Toilet Training
Many parents worry unnecessarily over their child not having gained control over his bowels or bladder while their neighbor’s child. Although younger has already achieved it. Parents need to know that different children master these functions at different ages and that it is best not to make these comparisons. Only 50 % of two year old children are able to control their urine during the day. It takes longer for them to be dry at night. Most do it by about 3 years of age, but some do not achieve this till they are 5 years old. Children are generally, able to control passage of stools earlier than their urination.
When to Start Bowel and Bladder Training?
It is important that parents are not in an undue hurry. A baby can first be made to sit on a baby potty at around 1 years of age. However, true training can only be started later when the child is likely to be physically mature and ready for it. Until about 15 months of age a child passes stools and urine automatically without realizing it, both before and after doing so. It is usually between 18 months and 2 years that most children know when they are performing these acts. Soon thereafter they begin to recognize when they are about to passes urine and stools and are able to tell their parents in advance. The child may stand still, clutch himself, go red in his face or otherwise signal impending motion or urination. These indicate that the child is now physically ready for toilet training and it can be started with his willing cooperation.
Bowel Training
Approach the problem of bowel training in a relaxed manner; do not try to rush the child into it. Initially, let him become familiar with his chair potty as an item of furniture to sit on for himself and his teddy bear. Slowly explain to him the purpose of his special potty as being similar to that of lavatory seat used by the elders in the family. Tell him that he is now growing up. Encourage him to sit on the potty two or three times a day and do not worry if he does not deliver any stool to begin with. Praise him gently for each successful effort and gradually build on it. Ignore his failures, which are bound to happen initially. A small child is usually quite afraid of sitting over an adult lavatory seat with large hole. A chair potty is useful, easy for the child portable, and easy to clean.
Bladder Training
In the beginning the time interval between the child feeling a full bladder and his passing urine is very small and he therefore often fails to control it before reaching the potty. Gradually, around two years of age he learns to delay the floe of several minutes and to make use of the potty. This learning process is a slow one with intermittent failures. Compliment him for his achievement and quietly disregard it when he fails. As he gains control, you should gradually take off his nappies during daytime. He should however continue to have them during his naps and outdoor travel and at night for some time. Encourage him o become independent. Let him pull his pants down, get his pot or go and use the pot himself in the toilet or bathroom.
Finally, he can use the big seat with a bay seat fitted on to it.
