Advice On Potty Training
posted on 02/24/2009
Potty training is not easy. There are multiple methodologies, and for each one there is as much anecdotal evidence of failure as of success. You may get lucky and your kid will just get it. But then again, you may need to try several of these, and eventually may just give up and have to rely on preschool to get your child out of his/her diaper.
The Traditional Method
In the olden days, before diapers were invented, and even today in the 3rd world where diapers are unavailable, potty training started when the child was just a few months old. This is understandable, given that the alternative is endless laundry. This technique involves sitting the child down on the potty whenever you suspect he or she may need to poop. (Peeing is more frequent and the baby has less control over it, so that comes after poopy-training.) You would first observe a regular pattern in your child's pooping schedule, and then try to match it. You would let the child sit on the potty for quite some time, just to be sure.
The Mean 70s
In 1976, a book called "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" became an instant hit with parents. The book is still available and popular with some parents, but has rightly been criticized for its heavy-handed approach to toilet training. The technique it describes--of using a doll as a teaching prop--is to be coupled with making your child feel bad about peeing him/herself, telling the child how they've let everyone who loves them down, etc. While the approach may teach your child to go to the potty, it may also result in deep psychological trauma, and I would personally advise against it. However, the book does contain interesting ideas (such as the one of using a doll) that you may want to adopt even while taking a gentler approach.
The Scientific Method
If you read current parenting literature, they say that trying to potty train before the age of about 2 and a half is pointless if not counterproductive. The idea is that children simply do not have enough understanding or control before then to get it, and that starting too early with a failed effort may turn the baby off the potty and make potty training later on more difficult. Most recent studies show that, if you wait until your kid is close to three years of age, something will suddenly "click", and they will stop minding and will actually ask to go to the potty.
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Previous Comments
MakenzieH says:
(1y 20d 18h 11min ago)
just set them on the tilet and let it wizz duh
dc1979 says:
(313d 21h 28min ago)
i agree with your comment on breastfeeding. But, I also believe that everyone can not or do not want to breast feed for whatever reasons they have and that person shouldn't feel guilty because of this.