Your baby is growing up. He has mastered the obstacles of
sitting up, and eating solid baby foods. But, what is the next obstacle
she will have to overcome? Is it time for your child to transition from
diapers to "Pull-Ups" to begin potty training?
"It is normal for a parent to want to teach their child to
toilet train at an early age, " says Dr. Lorraine Brewer, pediatrician
at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "However, it is important
for parents to sit back and judge whether or not their child is
developmentally ready to potty train."
To judge whether or not your child is ready, parents must watch
out for a few signs to indicate the readiness of their child. "Is the
child dry through a nap, does the child understand what the potty is
for," says Dr. Brewer. "It is important for the child to like to be
changed as soon as he is wet or dirty. When a child understands the
feeling of a full bladder and the urge to have a bowel movement are
strong indicators it is time to train."
Around the age of 2 years, children should be ready to toilet
train, says Brewer. At this time it should take only a few weeks to
teach the child to toilet training basics. If a parent tries to teach
their child too early, at 18 months of age, the process could take a
lot longer, up to two or three months time.
Following are a list of helpful hints, Brewer suggests to
toilet
train your child.
Buy Supplies:
- Potty Chair (floor-level type). If his feet can reach the floor
while he sits on the potty, your child has leverage for pushing and a
sense of security. She will be able to get on and off whenever she
wants to.
- Favorite treats (such as fruit slices, crackers and cookies) for
rewards.
- Stickers and stars also make good rewards.
Make the potty-chair one of your child’s favorite possessions.
- Several weeks before you plan on beginning toilet training,
take your child to help pick out a potty-chair. Make it clear that this
is your child’s special chair.
- Put the child’s name on the chair, labeling it theirs.
- Allow the child to decorate the chair.
- Have the child sit on the chair, clothed until they are completely
comfortable spending time on the chair. Allow them to watch TV, eat and
play on the chair.
Encourage practice runs on the potty.
- Do a practice run whenever the child needs to go to the
bathroom.
Praise or reward the child for success
Change your child after accidents
- Make sure you respond firmly but sympathetically.
- Always be positive.
Introduce training pants after your child starts using the
potty.
Following are a list of warning signs to watch for that indicates
your child is resisting toilet training. If you are having and of these
problems please contact your physician.
- Your child won’t sit on the toilet.
- Your 2-year-old child is negative about toilet training.
- Your child holds back bowel movements.
- You begin to punish child for not toilet training.
- Your child is over 3 and is not toilet training.
- Any approach is not working.
"Parents just need to remember to be patient, potty training is a
difficult process for some children, but it will happen in time," says
Dr. Brewer.
