Potty Training (cont.)
In this Article
- What is potty training?
- Are there cultural differences in potty training?
- How do I know if my child is ready to be potty trained?
- How do I know if I am ready to potty train my child?
- How do I begin potty training my child?
- What products do I need to begin potty training my child?
- How can I encourage my child to use the potty?
- How long will it take to toilet train my child?
- Is there anything I can do to prevent accidents from happening?
- When will my child stop wetting the bed at night?
- My potty-trained child has regressed. What should I do?
- Tips for successful toilet training
- Where can parents find more information about toilet training?
- Potty Training At A Glance
Tips for successful toilet training
- Keep a positive attitude and let that reflect in your interaction with your child during this process.
- Keep the child in loose-fitting clothing that is simple to remove.
- Keep an extra set of clothing (especially pants) in the car at all times. Accidents will happen. Follow the Boy Scout motto: "Be prepared."
- Teach boys to urinate in a seated position. Many parents will reserve the standing position following successful bowel movements in the toilet.
- Make bowel movement expulsion an easy task by keeping stools soft by encouraging high-fiber foods and watching for excessive foods that lead to constipation (such as excessive milk/dairy products, large amounts of bananas, large amounts of pasta).
- If your child looses interest or resists toilet training, stop and drop back to diapers for a few weeks.
Where can parents find more information about toilet training?
Toilet Training: The Brazelton Way by T. Berry Brazelton, MD, and Joshua D. Sparrow, MD
The American Academy of Pediatrics' Guide to Toilet Training (available at http://www.AAP.org)
The Potty Journey: Guide to Toilet Training Children With Special Needs, Including Autism and Related Disorders by Judith A. Coucouvanis
Potty Training At A Glance
- Toilet training is a natural function that requires biological maturation coupled with a child's desire to master controlling urination and bowel movements.
- Cultures have various expectations regarding when to start toilet training and when a child should be expected to be toilet trained.
- Setbacks and accidents are a normal part of the toilet training experience. Punishment should not be used during the process of toilet training.
- Nighttime dryness is not a "willed" behavior, as such a young child cannot be trained to be dry at night.
- A pediatrician should be consulted for children who develop a pattern of resisting bowel movements or the development of daytime wetting or nighttime wetting if he has been continuously dry for more than six months.
Last Editorial Review: 3/10/2010 10:12:51 AM
http://www.medicinenet.com/potty_training/article.htm
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