Are you Rushing Your Kids to Potty Training?

Do not start potty training your children based on when you think they should begin. Instead, wait until your child is ready physiologically, cognitively, and emotionally.

Rushing Your Kids to Potty Training?

Potty training is one of the first steps children take toward becoming self-sufficient.

Dr. Madhavi Bharadwaj, MD Pediatrician, recently shared her thoughts on Instagram, shedding light on toilet training for children.

According to Dr. Bharadwaj, starting before 24 months is not recommended, as readiness skills and physical development typically occur between 18 months and 2.5 years. ^[1]

Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training

Observe the following signals to determine if your child is ready for toilet training:

1. Sphincter Control:
   Check if your child can control the sphincter muscles, which manage bladder and rectum function. This control usually develops around 12–18 months.

2. Independence and Communication:
   See if your toddler can go to the toilet independently, sit down, pull their pants up and down, and communicate their needs while following simple directions.

3. Interest in Potty Training:
   Your child might show interest in potty training by going to the same spot in the house when they need to use the toilet or informing you about wet diapers. ^[2]

Challenges in Potty Training

Although most children are toilet trained without medical intervention, a small percentage face challenges. An estimated 2–3% of children may experience:

• Toileting refusal.

• Daytime (diurnal) or nighttime (nocturnal) enuresis.

• Encopresis (involuntary defecation). ^[2]

ips for Positive Potty Training

1. Choose Your Words Wisely:
   Avoid calling bodily functions “stinky,” “messy,” or “yucky.” Such words may make children self-conscious and hesitant to use the toilet.

2. Be a Role Model:
   Let your child observe you using the toilet and washing your hands afterward. Children often mimic behaviors they see.

3. Use a Potty Chair:
   Ensure your child’s feet can touch the floor. Using books or toys during “potty time” can make the process more enjoyable.

4. Recognize Signs:
   Teach your child to recognize signs of needing to poop, such as a red face. Praise them when they inform you about a wet diaper or other potty-related cues.

5. Establish a Routine:
   Make sitting on the potty chair a daily habit, such as first thing in the morning, and incorporate regular trips to the potty into their routine.

6. Avoid Treats and Punishments:
   Avoid using rewards or punishments, as these may create pressure or negative associations.

7. Understand Their Fears:
   Some children may fear that flushing the toilet will take parts of their body away. Encourage them by allowing them to flush the toilet themselves.

8. Avoid Stressful Times:
   Do not toilet train during periods of stress, such as when introducing a new family member, moving homes, dealing with illness, or changing caregivers. ^[5,6]

By staying patient and positive, parents can make potty training a smoother experience, helping their children transition into this new phase with confidence and ease.

References:

1. Instagram. “Post: C65U33vRM2d.” Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/C65U33vRM2d/.

2. ResearchGate. "Toilet Training." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237273342_Toilet_Training.

3. UC Davis Children's Hospital. "Potty Training Children." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/patient-education/potty-training-children.

4. Mayo Clinic. "Potty Training: Healthy Lifestyle, Infant, and Toddler Health." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/potty-training/art-20045230/.

5. UC Davis Children's Hospital. "Do's and Don'ts of Potty Training Your Toddler | Patient Education." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/patient-education/potty-training-children.

6. American Academy of Family Physicians. "Toilet Training." Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2008/1101/p1059.html.

By Dr. Puja Devi