Today we will be speaking about a very stressful step in your child’s development, Toilet Training! Many parents and guardians start panicking when they think of the subject and have millions of unanswered questions in their heads. This is why at Gigi and Friends we want to help you out a little and we have dedicated a whole blog post on some tips.
At what age should you start toilet training your little one?
Well, there is no one specific age. It can be as early as 18 months but it is also normal to wait up until 3 years of age. So, we know that this is probably not helpful so here are some signs that your child might be ready for toilet training.
-They can walk around on their own and can stay sitting down for short periods of time
-They are becoming more independent and are slowly making their own decisions
-They have a dry nappy for longer than two hours
-They let you know when they need to empty their bladder or pass a bowel movement
-They begin to tug at nappies and start to dislike them especially when the nappy is soiled
-They can pull their pants down and up
This is not to say that these are the only signs. Ultimately the most important thing when starting toilet training is that you and everyone who helps out with your children is ready to commit to the training process.
When you do think that it is time to start here are some tips that may help you out!
-Take your child frequently to the bathroom (such as 45 mins- 1 hour after drinking a lot of liquids and 30 mins after a meal). Don’t worry if they don’t manage to go, just get them use to the process of sitting on the toilet/potty and give them some time on it.
-Make sure they feel comfortable and are feeling steady whether they are on the potty and especially if they are on the toilet. Having a stool underneath their feet helps to support them and also helps with bowel movements as the position created allows for a more comfortable and less strained bowel movement.
-Distract them and make them feel comfortable. Obviously, the main objective is for them to use the bathroom but you staring at them and looking at the time will not help them. The more relaxed they are the more likely they are to ‘go’.
These are just a few tips, there are so many tips and tricks online, and if you ever feel that you aren’t succeeding talk to your pediatrician. Remember, the most important part of toilet training is consistency and persistence.
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https://www.childcaremalta.mt/arts-and-crafts-2/