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Toilet training involves teaching me to go to, and use the toilet. It includes
my recognizing the need to go to the bathroom, pushing my pants and underwear down,
getting on the toilet, and urinating or having a bowel movement. It also includes
my getting the right amount of toilet paper, wiping clean from front to back, putting
toilet pater into the toilet, getting off the toilet, pulling up my underwear and
pants, flushing the toilet, and washing and drying my hands. Most training will occur
during the six weeks that follow the start of my toilet training. The whole process,
however, may take a long time. It is not unusual for a child to need help until the
age of four or five. I may need help wiping after a bowel movement or a reminder
to wash my hands. The key to making this a short and stress-free experience is to
make sure that I am ready for toilet training when you begin.
Readiness Signals [ Top]
Most children have the muscle control to regulate themselves between eighteen
months and three years of age. Children with disabilities may not have this ability
until a later age. Certain medical problems may delay or prohibit a child from developing
the muscle control needed for self-regulation. More important than chronological
age is my level of readiness. There are 14 readiness signals. I do not need to exhibit
all of these before you begin training. However, the more signals that I exhibit,
the easier and faster training will be.
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READINESS SIGNALS
- Over the excitement of learning to walk and run.
- Able to sit down and play quietly for about five minutes.
- Able to help dress and undress self.
- Shows imitative behavior.
- Wants to put toys and other possessions where they
belong.
- Able to understand and follow simple directions.
- Takes pride in accomplishments.
- Not in a period of negativism.
- Has bowel movements at regular times every day.
- Bowel movements are well formed.
- Able to remain dry for about two hours at a time.
- Able to urinate a good amount at one time.
- Aware of the process of elimination.
- Has a name for urine and bowel movement.
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In addition to considering readiness signals, make sure that I am not experiencing
a stressful situation when you start toilet training. Stressful situations may include
weaning from the breast or bottle, the birth of a new baby in the family, and changes
in child care arrangements. Wait four to six weeks after the stressful situation
before beginning toilet training.
Pre-Toilet Training [ Top]
Pre-toilet training activities lay a solid foundation for toilet training. Engaging
in these activities with me make the training process an easier one for both of us.
You can begin pre-toilet training as long as I am fifteen months of age. This process
should continue until I have enough readiness signals to begin toilet training. If
I am ready to begin toilet training now, you should first spend at least one week
in the pre-toilet training phase. This will allow me to enter the toilet training
process with the skills and knowledge that this phase provides.
There are four aspects to pre-toilet training. Naming urine and bowel movements is
the first. When you notice that I have a wet or dirty diaper, mention what has happened,
using the words that you have chosen, for example, "You have 'poopoo' in your
diaper." The second aspect involves allowing me to watch you or other family
members use the toilet. This provides me with opportunities to see, ask questions,
and learn. The third aspect revolves around the issue of changing my diaper. Change
my diaper as soon as possible after it becomes wet or dirty to prevent my becoming
comfortable with, or even liking, wet and dirty diapers. When you change my diaper,
never make me feel bad for wetting or soiling it. If possible, change my diaper in
the bathroom. This will accomplish a few important toilet training tasks before initiating
training. Dropping the discards from the diaper into the toilet will help me learn
that the toilet is where "poopoos" go. If you encourage me to help flush
the toilet, I will learn how to flush. Finally, praise me when I tell you verbally
or with a gesture that I have gone "peepee or poopoo." Once I develop voluntary
control, I will tell you before the fact. Be sure to provide praise then, too.
Toilet Training [ Top]
Once I have enough readiness signals and once I have spent at least one week in
the pre-toilet training phase, you can begin toilet training. There are seven basic
steps to toilet training. I should master and feel comfortable with each step before
moving onto the next. The time frame presented is meant only as a guideline, so please
be patient with me.
Week One
Step 1. Keep a running list of when I urinate or have a bowel movement. This will
help you identify my elimination pattern. Implement steps 2 and 3 while you collect
this information.
Step 2. Casually introduce me to my potty. Put the potty in the bathroom and wait
for me to inquire about it. This gives me not only the role of initiator but also
a sense of control. It also avoids a negative response to your initiating the process--"No,
I no wanna see potty."
Step 3. Have me sit on the potty several times a day with my clothes on. This will
get me into the habit of sitting on the potty in a non-stressful manner. Encourage
me to sit on the potty by providing a special activity to do, for example, playing
with a bowl of large shells or drawing on a chalkboard. To keep the activity desirable
to me, only allow it when I sit on the potty. Engaging in an activity will keep me
from becoming tense and bored while I sit on the potty.
Week Two
Step 4. Encourage me to sit on the potty several times a day with my pants and diaper
off. The goal for me at this point is to become comfortable sitting on the potty,
my skin against plastic. A good time to put me on the potty is close to the time
I usually urinate or have a bowel movement (from information gathered in Step 1).
A natural time is at bath time, when my clothes are already off. If I urinate or
have a bowel movement while I am on the potty, make a big deal out of it and give
me praise.
Week Three
Step 5. For a block of time each day, leave my diaper and pants off. This will help
me learn that "peepee and poopoo" come from me. The longer the time the
better, but a minimum of 30 minutes is best. Accidents will occur, so you should
think carefully about where you will and will not allow me to wander. When you take
my diaper off explain that big boys and girls go "peepee and poopoo" in
the potty. Show me where my potty is, and tell me to sit on the potty when I have
to go "peepee or poopoo." Reassure me that you will help me and then allow
me play. If I am successful, praise me and positively reinforce me. If I sit on the
potty and try to go, but don't, still praise me for trying. When I have an accident
simply say: "Uh, oh. You had an accident. Let's clean it up. Maybe next time
you'll get your "poopoo" in the potty." Typically, a young child will
have many accidents in the beginning. Gradually the accidents will decrease and successes
will emerge. Remain in step 5 until I have had 10 successes.
Week Four (or Five or Six...)
Step 6. Transition me into training pants and then underwear. First, have me wear
training pants all the time instead of a diaper. It may take a couple of months of
training before I can go a few days without having an accident. When I can do this,
let me wear underwear instead of training pants.
Week Seven (or Eight or Nine...)
Step 7. Transfer the toileting functions that you are now performing over to me.
This includes pushing pants and underwear down, getting on the toilet, getting the
right amount of toilet paper, wiping clean from front to back, putting toilet paper
into the toilet, getting off the toilet, pulling up underwear and pants, flushing
the toilet, and washing and drying hands.
Working Out Problems [ Top]
If you run into a problem during the toilet training process, stay at the step
we are on and address the following questions:
- Was my child ready for toilet training when I began?
- How far did I get before we ran into the problem? Did something happen before
that point that may have been a contributing factor?
- Are there any other issues that might be interfering with the toilet training
process?
Besides addressing the questions above, discuss the problem with my pediatrician
or our family practitioner. My doctor should know me well and may be able to provide
some very useful advice.
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