The mastery of bladder and bowel control is an important developmental milestone for a child. But the road to getting there is not an easy one, and most parents would agree. There will be a battle of wills, as well as disruptions and delays.
Do not lose hope though, mama! This chapter in your little bean’s life will require a lot of patience and understanding. Your child must be both physically and emotionally ready. Remember that readiness for potty or toilet training differs among children.
To inspire you to introduce potty training to your child and give you some tips from her own experience, we talk to Denise Ching, who was able to potty train her daughter at seven months. A mother of two, Denise is also busy running a business as sales and marketing manager of LDK General Merchandise, the distributor of St. Patrick Baby Clothing. So she advises fellow mamas that while we already have a lot on our plates, it is important to devote time and effort for a successful potty training.
What is elimination communication and what are its benefits?
Denise: Elimination communication is the process of communicating with your child if he is eliminating, even if he is not yet talking. You communicate with him through different signals like facial expressions and sounds. One of its benefits is having that parent-child communication that even without talking, you’re still able to connect with each other. The earlier your child learns this, the earlier and easier it is to potty train him.
What are the common signs that a child is ready for potty training and how do you get ready for it?
Denise: Every child is different. For me, every child is willing to communicate and he is just waiting for you to notice. I potty trained my child as early as 7 months. At newborn stage up to 3 months, your child is still adapting to the outside world. By the third month, you’ll be able to observe what time he usually does it and that’s when he starts communicating. You can help him by associating and synchronizing a sound when it’s time. This serves as a signal to him until he gets used to it.
I advise allotting 100% of your time for at least three straight days. Try not using a diaper to avoid potty confusion and to have tons of underwear and wipes ready. Set aside a space where he can urinate and ask your child whenever he feels like peeing. Make your child drink lots of water and don’t get mad when he messes up. As a parent, you have to also be ready to potty train and to have the patience and the time to do it.
Is there a specific age when parents should start potty training their child?
Denise: Pediatricians recommend that we should start potty training our child by the time he can talk and when he hits 2 years old. That’s when the urinary and digestive systems have matured. In my experience though, as long as you and your child can communicate pretty well with each other, you can start potty training.
What are some hindrances to potty training?
Denise: The attention span of a child and the parent will be the biggest hindrance. And of course, you also need to consider if your child has special needs.
If my child doesn't show interest in potty training, should I give up and just try some other time? Or should I push it?
Denise: For me, parents should relax and give yourself some space. Don't push it and avoid getting too stressed out by it. Because if you’re stressed, it will reflect and your child might feel the same way. This could make your child cranky and less likely to follow.
That’s why I advise that as early as 4 months, start with a technique called elimination communication to connect with your child. This way, you’re conditioning him to think and communicate a certain way.
What are some tools I will be needing for this chapter in my child’s life?
Denise: You need patience, lots of water for drinking, tons of potty training underwear and rags to clean the mess, washable or waterproof bed pads, and a small space or room. For girls, you need small pieces of cloth for wiping their private parts and urinals for boys.
What are the don'ts when buying a potty?
Denise: I don’t advise buying a potty with music or sounds because it can distract your child. If you’re comfortable, you can also have an open-door policy in your toilet so that your kid can see you do it. This way, he knows how adults do it and he can imitate you.
What are some tips when potty training a child during certain times of the day?
Denise: Just before his afternoon nap, decrease his water intake by half and let him pee before sleeping. When he wakes up, let him pee again and acknowledge him if he did it right. At nighttime, make him use underwear to avoid confusion and lay a bed pad. Decrease his water intake too at least 1 to 2 hours before sleeping and have the potty on standby. Every 2 hours, gently ask your child if he wants to pee. Do this until the morning and be open to extending your 3-day training to 5 days, especially for little girls who might need longer time to be potty trained.
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