HOW TO TOILET TRAIN A TODDLER?
The training procedure is simple. Put him on the potty when he
gets up in the morning before and after nap and meals, and after he's been dry
couple of hours. He'll soon get the idea that the potty is proper place to
urinate.
Go easy on the ecstatic praise. This is a very matter-of-fact function. If you make
too much fuss over this accomplishment, your child will begin to wonder why it's
so import and will place too much emphasis on it. If he has an accident or doesn't
perform the way you want him to, and you lose your patience, he'll begin to realize
that he can use this natural function as a tool.
Under no circumstances should you strap your child to potty or force him to stay
on it. When he says he's through whether or not he's done anything, respect his
wishes and him get off the potty.
Nothing you can do can force him to urinate or defecate,
so don't try. If he should
have an accident almost immediately show no signs of concern. Clean him up without
comment or with a quiet suggestion that next time he use the potty.
TODDLER TRAINING PANTS
When he begins to stay dry for two-hours, substitute training pants
for diapers. This change is very effective. Some authorities think it is because
the baby has been accustomed to wetting his diapers, whereas the training pants represent a
step forward in his growth.
TOILET TRAINING ACCIDENTS
Accidents will occur even after reasonably well trained. Stress
or excitement may cause an accident. In cold weather, your child may wet more than
in warm,
because there's less evaporation through skin pores. Take these things into
consideration and make allowances.
Your response to those accidents is important.
Anger, displeasure, spanking, and threatening are completely out of place. Simply mention
that it's too bad, and suggest he head bathroom sooner next time.
TOILET TRAINING REGRESSION
Once your child is well-trained, he may fall back into his baby
habits because of new experiences, changes in times of bowel movement, change in
sleeping habits, illness.
This behavior may embarrass you, and your impulse
may be to bear down on punishments
or keep him on the toilet for longer periods of time. As a result, many youngsters
develop an aversion to the toilet itself and the whole idea of training.
They may go to fantastic lengths to keep from eliminating
when on the toilet, only to do so immediately when allowed to get off. He may
even hold a stool for days. That is because the situation has been turned into a battle of wills, and
Baby is
asserting his independence by refusing to go to the toilet.
Sometimes this behavior is not defiance on his part, but
inability to release the
muscles of the bowel when he should. He's learning how to control his rectal
muscles, but he doesn't know when to let go. Sitting on the seat intensifies the
contraction. When he gets up, the muscle contraction is relaxed. It may
help if you grunt so he'll imitate you and relax his muscles. Whether it's
independence or a muscle contraction, don't scold or shame him for this withholding
behavior.
Keep
calm and unperturbed if your child suddenly becomes balky or unconcerned about when
and where he urinates and has his bowel movements. It's only a passing phase, unless
you let
it turn into a problem.
He actively resists sitting on the toilet, drop the matter.
Don't make him try to
conform to the times you select, but observe
his own natural timing instead. Rather than have toilet training become an issue,
forget about it altogether for a few weeks. Clean panties and a diploma from the school
of toilet training aren't as important as a happy, well-adjusted child.
"BOOSTER" SHOTS
The first booster series of the D.P.T.
immunizations should be given at or
have been given by the time your child reaches 18 months. Your doctor will tell you
what schedule he prefers and will give shots accordingly.
|