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Toilet Learning Made Easier
From the Field Guide to Parenting
by Shelley Butler and Deb Kratz
Toilet learning is the process by which children are taught how to go to the
toilet on their own signal, needing little outside help. Toilet training is the
help and guidance that adults give children to help them learn.
Realistic Expectations
* There is no exact timetable that can tell you when a child is ready to learn
to use the toilet. Waiting for signs of readiness before beginning toilet
training will lead to greater success; training too early is more difficult and
less effective.
* Two years is the minimum age usually recommended to start toilet training for
children.
* The time at which children are physically and emotionally ready varies from
child to child. No two children are alike.
* Children younger than eighteen months do not have the bladder and bowel
control to be toilet trained. Between eighteen and thirty months, children begin
to show signs of being physically ready.
* Most children learn to use the toilet with some assistance between two and
three years of age, and then regularly without being asked between three and a
half and four.
* The majority of toilet training takes about six months, but the whole process
can take years if you include wiping well and nighttime dryness.
* The typical order for achieving bowel and bladder control is: 1) nighttime
bowel control, 2) daytime bowel control, 3) daytime bladder control, and 4)
nighttime bladder control.
* Most children stay dry all night regularly about six months after they have
mastered toilet training. But many, up to 15%, continue to wet the bed regularly
until age five or later.
* Boys tend to train later than girls: only about half of boys are toilet
trained by age three, while two-thirds of girls are trained by age three.
* Expect that people of previous generations may have ideas and beliefs about
toilet learning that differ from recent expert thought on the subject.
* Independence in toilet training may take place at a later age in children with
special needs.
* Learning to use the toilet will be more difficult during times of stress:
birth of a sibling, moving, or divorcing.
* At the time most children become physically ready to learn to use the toilet,
they are at the stage of wanting to do things for themselves, but at the same
time are having difficulty doing so; this can both motivate children to learn to
use the toilet and make it more frustrating.
* A parent's frustration over toilet training has led to child abuse in many
cases.
* Children who learn about body parts and body functions in a positive way learn
positive feelings about their sexuality.
* Learning to use the toilet independently is an important event, one that can
result in a tremendous sense of accomplishment for children.
How To Start Toilet Training
Carefully choose the words to describe body parts, urine and bowel movements.
Choose words that are correct in terminology and that will not embarrass or
confuse your child.
Select a toilet chair or use an adapter. The adapter allows them to use the
regular toilet with the aid of a step stool and smaller seat that fits over the
regular toilet. This allows less transition when trained.
Take your child to the toilet on regular intervals. Don’t insist the child sits
there until he/she "goes" This will only frustrate them and they may resist
going back to the toilet. If they don’t go after a reasonable time, "try" again
in 20-30 minutes. But also try to avoid taking the child too often. If the child
is truly ready mentally and physically the accidents will be minimal…… but
accidents DO happen.
Remember to never scold or punish for a accidents. If there are repeated
accidents you may need to consider that maybe they aren’t ready mentally. They
may also not be ready physically to hold urine. If you have ANY doubt, its best
to wait for a couple months.
If the child is truly ready for training I recommend the use of training pants
with plastic pants from the start. Pull ups in my opinion are too much like
diapers and they may not feel their accident, however at night they are fine. It
is completely a personal choice.
Most children will have achieved bowl and urine control by age 3-4 years. Any
significant changes in their bathroom habits or continued accidents may warrant
a call to the pediatrician to rule out other problems or for advice.
Most of all, If you and the child are ready mentally and physically for the
task, training will happen quickly!! Patience, consistency and a sense of humor
are the keys. Something someone told me one time when my daughter was training,
"I’ve never meet a kindergartner who was still wearing diapers."
Excerpted with permission from
THE FIELD GUIDE TO PARENTING;.
Copyright © 2000 Chandler House Press. All rights reserved.
Guide to Toilet Training! Signs That Your Child May Be Ready
Staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time during the day
Being able to walk to and from the bathroom, undress and redress
Seeming uncomfortable in soiled diapers and wanting to be changed
Asking for the toilet chair, showing interest
Wanting to wear "big kid" underwear
Having regular and predictable bowel movements
Willing to start training, showing no signs of fear
Child is at ease with using the toilet and doesn’t fight you
For More Information Contact:
Carousel Corner Preschool and Childcare Center
5345 Carousel Lane SE, Port Orchard, WA 98366-3800
Tel: 360-871-7572
FAX: 360
Internet:
info@carouselcorner.org
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