Toilet training should be viewed as an exciting and new learning process for both parent and child.
Too often, children are pressurised by parents to begin using the potty and a battle of wills develops which can be traumatic for the child.
You cannot force your child to be dry or clean, but you can encourage and guide him to train himself and develop a positive attitude towards using the toilet.
There are, however, numerous pressures that can result in parents attempting to toilet train early:
* Nappies are costly and often inconvenient;
* A greater number of children are in child-care situations, with a frequent prerequisite that they be toilet trained;
* Other children may be present who also need attention.
Despite these factors, it is imperative to bear in mind that each child has his own timetable and that many factors determine when a child is ready.
He must first learn to control the muscles of elimination and become aware of the pressure sensations of his bowel and bladder.
The nerves and muscles responsible for bowel and bladder control do not mature in most toddlers until 18 to 24 months.
Kids must also have the coordination to pull down their own pants in time and will require assistance with wiping for some time longer.
They must be able to communicate to you their needs or urges. Here your child will have had to develop adequate language skills to communicate his needs.
It is a good idea to teach your child the proper words for telling people what they need to do. Baby-sitters and others may not understand pet family names for bodily functions.
Children will let their parents know when they're ready for toilet training. They do so through words, imitation, and wanting to feel clean.
Signs of readiness include :
* remaining dry for a couple of hours during the day
*a dry nappy after a nap or in the morning after waking
*starting to pull off his nappy when wet or soiled
* regular bowel movements
* showing knowledge that he is about to relieve himself
* curiosity about your toilet habits
* asking for "big kid" underpants
* showing outward signs that he feels the pressure inside, for example, squatting, crossing legs, grunting and going off to a corner or out of view
At some point, generally between two and three years, your child will be ready for toilet training.
You can encourage and assist this new developmental stage by doing the following:
* help your toddler make the connection between feeling the urge to 'go', and using the potty or toilet.
* when he indicates that he needs to go, bring out the potty or take him to the toilet and remind him how to use it.
* try to catch your child as they are about to 'go' so that they learn to use the potty in response to their urges
* whenever possible, place the stool in the potty and take him with you to the toilet to flush it away.
* have the right equipment in the house. Most kids feel more comfortable and secure with a potty chair that is low on the ground.
Once your child seems comfortable on the potty and is using it regularly, you can make the move from nappies to training pants.
These are super absorbent padded underwear and are used as a step up from nappies until your child is ready to wear pants.
Encourage your child by making positive comments about his accomplishments.
Expect soiled and wet pants from time to time. In these instances remain calm, and clean up without shaming him.
Accidents are inevitable and parents must learn to be sympathetic, supportive, and patient. Nighttime control takes longer to learn, because children sleep so deeply, so using nappies at night may continue as necessary.
Accidents are normal, but if your child starts to regress completely, there may be an underlying problem such as illness.
If your child becomes resistant to potty- training, try to resolve the underlying problem, but don't force him to get on the potty.
Always remember there is no universally accepted or physiologically correct age to begin toilet-training.
If the parents begin toilet-training before the child is ready, they will become frustrated or disappointed over poor results and the attempts may cause anxiety or hostility in the child.
It is also essential that the parents are ready for toilet- training.
Choose a time when at least one parent is able to devote the time and emotional energy necessary to encourage the child on a daily basis for at least three months.
The average time from starting toilet-training to completion ranges from three to six months; most parents underestimate the amount of time required.
Once the potty chair has been mastered, the final step is the transition to an over-the-toilet seat.
Findings from a clinical trial including parents of 266 children on toilet training in first children, highlighted various aspects.
The parents said they taught intuitively or where told how to do it by their parents and friends with small children.
Most children were put on the potty chair and were praised when successful.
About 75 percent of the parents responded that readiness of the child prompted initiation of toilet training.
The largest number of children (42,6 percent were 24 to 29 months old when training began and 30,5 percent were 18 to 23 months old.
The average ages for completion of training were between 24 and 27 months.
Potty training is a lot for a little person to master and it's no wonder that many children are not yet trained well into the third year.
Relax, don't let others pressurise you and don't pressurise your child.
Be patient and understanding and trust in the fact that he will learn how to use the potty in time. - Staff doctor