HOME

BOOKMARK

NEWSLETTER

Join our newsletter to receive news of offers and discounts

Search

AS FEATURED IN...


Lucy Siegle On Eithical Living: Sunday March 5, 2006 The Observer

Weight Watchers®.co.uk. Now with an online plan.

Navigation


Parening Books

Search Now:
Amazon Logo


Potty Training Guide


Toilet training (herein referred to as "potty training") is an exciting time for parents and children, as the child takes the next step to becoming a "big" girl or boy. While parents usually start this adventure filled with the anticipation of being able to cross "diapers" off the shopping list, their toddlers can make them wonder if this will ever happen.

Successful potty training requires a positive attitude and tons of patience on the parent's part. More importantly, it requires cooperation and readiness on the part of the trainee. Attempting to train a child who is not physically or emotionally mature will not only be unproductive, it will cause unnecessary stress for both parent and toddler.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that between 18 and 24 months, children often begin to show signs of being ready to begin training. Some children may not be ready until 30 months or older. Since children under the age of 18 months have little to no control over their bladder or bowel movements, beginning before this time is not useful.

Some of the signs that indicate a child is ready to be trained are:

Your child shows interest in using the toilet.

Your child makes a face, changes her posture or tells you when she is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.

Your child wants to be changed soon after soiling his diaper.

Your child can speak well enough to communicate when she needs to use the potty.

How to Start

Once you feel your child is ready to begin potty training, the first step is to purchase a potty chair. A potty chair is smaller than the toilet and helps the child to feel more secure.

Have your child sit on the potty during times she is most likely to urinate or have a bowel movement, such as in the morning, before and after naps or after mealtimes. Reading a book, talking or singing songs will encourage your child to sit on the chair longer. Avoid trying to force your child to sit for long periods of time or against her will.

Don't be surprised if, after sitting on the potty without result, your child stands up and begins to urinate. This is often perceived as stubbornness. The fact is, your child may not have mastered the skill of relaxing his bladder muscles. If this happens frequently, it may be a sign that he is not yet ready.

Training Pants

When your child begins to successfully use the potty, you may want to consider purchasing training pants for daytime use. Disposable training pants are convenient for outings, but cotton training pants will allow your child to be more aware of when they are urinating, encouraging them to use the potty instead. Plastic diaper covers will help protect your home from accidents.

Nighttime

Some children simultaneously learn to stay dry during the day and at night. For others, it can take several months, even a few years. Allowing your child to wear a diaper at night until she begins to consistently wake up dry will prevent feelings of shame and failure.

Regression

A new baby, changes in routine, family crisis or putting too much pressure on your child, can cause him to regress in the potty department. Avoid making your child feel bad during this time and encourage him to keep trying.

Relax

Every child's body is different. Some catch on quickly,while others take much longer to recognize the signals their body is sending them. Lavish praise on your child when she is successful and reassurance when she has an accident.

Avoid comparing your child's potty training progress to that of an another child's. Mastering the use of the toilet is not an indication of a child's intelligence. It is dependent on their physical, physiological and emotional maturity. Have patience and eventually, your child will be a "big" boy or girl.

Karen Bianchi is a freelance writer and the editor of http://www.AwesomeMomsNetwork.com She is also the mother of 4 potty-trained kids. You can contact her at kbianchi@AwesomeMomsNetwork.com


MORE RESOURCES:

TB scare brings babies, parents to Kaiser
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 10 hours ago
As local and state public health officials investigate the possible tuberculosis exposure of nearly 1000 babies from a Kaiser Permanente nurse, ...
No TB cases found following Kaiser exposure abc7news.com
all 2 news articles


ABC News

Warning on bassinets after 2 babies are strangled
Newsday, NY - 11 hours ago
Babies R Us said it had carried the bassinets but immediately removed them yesterday after the CPSC alert. Consumers can call the CPSC hotline at ...
Popular bassinet linked to at least 2 babies' deaths Chicago Tribune
Popular Bassinet Blamed For Deaths Of 2 Babies WCBS-TV New York
Bassinets Blamed In Babies' Deaths KETV.com
WHAS 11.com (subscription) - WTVW
all 765 news articles


Bellevue's Heelarious gives babies their own high heels
Bellevue Reporter, WA - 2 hours ago
By LINDSAY LARIN Along with babies first blanket, first haircut, and first tooth, comes a new cherished keepsake. A Bellevue-based company, Heelarious, ...


BBC News

Women Await DNA Results After Babies Mixed Up at Hospital
FOXNews - 2 hours ago
Two South African mothers are awaiting DNA results after their newborn baby girls were mixed up at the hospital Sunday, and one died, BBC News reported ...
Babies mix-up, mom shocked Sowetan
Mothers' anguish over baby mix-up BBC News
Dreadful act by clinic Sowetan
all 5 news articles


Daily Mail

Fewer than two-thirds of babies are registered 'white British'
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
Fewer than two-thirds of newborn babies are registered as "white British", new figures show. By Martin Beckford The first-ever breakdown of births by ...
More than a third of babies born in England and Wales are non-white Daily Mail
Disturbed by anti-Welsh reader letters WalesOnline
all 5 news articles


Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us opens
The Coloradoan, CO - 6 hours ago
"What I'm going to appreciate the most is the Babies 'R' Us because we had to drive to Westminster before." The store, which celebrates its grand opening ...
Toys R Us/Babies R Us prepares for Friday grand opening The Coloradoan
all 2 news articles


TheMedGuru

Epsom Salt Compound Magnesium Sulfate May reduce Cerebral Palsy in ...
Best Syndication, CA - 19 hours ago
They reported that there wasn’t any increase in having a baby that was stillborn. The researchers note that while magnesium sulfate looks like a promising ...
Magnesium Sulfate May Lower Cerebral Palsy Risk In Preterm Babies InjuryBoard.com
Epsom salts protect against cerebral palsy risk: study CBC.ca
Epsom salts may protect against cerebral palsy Globe and Mail
AHN - ABC News
all 78 news articles


Malaysia Star

Aug 31 always memorable for Merdeka babies
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 12 hours ago
By GLADYS TAY JOHOR BARU: For Yong Siew Chu, the country’s independence day has always been a public holiday to celebrate her birthday with family members ...


India Journal

EUR CENSUS UPDATE: More babies is why there will soon be twice as ...
Eurweb.com, CA - Aug 28, 2008
In fact, Hispanic females are the only group countering a national trend of women having fewer and fewer babies. One result is that in about 34 years, ...
Nielsen finds audiences are aging Variety
Minorities in US to Become Majority by 2042: Report India Journal
all 4 news articles


WNCT

Kaiser: SF worker may have exposed babies to TB
The Associated Press - Aug 26, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kaiser Permanente is telling 960 mothers that they and their babies may have been exposed to a San Francisco maternity ward worker ...
960 babies in TB scare at Kaiser in SF San Francisco Chronicle
SF Kaiser Patients To Be Tested For Possible TB Exposure NBC 11.com
all 236 news articles

babies - Google News