Toilet Traininig

Eating
Sleeping
Crying
Toilet Training
Biting, Hitting, Bullying
Tantrums
Sharing
Attention Deficit Disorder
Discipline

Toilet Training

Don't be in a hurry to start toilet training. If you begin before your child is physically ready you'll be asking for something that he or she is simply not mature enough to give. No matter when attempt to "potty train" your child, research has shown that, on average, your child is unlikely to be reliably dry before the third year.

Up until about fifteen months old a child moves his bowels or passes water automatically. He neither knows when he is going to, nor does he realize when he has done so. Your child doesn't even look at the puddle he produces because he doesn't yet realize that has anything to do with him. Somewhere around the middle of the second year, a child will make the connection between the feeling of urination or a bowel movement, and what is produced. He knows when he has performed but still does not know when he is going to do so.

The time to begin potty training is when your child becomes aware that he is about to produce urine or a bowel movement rather than only being aware after the event. Introduce a sturdy toddler-size potty chair. Don't try to force the child to sit on the potty, even if you can see he is about to have a bowel movement. Toddlers are extremely contra-suggestive, The clearer you make it that you really want him to sit there, the less likely he is to want to. Tone down your reactions. Don't make the use of the potty a moral issue. Using a potty instead of diapers is one of many new skills your child is learning. Don't continually nag and remind your child to sit on the potty. You want him to feel grown up, and that pants are more comfortable than diapers and that using a potty is quicker and easier than being changed. The goal of potty training is to help your child recognize his own need to go and to do something about it for himself.

Don't expect a toddler to be able to urinate without feeling the need. Until your child is about three years old, he will not discover how to urinate when his need is not urgent. It is useless to send a toddler to the toilet before an outing.

During toilet training, cultivate your skill as a toilet-finder. Note the whereabouts of facilities at the mall or in the grocery store and investigate and introduce the out door event "port-a-potties" long before your child will be asked to actually use one.

Your child will be day time reliable far earlier than night time reliable. Night time wetting is usual until three years, common until five, and by no means rare until seven, especially in boys. Wetting is involuntary and no system of punishment/reward is effective. It may make matters worse by increasing the child's tension. The matter is best ignored unless the child himself asks for help.

COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES & INFECTIONS | YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT
PARENTING CHALLENGES | RESOURCES AND INFORMATION | ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
BACK TO PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION | RETURN TO PRAIRIEPUBLIC.ORG HOME PAGE

Missed A Program?
Healthworks on Videotape

If you missed seeing Healthworks on Prairie Public Television, you still have a chance to keep up to date with these important health issues. Order a videotape copy of any of these interesting and informative programs for only $24.95 per program. Order online or call 1-800-359-6900 to order your copies today.

© 2001 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.

Eating Sleeping Crying Toilet Training Biting, Hitting, Bullying Tantrums Sharing Attention Deficit Disorder Discipline		Toilet Training Don't be in a hurry to start toilet training. If you begin before your child is physically ready you'll be asking for something that he or she is simply not mature enough to give. No matter when attempt to "potty train" your child, research has shown that, on average, your child is unlikely to be reliably dry before the third year. Up until about fifteen months old a child moves his bowels or passes water automatically. He neither knows when he is going to, nor does he realize when he has done so. Your child doesn't even look at the puddle he produces because he doesn't yet realize that has anything to do with him. Somewhere around the middle of the second year, a child will make the connection between the feeling of urination or a bowel movement, and what is produced. He knows when he has performed but still does not know when he is going to do so. The time to begin potty training is when your child becomes aware that he is about to produce urine or a bowel movement rather than only being aware after the event. Introduce a sturdy toddler-size potty chair. Don't try to force the child to sit on the potty, even if you can see he is about to have a bowel movement. Toddlers are extremely contra-suggestive, The clearer you make it that you really want him to sit there, the less likely he is to want to. Tone down your reactions. Don't make the use of the potty a moral issue. Using a potty instead of diapers is one of many new skills your child is learning. Don't continually nag and remind your child to sit on the potty. You want him to feel grown up, and that pants are more comfortable than diapers and that using a potty is quicker and easier than being changed. The goal of potty training is to help your child recognize his own need to go and to do something about it for himself. Don't expect a toddler to be able to urinate without feeling the need. Until your child is about three years old, he will not discover how to urinate when his need is not urgent. It is useless to send a toddler to the toilet before an outing. During toilet training, cultivate your skill as a toilet-finder. Note the whereabouts of facilities at the mall or in the grocery store and investigate and introduce the out door event "port-a-potties" long before your child will be asked to actually use one. Your child will be day time reliable far earlier than night time reliable. Night time wetting is usual until three years, common until five, and by no means rare until seven, especially in boys. Wetting is involuntary and no system of punishment/reward is effective. It may make matters worse by increasing the child's tension. The matter is best ignored unless the child himself asks for help.
		COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES & INFECTIONS \| YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT PARENTING CHALLENGES \| RESOURCES AND INFORMATION \| ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BACK TO PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION \| RETURN TO PRAIRIEPUBLIC.ORG HOME PAGE
		Missed A Program? Healthworks on Videotape If you missed seeing Healthworks on Prairie Public Television, you still have a chance to keep up to date with these important health issues. Order a videotape copy of any of these interesting and informative programs for only $24.95 per program. Order online or call 1-800-359-6900 to order your copies today.
		© 2001 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.