Toilet Training
Toilet training is an issue that should never be forced, as all
children will eventually achieve control. For the child to become
fully toilet trained she must have gained sufficient control of the
muscles concerned and this ability takes physical maturation, just
as learning to ride a bike does.
For some unknown reason most mothers compare the development of
their child to that of other women, feeling a little negativity
towards the neighbours child, who she claims was fully potty trained
at ten months.
Give her time and encouragement, waiting until she is ready, which
may only be around 18 months. Forcing a child to use the potty
before she is ready will only cause psychological damage which may
take years to rectify.
Introduce the potty
Young children may be frightened at the thought of having to use
a normal toilet at first, so it is a good idea to invest in a potty,
which you may like to let her select herself. Choose a time when she
is relaxed and you are at your most calm, and when she is likely to
have a full bladder. Encourage her to sit on the potty, while you
remain with her, reminding her every now and again what she is
supposed to be doing. If nothing happens after some time, take her
off the potty and put her nappy back on, and try again a little
later. There should be no pressure from your side, and although it
can be very frustrating to see that the moment her nappy is back in
place she wets it, it is vitally important to be patient. Some
children take an instant disliking to a potty, and may even refuse
to sit on it, in this case it is best to pack it away for another
day, and rather subtly encourage it by letting her play outdoors
without a nappy on. This will also allow her to witness the after
effects of a full bladder.
Until she has fully mastered the act, it may be a good idea to let
her wear a nappy, especially on outings, or at night. Accidents do
happen, and there are likely to be many of these, sometimes at the
most inopportune of moments. In this case, rather than scolding her
for a mishap, rather praise her for all the times she has succeeded.
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