Toilet Training

Here are the notes I took from the chapter on toilet training from Kids are Worth It. It was a good reminder before we headed into the challenge of toilet training our third son.

Toilet Training

“Toilet training is not different from any other early childhood learning experience – learning how to handle a fork, or button a shirt – that requires a combination of mental and muscular coordination.” Alison Mack, Toilet Learning

Prepare, Practice, Patience

Why are you training? Tired of diapers, pressure from others, preschool wont take them, other children their age are already trained? All the wrong reasons

When to start: When they have regular bowel movements, are aware when they pee and poo and are able to stay dry for long periods. They want a diaper changed after going pee or poo. They can communicate to you that they have to go. All three together. If one is there, and the other is now, it is better to wait.

What you need: potty chair (easier to sit on, and move around), Easy outfit (something that can be pulled on and off easily…as well as something like pullups), Toilet paper (they are going to use lots of it, on every stuffed animal), Stepstool (so they can reach the sink to wash hands) and diapers (because you still need them around!)

The key to remember is that you are helping them learn to take control of their body. 

Suggestions: Model..bring them with you to the bathroom and tell her what you are doing. When changing diapers, give him words she can later use…Luke is wet, Luke went poo. If they are pacing/grunting, comment that it looks like he is trying to go poo and ask him if he wants to sit on the potty. Let him choose to sit or not. It is his body, and he will learn to control it in his own way and in his own time. He just needs help, guidance and support. Accidents are not a big deal There is always another pair of dry pants. Remember it is a skill they are learning, not a contest they are winning. Bladder control usually occurs before bowel control, and daytime control usually occurs before sleeping control.

Model, trial and error, imitating and a good sense of humor are keys to successful practice.

Patience: “The power or capacity to endure without complaint something difficult”