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Five tips from experts on successfully potty training your child

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Potty training can be a challenging and daunting task for many parents as it varies greatly from child to child. The L.A. Times recently spoke with experts to get their insights on how parents can navigate this important milestone with their child. Jenny Gold, L.A. Times early childhood reporter; Heather Anderson, administrator of the Mamahood Facebook group; Whitney Casares, Modern Mommy Doc founder and pediatrician; and Quiara Smith, CEO of Aloha Integrative Therapy and an occupational therapist, shared their expertise with the Mamahood Facebook group.

Let’s dive into five key takeaways from their discussion:

1. Let your child’s development dictate when you begin potty training:
Children are generally ready to start potty training between the ages of 2 and 3, but individual developmental factors also play a significant role. It’s important to ensure that your child is physically able to sit on the toilet, has the desire to use the bathroom, and can communicate their needs effectively. According to Casares, children need to understand what it feels like when their bladder is full and be able to control the necessary muscles. Choose potty training methods that suit your child’s needs and be flexible in adapting to their progress.

2. Encourage your child to learn about potty training concepts early on:
Even if your child isn’t quite ready to start potty training, you can introduce them to the concept through play, books, and songs. Foster curiosity and interest in their bodies by explaining the process in a playful manner. Establishing a fiber-rich diet early on can also help promote bowel regularity and prepare them for potty training.

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3. Find ways to make public bathrooms more comfortable:
Public bathrooms can be intimidating for young children, especially those with sensory processing issues. Smith recommends creating a sensory bag with items like sunglasses, noise-canceling headphones, and smelly hand sanitizer to make the experience more comfortable. For children with anxiety or sensory sensitivities, creating a “nest” out of toilet paper on the seat can provide a sense of familiarity and comfort.

4. Help your child understand the concepts involved in going to the bathroom:
Teach your child to wipe surfaces around the house to demonstrate the purpose of wiping and gradually transition to on-body wiping. These activities help develop fine motor control and coordination necessary for potty training. Practice and resources can help your child succeed in unfamiliar environments like public bathrooms.

5. Potty training can take time. Assess what’s working and what isn’t:
Don’t be discouraged if your child struggles with certain aspects of potty training. It’s important to validate their feelings, problem-solve together, and create a supportive environment. Understand the factors affecting their progress, such as constipation issues or nighttime bed-wetting, and adjust your approach accordingly.

In conclusion, potty training is a significant milestone in a child’s development, and it’s essential for parents to approach it with patience, flexibility, and understanding. By following expert advice and tailoring strategies to suit your child’s needs, you can navigate this phase with confidence and success.

This article is part of The Times’ early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, visit latimes.com/earlyed.

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.