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Protecting Your Child’s Health
Potty-Training PointersHow to have a stress-free transition from diapers to undies Bye-bye to diapersThree-year-old Kayla has made the transition.“To be ready, a child must understand what pee and poop are and what a potty is,” says pediatrician Kelly Costello, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Some kids can communicate that understanding around 18 months, and most can by age 2.” Use your child’s interest as a gauge. If your little one watches you “go potty,” expresses interest in trying it or tells you he or she has a “poopy,” it’s time to get started: Step 1: Explain where pee and poop come from. Use potty-training-themed books and videos for inspiration. Step 2: Play “potty.” Periodically sit your child on the potty and ask, “Do you need to go?” If your child urinates, it’s time for praise. If not, say “good try,” put the diaper back on and try again later. It may take several attempts before your child succeeds, so be patient and keep things positive. Step 3: Reward your child (a sticker on a chart is a fun technique) every time he or she goes on the potty. Step 4: If your child fights the process, back off. “Most children are driven by a desire to please their parents and mimic what parents do,” Costello says. “But at this age they’re also seeking a sense of control. If you force the issue, it will take longer.” Step 5: Once you’ve potty trained your child during the day, begin to work on nighttime dryness. Again, be patient. “Some kids can make it through the night as soon as they’re potty trained, while others may continue nighttime wetting until age 6,” Costello says. To help things along, limit fluids before bedtime, make sure your child uses the potty before bed and see a doctor about any problems with constipation. (A full intestine can pressure the bladder.) Some children move through all five steps in a weekend. Others take 6 months or more. If you need to speed up the process, consider having your child go diaperless (or wear cloth diapers) for a weekend. “Today’s disposable diapers are so efficient, kids may not realize they’re wet,” Costello says. “The discomfort of soggy pants encourages them to potty train faster.”
Want to Know More about potty training? For a list of books, videos and other resources, click here . This page last updated 4/1/08 11:18 AM
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