Step by Step Toilet Training By T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., and Ann C. Stadtler, M.S.N., C.P.N.P. Toilet training is a fairly straightforward process with many steps that your child can master in a few days or a few months. If you wait until he's ready to begin, it will most likely go fairly smoothly for both of you. It is his project, not yours. >From start to finish, toilet training includes: telling your child what you expect of him, your child telling you he has to go, undressing, going, wiping, dressing, flushing, and hand washing. Each step can and will take time, so remember to reinforce your child's success with praise at the completion of each step. Your child's timing and mastery of the previous step should determine when the next step should be introduced. The long-term goal is important, but the smaller accomplishments are special in their own right as well. Remember, initial success relies on your child understanding the use of the toilet, not on mastering the process. Show him what you expect with the following steps: 1. Get a potty chair. Many children feel more secure on a potty chair than on a toilet because when they sit, their feet are securely on the floor, and they aren't afraid of falling off or in. If your child is afraid of the potty chair, don't put pressure on him to use it. Put toilet training aside for a month or two and give your child time to get used to the idea of the potty and to be comfortable with it. 2. Allow your child to become familiar with the potty chair. Let your child observe, touch, and get comfortable with the potty chair before attempting to use it. Also, introduce the potty chair to your child as his or her own chair. 3. Place the potty chair in a convenient place for your child. The potty chair does not have to be limited to the bathroom. Keep it in the playroom, in the yard, or wherever your child is playing so your child can get to it when he wants to. 4. To start, let your child sit on the potty once a day, fully clothed, as a routine. Also, let your child leave the potty at any time, and never force your child to spend time sitting on it. 5. After your child is comfortable sitting on the potty with clothes on, let him sit there without clothes. This is the next logical step and will help your child get used to the idea of undressing before going to the bathroom. 6. When your child has a bowel movement in his diaper, have him watch you dump the stool into the potty so that he can see where it should go. Explain to your child that this is where urine and stool belong; he should understand the importance of putting things in their place. 7. Be patient and positive. As with all new skills, your child will master toilet training in time. Other helpful tips: Keep your child in loose, easy-to-remove pants. Help your child master the dressing and undressing needed to sit on the potty. Once he's comfortable sitting on the potty with his clothes on, try it without them. Encourage imitation. With your child next to you, sit on your toilet, and allow him to sit on his potty as well. Have your child go to the bathroom sitting down. Both boys and girls will initially learn to use the potty this way. If boys start out standing up to urinate, they may not want to sit down again to have a bowel movement. Watch for your child's signals. Grimaces, grunts, poses, or other behavior may signal your child's need for a bowel movement. When you see him doing this, ask if he is ready to go. Offer to take his pants off so he can run around bare. Offer to remind him each hour that he may need to go. Don't remind him unless he wants you to. Praise your child. Be sure to praise your child when he tells you he needs to use the potty — with or without a reminder. Let your child flush, but only if he wants to. Some children don't like the sound of the toilet or are afraid of it, so be sure to watch for that fear. Also, try to reassure your child if he becomes upset about his stool disappearing down the toilet. Take care of your child's skin. Your child's skin is just as likely to get a rash due to wetness or exposure to stool now as it did when he was an infant. Keep him dry and clean by changing him regularly. Don't leave him in soiled clothing as a toilet training method. Think about underwear. When your child is successfully using the potty several times a day, he may be ready for underwear. Start by putting him in it for only part of the day. And because diapers can be very reassuring, don't rush him out of them. Disposable or non-disposable training pants may be used as part of the transition from diaper to underwear, but they aren't recommended as an initial step in toilet training; rather, they may be helpful when your child demonstrates that he's ready to take over the process. Coordinate with your child's other care givers. Make sure to coordinate your toilet training plans with whomever is with your child during the day (care givers, grandparents, day care staff, etc.). It's important that they know how you want your child to be potty trained so that he receives the same message during the day, when you're not there, and at night and on weekends, when you are. Expect accidents. Occasional accidents and withholding of both urine and bowel movements are natural and part of the learning process. If your child continuously withholds bowel movements, it may result in hard stools, which make going to the bathroom painful. To keep the movements soft, consult your pediatric professional for a stool softener. When the stool is softer, reassure your child that it won't hurt when he tries to have a bowel movement. It's also a good idea to feed your child high fiber foods (you should eat them, too — children will learn from their parents' example) and lots of water, which will contribute to keeping your child's stool soft in the long run. >> www.jajak.com >> Pilih jawabannya dan rebut hadiahnya << >> Kirim bunga ke-20 kota di Indonesia? Klik, http://www.indokado.com >> Info balita, http://www.balita-anda.indoglobal.com Etika berinternet, email ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop berlangganan, e-mail ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
