Julie: Two and a half year old Dane has finally found a good reason to head to the bathroom. It involves his growing desire to be a big boy.
Female: We knew that he was ready for potty training because at daycare he was following the big boys and girls into the bathroom and asking to sit on the toilet as well.
Julie: Mom is happy about this new focus on getting out of diapers. Yet as pediatricians suggests, it should not be cause for fun fare. This sends the wrong message to the child.
Female: We’re not focused on it that much or sort of letting him give us the cues of when he is ready to do it. We spend about minutes a day in the morning. I would say—and perhaps another 20 minutes or so in the evening of potty training him.
Julie: Parents are often concerned their child is delayed. But normal potty training can range from 18 months to three years.
Male: So if a child around age two decides to potty training, it's part of being independent. Boom! It happens. If on the other hand they decide that mom wants it or dad wants it and they really need to be independent well then, that actually can delay it.
It clearly helps for a child to have some verbal skills, the verbal skills to understand what you're asking them. It clearly is important for a child to be emotionally ready and therefore not fighting the process. Remember, if the child fights potty training, the child wins.
Julie: Some children fear the toilet. To combat this, get them used to the sound and make it fun. Choose your bathroom language carefully because kids repeat these words. And if using a regular toilet, make sure it's fitted with the child’s seat.
Male: It's very important that a child who is sitting on open seat, a donut seat with a hole in the middle not feel that they’re going to fall through.
Julie: If it's a fitted seat on a regular toilet, make sure the child has a foot rest so their feet are not dangling. This gives them more control and balance. Potty cheers are helpful especially for smaller children. Make tricks to the potty irregular part of your child’s daily routine. But don’t try to force quick results.
Forcing a child too early can actually backfire and result in bedwetting and regression for years to come.
For Dane, books make toilet time fun. Encouragement and praise are good but don’t go overboard. If a child knows their toilet training is in the spotlight, the toilet could be used in a power struggle. If a child is slow to train, in most cases the best advice is to do nothing.
Male: The best way to train a three year old to stand back, trust him to do it and get out of their way and don’t—because they’ll probably do it. But if they haven’t done up to three and half, come back and see.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services