'When' and 'how' of toilet-training: smart and easy things to do

-

 By: Aishat Idowu, R.N

Photo source: istockphotos

Children develop each skill in stages, one preceding the other— usually from simple to complex. It is important for mothers to assist their babies to have good transition at every stage of their development. 

By default, every child will grow to a stage when they are mature enough to begin the use of potties and gradually stay off diapers. This stage of development is not constant and therefore varies from child to child. 

While some babies develop quite early (18-24months) or even earlier, others are delayed (3-4 years) even without any obvious developmental fault. Generally, boys experience more delays than  girls.

Toilet-training could be very easy for some, and at the same time, extremely difficult for others. The difference is in the recognition of the appropriate timing.


Timing: is my child ready?

The time to start toilet-training is as important as the whole process of toilet-training. Identifying when a child is ready makes the whole process pretty simple, with little or no accompanying frustration because success depends more on the readiness rather than age. Some behaviours that signify readiness include:

  •  Staying dry (without poo or pee) for about two hours (especially during naps)
  • Indicating that he/she wants to poo or pee
  • Becoming disgusted with dirty diapers
  • Demonstrating/imitating toilet habits of others e.g flushing.

The dos' of toilet training: the key task of parents

To ensure a smooth transition, from diaper to potty, below are some useful tips:

1. Patience: This cannot be overstressed, especially when it comes to babies. You need to let them respond to their body messages. Do put them in a rush. Give them time.


2. Take out time to familiarise your child with the potty and let him/her know what it is used for by telling (in a simple way) and showing (such as by turning the contents of his/her diaper into the potty and then, into the toilet) while he/she is watching.


3. Let your child explore the function of potty through play (let him/her place his/her toys such as a teddy bear on the potty several times a day).



4. Motivate your child by praising after every successful attempt and encouraging whenever they fail.


5. Adopt a routine for toilet-training (e.g placing on the potty every morning before bath and at night), then, several times a day; putting the baby's readiness into consideration. This creates an internal alarm system that tells them to use the potty/toilet.


6. Always  create a natural and relaxed environment for your child. Take him/her off diapers sometimes while putting the potty close to him/her (in the right environment such as the bathroom/toilet corridor or toilet itself). This allows him/her to naturally get used to relieving himself/herself using potty. 


7. Make every session fun by playing/joking with them and letting them play with toys


❌What not to do❌

  • Do not compare your child.
  • Do not shout or apply force
  • Do not openly express your displeasure at their failure.
  • Do not neglect them while on the potty (stay in a close range where you can easily respond to their calls)


Nevertheless, it is not an automatic process. There could be times they may fail to maintain potty use and mess themselves and even the environment up, despite being awake and alert. All that is required then is patience and encouragement.

"So deal with failed attempts calmly as they learn and relearn"


While going through the world of toilet-training with your child, let him go at his own pace. Always consider his uniqueness!

Even with several failed attempts, tell and show your child that he can do it and even more...that's all the needs...that trust...that motivation...

Resist every urge to be frustrated even when your child surprisingly fails. 

With tender love and care, your child will gradually become a graduate of 'The diaper Institute' and eventually say a lasting bye to the " League of diaper wearers".๐Ÿ˜


Hope you enjoyed reading?


Kindly give us feedback


priceykiddies@gmail.com



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kids & gadgets: A silent battle every parent is losing – but you don’t have to!

-
Image
  Image credit:pexel.com H ow would you feel if your child no longer seemed to enjoy your company, didn't miss you when you were away, or constantly preferred solitude? You’d probably feel worried and wonder what—or who—is interfering with your parent-child bond. But what if I told you that the culprit isn't a person but an object—one that you purchased with your own money? Yes, I’m talking about gadgets —the very devices your child might throw a tantrum over if you try to separate them.  The digital age has made life easier in many ways, and technology is now woven into almost every aspect of our daily lives. Naturally, kids aren’t left behind. In fact, some infants are introduced to gadgets before they even learn to talk! Recent studies show that " one in three toddlers (aged 1 to 3) use a gadget before they can speak" . Now, think about this: A child who learns to interact with gadgets before humans might grow up believing that life revolves around electronic enter...
Read more

When Teething Looks Like a Stomach Bug: A Mum's Diary (Episode 1)

-
Image
Image by  ่‚ฒ้“ถ ๆˆš from Pixabay   My baby pooped more than 10 times in one day. It was watery. Smelly. All over the place. No fever. No vomiting. No weakness. Just him… teething.” That’s what I kept telling myself. But in truth? I wasn’t 100% sure. Was it just teething? Or was it something more? A virus? A stomach bug hiding behind the swollen gums and drool? As a nurse, I’ve counseled countless mothers through moments like this — calm, collected, confident. But living it? With my own baby? That’s a different story. The Day It Began It started suddenly — soft, loose stools that seemed to multiply through the day. Not one or two, but clustered, watery poops I could barely count. At least 10 in 24 hours. No fever. No vomiting. No sunken eyes. He was still active, smiling even. But his bum was sore, and I was tired. I knew teething could sometimes cause runny poop because babies produce more saliva and often put everything in their mouths. But this? It felt like more than just sali...
Read more