The Gentle Potty Training Book: The calmer, easier approach to toilet training

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Infant urination is not merely an automatic reflex (Sillén 2001; Yeung et al 1995). And that’s why infant potty training — relative dryness achieved through parental supervision — is possible. What about the burden on parents? Isn’t infant toilet training time-consuming and messy? And in a study testing the alternative (potty chair) method, the participating infants completed training before they were 12 months old (Smeets et al 1985). But hang on…how is any of this possible? Aren’t babies supposed to be incapable of bladder and bowel control?

gentle potty training – Sarah Ockwell-Smith gentle potty training – Sarah Ockwell-Smith

From Kenya (deVries and deVries 1977) to Bali (Diener 2000), parents don’t consider the occasional accident a big deal. Nobody minds much if a little baby urine gets on their clothes or floor. Accidents happen. Cleaning up is part of parenting. Before you do anything else, make sure your child isn’t suffering from constipation, hard stools, or any other potentially painful condition. And even if you see no signs of medical trouble, it’s helpful to review your child’s diet and fluid intake. Make sure your child is drinking enough water, and consuming a high-fiber diet. Encourage your child to sit on the potty after meals, because digesting food often leads to an urge to do a poo. Having a book to look at or toys to play with can help your child sit still on the potty. Show your child how you sit on the toilet to go “potty” and let them sit on the potty seat when they need to go. Kids are natural mimics, and this helps pique their natural curiosity. They might also like to mimic an older sibling or cousin (if everyone consents). Teach proper technique

Potty training: How to get the job done

Let your child get used to the potty chair by leaving it out in a place where your child plays. Defuse potential fears by explaining how things work. For example, show how your child how the toilet works, and reassure him or her that there is nothing to fear. Training pants should be a step towards normal pants, rather than a replacement for nappies. Encourage your child to keep their training pants dry by using the potty.

Potty training problems and solutions: An evidence-based guide Potty training problems and solutions: An evidence-based guide

Remember, you cannot force your child to use a potty. If they're not ready, you will not be able to make them use it. In time, they will want to use one – most children will not want to go to school in nappies any more than you would want them to.We have to maintain this attitude so that they will too. They tune into our frustration and it can easily turn them off to potty training. 5. Let them join you You could see if your child is happy to sit on the potty for a moment, just to get used to it, when you're changing their nappy, especially when you're getting them dressed for the day or ready for bed at night. How to start potty training My toddler loves to listen to music, so my husband likes to make up silly songs with him to help him get relaxed and use the potty. Sears W, Sears M and Watts Kelly C. 2002. You can go to the potty. Boston, MA Little, Brown and Company.

The Gentle Potty Training Method - True Aim The Gentle Potty Training Method - True Aim

Remember that young children learn by watching and copying, which means you may have to leave any inhibitions at the toilet door. “Show them you do wees and poos too: leave the toilet door open and ask family members to do the same,” says Alina. “Keep nappies in the toilet and change your child in there, so they associate wees and poos with that room. And when they’re a little older, get them involved with changing their nappies: change them standing up, get them to help with their clothing and clean your hands together afterwards.” Largo RH and Stutzle 1977. Longitudinal study of bowel and bladder control by day and at night in the first six years of life. I: Epidemiology and interrelations between bowel and bladder control. Dev Med Child Neurol, 19: 598-606.

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The best thing you can do is be understanding and sympathetic. Your child will almost certainly be upset about wetting themselves and won't be doing it on purpose. Granted, babies aren’t miniature adults. They can’t control elimination to the extent that we can. For example, in one study, researchers found that only 20% of children attained “complete” bladder and bowel control by the age of 2 years (Largo et al 1978).

The Gentle Potty Training Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Shari covers the following topics in more detail in her article: Gentle Potty Training – 12 Parenting Tips for Potty Training Success Since 2010, Green Child has published an award-winning digital publication devoted to natural parenting and conscious living. I mean a lot of us can barely set time aside for ourselves, let alone 20 minutes to let our toddlers explore the toilet before they decide they want to sit on it for five seconds and then get up (and maybe repeat five more times).

In addition, pay attention to timing. Babies may tend to urinate shortly after a feeding. They may void just before — or immediately after — sleeping. Some babies may urinate pretty regularly, once an hour or so.