par with coconut oil and vinegar. Most mothers would agree that homemade remedies from the pantry are preferable to store-bought, pre-made lotions and balms, regardless of how eco-friendly the latter’s packaging may be.

pH Neutral

Cornstarch is a ph-neutral substance, making it mild and safe for use on the skin.

Drying

Cornstarch isn’t water-soluble, but it will “suspend” itself in water, thus it can be used to treat diaper rash by drying the skin and forming a smooth barrier over it. The simplest method to learn about these paradoxical effects is to rub some into your skin (after a shower or after washing your hands).

Creates Barrier

Cornstarch forms a protective barrier between the baby’s skin and the wet diaper since it is insoluble in water and acids more powerful than those found in urine, such as vinegar.

Lessens Friction

Cornstarch, like talc baby powder, has a smooth, fine texture that helps prevent chafing when used in diapers.

Cornstarch: Good Or Bad For Cloth Diapers?

You need not worry about any harm coming to your cloth diapers from the use of cornstarch. Because cornstarch is insoluble in water, it will not penetrate the absorbent layers of your diapers, even after being washed. It also means that the cornstarch particles in the water can be easily removed by the detergent. Because of this, you can use cornstarch in your cloth diapers without worrying about harming your baby.

Does Changing A Diaper Require The Use Of Baby Powder?

When changing a baby’s diaper, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents not use cornstarch or talc-based baby powders. It’s better to use simple, all-natural items to keep the region clean and moist. Likewise, if you see that your baby’s diaper is soiled, change it as soon as possible. This eliminates the need for any further materials to maintain a dry environment. This not only prevents your child’s bottom from getting irritated, but it also helps you save money. Diaper changes will go more quickly, and you’ll save money by not having to buy as many supplies. Furthermore, baby powder can only aggravate already irritated skin, so never apply it to a baby who has a diaper rash.

Final Thoughts By Sharon

Both your kid and your cloth diapers can benefit from using cornstarch. Because cloth diapers lack the “keep dry” chemical magic of disposables, a common complaint among cloth diaper users is diaper rashes caused by dampness. Cornstarch is a natural, safe, and effective alternative to baby powder for this purpose.

Always check with your doctor before using anything on your baby.

If you’re a mother to a newborn who needs changing of its diaper several times a day, choose your changing pad wisely. Many popular changing pads these days contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to your baby’s health. New research has determined not all changing areas are created equal. I wish I knew this when I had my four children!

Table of Contents

• What Is a Non-Toxic Changing Pad?
• 7 Reasons Moms Should Use Non Toxic Changing Pads
• Benefits of Using NonToxic Changing Pads for Babies 
• What to Look for in a Changing Pad
• Sharon’s Final Words 
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
  • Q1. How to clean a changing pad after your baby has pooped?
  • Q2. Can you make a changing pad at home? 
  • Q3. Are organic changing pads good for babies? 

Toxic chemicals can penetrate into your baby’s skin while changing diapers. This can lead to skin rashes, itches, and other diseases, making both you and your infant suffer.

You can use non-toxic changing pads, the organic ones that offer comfortable and secure changing options. Organic pads are easily washable, water resistant, and durable. Besides, they’re eco friendly. 

In this article, we’ll talk about the top reasons why you should buy non-toxic changing pads, their benefits, and their qualities before buying one. 

What Is a Non-Toxic Changing Pad?

Non-toxic changing pads contain hyperallergic materials and chemicals. It means these materials and chemicals trigger a minimum allergic reaction when it contacts the skin. 

These changing pads have concave designs, enabling your baby to lie in them comfortably. The slightly elevated edges of these pads secure the babies’ stay while the mom changes their diapers. They’re ergonomic, safe, and harmless. 

Since newborn baby skin is highly susceptible to chemical reactions, manufacturers are trying to produce changing pads with harmless materials. On the one hand, the chemicals they’re using in making these pads are less allergic, on the other hand, they don’t pass through the pad surface to be absorbed into the baby’s skin while changing.

These non-toxic or organic changing pads are made of eco-friendly materials, such as hemp, bamboo, cotton, etc. Hence, the final product that reaches you is likely to be softer than the traditional changing pads. And the best part is, the pad gets even more tender with every wash.  Always a win-win there!

Furthermore, since the non-toxic changing pads are made of organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and other holistic materials, they’re more durable than regular pads. This simply makes your baby’s cleaning habit longer while making your money count.   

7 Reasons Moms Should Use Non Toxic Changing Pads

As a caring mom, you must always use the best commodities for your kid’s upbringing and good health. Non-toxic pads are one of the essentials that most mothers overlook. They seem to remain happy with expensive diapers, lotion, wipes, and other stuff. 

Nonetheless, a regular changing pad, no matter how cheap it is, can pose a threat to your kid’s health as they comprise harmful chemicals like phthalate, vinyl, flame retardants, and many more. Eek, none of those sound good do they.

Most chemical reactions in kids prolong much later from the day of absorption. Hence, you won’t even be able to figure out what caused your little one to suffer. I would be so mad at myself if something I did caused a problem.

That’s why buying a non-toxic changing pad is one of the wisest decisions you can make for your young one. That’s why we’ve listed seven vital reasons why you should use non-toxic changing pads to clean and change dirty diapers when your kiddo pees or poops. 

Let’s check out those reasons below: 

1. Free of Allergies and Irritations 

As we’ve said before, non-toxic changing pads are made of hypoallergen materials, which make the pads less irritable to the baby’s skin. If you don’t want your newborn infant’s skin to experience inflammation due to allergies, a non-toxic changing pad will be the right choice for your baby. 

Since most moms are worried about their babies’ skin and health, non-toxic changing pads have become an ideal choice for them nowadays. 

2. Soft and Comfortable for Babies’ Skin

Your baby will feel uncomfortable lying against a harsh or uneven surface of a regular changing pad. In contrast, a non-toxic changing pad comprising eco-friendly and organic materials can give your baby’s skin a soft and tender touch. 

Moreover, a non-toxic changing pad doesn’t wear off too early; it remains intact in its soft form for many months, making the diaper-changing experience for you and your little one a breeze. 

3. No Harmful Chemicals 

Unlike traditional changing pads, organic changing pads are made of environmentally friendly materials that contain minimum toxic chemicals. This enhances the safety of a baby’s skin significantly. 

The organic bamboo, cotton, hemp, etc., go into the making of the non-toxic changing pads without any pesticides or insecticides. Hence, you’re ensuring a healthy changing habit for your baby while being an eco-friendly mom. 

4. Durable Fabric 

When changing pads are made of organic materials, they last longer. It’s because the fiber used from organic cotton, bamboo, etc., is more durable and holds together tightly when woven. 

That’s why using organic changing pads is a smart decision for every mother. Since moms need to get used to changing diapers for at least 3-4 years (sometimes even longer), a durable non-toxic changing pad will be a nice piece of good luck for them. It’ll reduce the need for buying changing pads repetitively, saving them money and hassle. 

5. Environment-Friendly Materials

It’s amazing how being a mom to a newborn also entitles you to environmental responsibilities. How so? Well, you get to choose what changing pad you want to use for your baby. 

By doing that, you’re determining whether you’re going to use traditional changing pads that are full of toxic chemicals and synthetics or go with the ones that are organic and much friendlier toward nature. 

As we’ve said, organic changing pads are durable, so you don’t need to buy them over and over again while disposing of them to worsen nature’s condition. 

6. Eco-Friendly Product

Ever wondered how you, as a consumer, can have an impact on the environmental economy? You do it by buying eco-friendly products whether for yourself or your little one. 

Baby products are swarming the market, and the market for these products is getting bigger and bigger. But when you invest in traditional toxic products, you’re motivating the manufacturers to produce more while dumping more harmful chemicals into the water, air, and soil. 

Nonetheless, if you buy more organic changing pads and other baby essentials, you can inspire other moms to have a positive impact on society and the environment altogether. 

7. Long-Term Economic Benefit 

Apart from the environmental economy, you can contribute to the expansion of the organic market as well by purchasing non-toxic changing pads and essentials. How so?

Actually, parents used to buy baby essentials and cosmetics from only established giant brands once. Keeping faith in new manufacturers was tough. However, the whole scenario changed when organic manufacturers started competing with traditional manufacturers. 

Moms and caregivers started relying on these harmless, durable, and economic essentials more than ever. And the organic market started spanning its wings. So, when you’re becoming a regular customer of these merchants of organic and non-toxic essentials, you’re actually helping them contribute to the economy.  

Benefits of Using NonToxic Changing Pads for Babies 

It’s important to know how to benefit your infant, yourself, and the environment altogether by using non-toxic changing pads. Addressing such benefits will convince you more to become a regular customer of these products. 

Let’s find out some benefits below:

• The curved edges of the non-toxic changing pads stabilize your baby’s body while preventing it from falling over.
• Nicely padded layer of the changing pad gives your baby’s back a tender touch, preventing abrasion. 
• Non-toxic changing pads are easy to clean due to their water resistance. You can clean any liquid on the surface with a wipe. 
• Most non-toxic changing pads contain a flexible safety belt, which ensures a fitting safety for your growing baby. 
• Many organic changing pads are machine-washable. 
• Organic changing pads are lightweight and portable. You can carry one in your beach bags or concealed diaper bags when going out with your kid.
• You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a non-toxic changing pad. 
• Organic changing pads don’t release any chemical-based dye while being washed, keeping the air and water free of contamination. 

What to Look for in a Changing Pad

Apart from the benefits and reasons to use a non-toxic changing pad, you must be aware of certain features that will allow you to determine which product to go with.  Always secure your baby on a changing table too!

Let’s find out some of the main features you must look for in an organic changing pad:

• Ergonomic Design: Always buy an organic changing pad with raised three to four sides along with a concave design. This keeps your baby a comfy experience while you’re laying it down for changing the diapers.  
• Easy Cleaning: Although you don’t have to worry about washing an organic or non-toxic changing pad much, look for one that’s machine-washable or requires less washing in a month. 
• Waterproof Surface: The waterproof surface will make your life a lot easier because you can wipe any liquid off the surface in one swipe. Furthermore, no liquid or dirt can seep into the changing pad. 
• Restraining Flexible Strap: It’s good to buy a non-toxic changing pad with a restraining strap that lightly fastens your baby to the surface. Look for the strap that’s flexible enough to fit your baby’s body as it’s growing over time. 
• Budget-Friendly: A durable and healthy non-toxic changing pad may cost from $30 to $150 depending on the brand, materials, and size. However, anything you pay should bring you value over time and not compel you to change in a short span of using it. 

Sharon’s Final Words 

So, we hope you’re well aware of the significance of using a non-toxic changing pad for your baby. It goes without saying that using an organic changing pad relays how passionately you care for your baby’s health. 

After all, no mom wants her infant to get allergies or fever while being cleaned up of its motion discharges. Hence, using a non-toxic or organic changing pad should be on the card without any hesitation. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q1. How to clean a changing pad after your baby has pooped?

Ans: A water-resistant changing pad shouldn’t worry you much. Still, if it needs cleaning badly, first, remove the poop by flowing water as much as possible. Then soak the pad in warm water for ten minutes. Brush the stained surface with a toothbrush and then machine-wash it. Afterward, sun-dry the changing pad. 

Q2. Can you make a changing pad at home?

Ans: Yes. With proper measurements and materials, you can make an organic changing pad at home. You will need cut fabrics, hair elastic/band, a couple of diapers, a clear vinyl, a large button, and a double-fold bias tape. 

You can pick any online tutorial that will give you easy-to-make instructions to make a changing pad at home. 

Q3. Are organic changing pads good for babies?

Ans: They surely are. Organic changing pads, as we’ve discussed in our article, are soft to your baby’s skin and pose less threat to its skin and health. Organic changing pads don’t contain toxic chemicals that can develop allergic reactions in your baby’s skin. Besides, since they’re easily cleanable, there won’t be any bacterial build-up. 

Thanks for reading,

Sharon Dunn

Untrained potty habits can make you lose your mind sometimes if your toddler lets it go at odd times. Here, sign language could be the perfect solution.  When my kids were little, I wish I had more knowledge on this topic, as it could have saved me a few months of messy frustration.

Sign language for potty is a useful technique to educate your children on calling for your attention when they need to release their bowels. Parents use various sign languages for poop, pee, or diaper change. 

However, these potty sign languages are very easy, fun, and effective. And if you haven’t potty-trained your kid yet or taught them the sign languages for it, read our article. 

We’ll cover the importance, ways, and tips of potty sign language along with some useful potty signs for kids in American and British sign languages. 

Table of Contents

• How Sign Language Plays an Important Role When Potty Training Your Kid
• What’s the Best Time to Teach Your Kids About Potty Training? 
• Sign Language for ‘Potty’ in ASL (American Sign Language)
• Sign Language for Potty in BSL (British Sign Language)
• Sign Language for Poop in ASL
• Sign Language for ‘Poop’ in BSL 
• Ways to Teach Your Toddler the Potty Sign
• Tips on Teaching Your Kid the Potty Sign
• Can You Teach Potty Sign Language to a Kid with Autism? 
• Sharon’s Summary

How Sign Language Plays an Important Role When Potty Training Your Kid

You can potty train your kid even without sign language. 

But kids aged 9-12 months often miss out on learning and using proper words to communicate while feeling the urge of pooping, peeing, or change wet diapers. Besides, some parents are concerned about their kids with special needs in this regard. 

And there comes the role of potty sign language. 

The whole point of potty sign language is to give your small kids a tool to communicate with you about their urge to go to the toilet or change diapers even without knowing the proper words for it.  

No doubt, kids above 12 months are more willing to learn sign language and be able to use them correctly. Nonetheless, most parents and caregivers these days desire this in effect in the pre-verbal age of the kids. 

This way, kids start potty training very early, and by the time they’re 18-24 months, parents don’t need to worry about this issue that much. 

One of the significant aspects of parents willing to get their kids equipped with these techniques is their ever-increasing workload. They want other stuff apart from their work disciplined, including their small kiddos. 

No mom likes to have her online meetings disturbed by the cries and urges of her toddler, needing to clean up the mess at once. Besides, it teaches your kids good manners by pooping in the toilet instead of messing it up on the floor. It’s cleaner and more hygienic this way.  

Hence, it goes without saying that sign language plays a vital role in potty training your kid. 

What’s the Best Time to Teach Your Kids About Potty Training?

The earlier the better. As we’ve discussed above, potty training is something all parents want their kids to learn even before they learn to speak or walk.

Most parents about fifty years ago realized the urge to potty train their kids as early as 12 months. It’s because disposable diapers weren’t available during that time. Moms slogged about cleaning the messy and dirty cloth diapers. And to reduce that hard work, early potty training was necessary. 

But with the commercial disposable diapers available on the market, parents became less concerned with potty training. Hence, the potty training age was raised to 24 to 36 months. 

However, that didn’t last long since the monthly cost of disposable diapers became a bigger concern for parents. That’s why parents these days aren’t hindering potty training anymore, beginning around 8-12 months of their kids. 

But in special cases, parents with autistic kids may need to wait longer to potty train them, sometimes until they’re 4-6 years old. There are autistic kids who can comparatively potty train even faster than other kids, but mostly it’s challenging for the parents.

So don’t bother about when your little one will learn the potty sign language. Just keep communicating with them with the signs, so they gradually get it. 

Sign Language for ‘Potty’ in ASL (American Sign Language)

The American sign language for saying ‘potty’ is a fun and easy technique for kids. Here’s how to do it:

• First, make a fist keeping your thumb outside.
• Then put your thumb through the index and middle finger. 
• Now shake your twisted fist sideways a few times. 

Your little one initially might get confused about the proper fingers, but that’s okay as long as they can communicate with you about their potty urge. 

Sign Language for Potty in BSL (British Sign Language)

Sign language for potty in Britain is a little different from the American one. Basically, it requires your kid to use both hands to make the British potty sign. 

• First, make a regular fist with one hand.
• Then, draw a clockwise or counterclockwise circle in the air with the other hand. 
• Keep both hands a little close to each other while showing the sign. 

Since it’s not complicated, your kid will learn to use both hands to make a potty sign like this quicker. 

Sign Language for Poop in ASL

There’s an American sign language for ‘poop.’ And it goes like this:

• First, make a regular fist with one hand. 
• Then insert the other hand’s thumb through the fist’s bottom. 
• Now, keep pulling the thumb down and then insert it back through the fist. You have to repeat the action a few times to grab attention. 

This sign will help your kid to learn perfect hand motion coordination while doing so. 

Sign Language for ‘Poop’ in BSL

The British version of ‘poop’ sign language is probably the easiest:

• Just do a wipe motion with a flat hand right across your mouth. There will be no touching between the palm and the face. 

It looks a bit weird how that sign works for a poop motion; however, it is the way it is, and your kids will be happy to learn it so easy-peasy. 

Ways to Teach Your Toddler the Potty Sign

The bigger concern of parents should be how to teach their babies these amazing potty signs. 

Well, the first attempt you can take is right after your toddler has pooped in his diaper or cloth. As you’re about to clean your little boy or girl, try the following:

• Make one of the signs we’ve shared above and show it to your kid. 
• You can utter a word or two aloud, so your child can relate that with your sign language. 
• Repeat the sign and verbal action a few times to inspire your child to follow. 

Another way to associate the potty signs with your kid is by doing the sign and verbal action whenever you’re taking him or her to the toilet. Be patient if your child isn’t following your actions. It may take time depending on age and level of comprehensiveness. 

Tips on Teaching Your Kid the Potty Sign

Teaching your kid the potty signs could be hectic sometimes. It’s because not all kids possess the same level of understanding of hand and eye motions. Besides, their emotional and physical maturity aren’t the same. 

That’s why you must follow some tips that can help you instill the habit in your kid. 

Let’s try the following tips to work the potty signs with your kids:

• Start teaching those potty signs to your kid when you notice in them the enthusiasm for speaking up new words. 
• Utilize their growing motor skills like hand motions, walking, etc. It’s the best time for them to learn various signs. 
• A fun way to teach potty signs is that you show the signs to your kid when you’re going to the toilet. Kids learn more by actions rather than instructions. 
• Sometimes, you need to pick signs to teach signs. For instance, if your child is acting or gesturing oddly due to motion, ask if he or she needs to go to the toilet while showing it the potty or poop sign.
• You can engage in their regular playtime while slipping in some potty signs relevantly as a part of other necessary education. It’s not like they always have to learn it when they’re actually pooping. 
• Teach your child to go to the toilet when feeling the urge to poop apart from showing signs. 
• Use motivational words like ‘good boy,’ ‘that’s it,’ or ‘good job’ even if they show signs on rare occasions. 
• If your kid fails to show signs in time, don’t show any frustration. Just clean it up and move on. Pat on its back at least for trying. 

So go on and apply these tips to teach your child the necessary potty signs. Remember, potty training along with sign language can take days, weeks, or months. So stick to the good practice without going off-course. 

Can You Teach Potty Sign Language to a Kid with Autism?

Kids with autism sometimes are smarter than other kids in many fields. But still, they may take time in learning sign language for potty. Many parents struggle to teach them these signs while others get this over with quite nicely. 

Kids diagnosed with autism may show an inability in cognitive abilities, communication, and fine and gross motor skills. These skills are responsible for verbal and physical functions which directly relate to learning signs, gestures, etc. 

Many parents get frustrated with the responsibility of teaching their autistic children the potty signs along with other daily activities. But that’s no way going to help them learn any faster.  Sometimes kids will be kids!

There’s a three-day potty training that involves a focused and parent-led method to get the kids equipped with the necessary toilet skills. For autistic kids, it may take a bit longer, but it’s worth the try. 

Sharon’s Summary

The most important thing to remember for you is not to force your kid into learning these potty signs. It’s not a matter of life and death, after all.  My kids took a while, but not awful, so just be patient and this too will pass.

Some kids learn fast while others are a bit late at grasping stuff. But the whole point of potty sign language is to get them associated with their lives as they grow. 

If you think our article has been a nice piece of parental skill guide on potty signs for kids, apply what you’ve learned and see how they work for your little one.