Before You Start Toilet Training
Don't Start Potty Training Too Soon
Do you know why children today are potty training later than they were when we were children?
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are concerned that previous generations of parents were putting too much pressure on their children to potty train early. Children were often being punished for not learning to use the toilet.
Another Reason: Behind the delayed potty training are disposable diapers. Disposable diapers are more absorbent than cloth diapers and less uncomfortable for a child when soiled or wet. They are more convenient for parents who want to get away from the laundering of cloth diapers.
Remember, it is not recommended that you use negative reinforcements (verbally, punishments or spankings) when the child has an accident or wets the bed. Positive reinforcement as simple as a hug, sticker or praise for successful potty event is much more effective. Taking cues from your child will make the process of potty training go more smoothly for everyone.
If Potty Training Signs of Readiness Are Missing. Not every sign of readiness needs to be there. If you already notice a few signs, your child may be ready and willing to start using the potty.
After A Few Potty Training Attempts. It's wise to back off if your child still wants to resist using the toilet.
Praise Other Independence. In other areas of independence, such as feeding or dressing themselves, be sure to offer praises.
Trying Again After a Few Weeks or Months Go By. For some children, it might be best to wait if they're about to experience, or have experienced, a major disruption in their life. These disruptions may include events such as the birth of a new sibling, a move to a new home, or a divorce or death in the family. Such situations may disrupt the learning process and may even cause temporary setbacks.
Your Pediatrician Can Help With Potty Training. If any concerns come up before, during, or after toilet training, talk with your pediatrician. Often the problem or problems are minor and can be resolved quickly, but sometimes physical or emotional causes will require treatment. Your pediatrician's help, advice, and encouragement can help make toilet training easier. Also, your pediatrician is trained to identify and manage problems that are more serious.
Confirm Potty Training Information With Other Sources and Your Doctor. You are encouraged to talk with your doctor with regard to information contained on or through this Web site. After reading articles or other Content from Potty Training Solutions, you are encouraged to review the information with your professional healthcare provider.
Teaching your child to use the toilet takes time, understanding, and patience. The important thing to remember is that you can not rush your child into using the toilet.
Each Child Is Different When It Comes to Toilet Training.
What works
for one may not be successful for another. That is why you need an arsenal
of tools and tricks to get your youngster interested and keep him or her
with the program until you have achieved that goal of independence.
Today, there are also many new products which can help to make potty training faster and more fun for both children and parents. We have done a lot of the work for you in this department by providing the world's largest collection of the best potty products anywhere. Take a minute to see if you think any of the new potty chairs, such as the Tinkle Toonz musical potty would help your child to learn faster. Also, see if the method Dr. Phil recommends using potty dolls would be right for your family or you can browse through our collection of 2004 potty training DVDs and books created for both parents and kids. The important thing is to begin potty training with the right training aides and knowledge, both of which can be found here, so that the experience is positive from the start. Don't wait until you and your child are frustrated to read a bedtime potty book or buy a fun musical potty. Make it a positive experience from the start.
The very basics of toilet training begin with the big picture of your family. Stress in the home may make learning this important new skill more difficult. Sometimes it is a good idea to delay toilet training in the following situations:
* Your family has just moved or will move in the near future.
* You are expecting a baby or you have recently had a new baby.
* There is a major illness, a recent death, or some other family crisis.
However, if your child is learning how to use the toilet without problems, there is no need to stop because of these situations.
It's Important to Be Relaxed About Toilet Training and Avoid Becoming Upset. Remember that no one can control when and where a child urinates or has a bowel movement except the child. Try to avoid a power struggle. Children at the toilet training age are becoming aware of their individuality. They look for ways to test their limits. Toilet training is a truly straight forward process with many steps that your child can master in just a few days or a few long months. If you wait until he or she is ready to begin, it will most likely go a lot smoother for both of you.
Punishments When Toilet Training. It is not recommended that you use negative reinforcements (verbal reprimands, punishments or spankings) when the child has an accident or wets the bed. Positive reinforcement as simple as a hug, sticker or praise for successful potty event is much more effective.
Your Pediatrician Can Help With Potty Training. If any concerns come up before, during, or after toilet training, talk with your pediatrician. Often the problem or problems are minor and can be resolved quickly, but sometimes physical or emotional causes will require treatment. Your pediatrician's help, advice, and encouragement can help make toilet training easier. Also, your pediatrician is trained to identify and manage problems that are more serious.
Confirm Potty Training Information With Other Sources and Your Doctor. You are encouraged to talk with your doctor with regard to information contained on or through this Web site. After reading articles or other content, you are encouraged to review the information with your professional healthcare provider.