Posted on Tuesday 19 February 2008
Being a toddler isn’t the easiest occupation in the world. Sure, your ob is to play and discover the world around you, all while constantlybeing told how cute and precious you are. The difficulties arise, however, when the toddler begins to realize that he is rapidly becoming a Big Kid. Toys strewn about the room may result in a stern you know better than that” from mommy or a “you’re not a babyanymore” lecture from daddy. The next thing a toddler knows, they’re being told that they can’t enjoy the comforts of pooping and peeing intheir diaper anymore.
The introduction of potty training can be a welcome change for some toddlers. In fact, some toddlers take to the potty with greatexuberance. They love the absence of a messy diaper and get a real kick out of using the toilet. Not all toddlers are so gung-ho about potty training, though. If it seems as though every trip to the potty results in a kicking and screaming battle then it is unlikely that yourtoddler is going to be one of the exuberant potty-users.There is a theory that many toddlers view bowel movements as anextension of themselves. They’re proud of the huge poop they produced and are horrified at the prospect of flushing it down thetoilet. It is important for parents to explain to toddlers that poop goesin the toilet. Many parents find that weaving an intricate tale explaining the poop’s eventual destination helps toddlers to accept thepoop’s fate. Telling a toddler that poop is flushed down the toilet to send it off to a magical Poop Land where the poop is greeted by all itsfriends will probably get a better reaction from a toddler than a clinical explanation heralding the benefits of indoor plumbing will. Stories likethis will also demystify the toilet, because after all a toilet can be a pretty intimidating piece of equipment for a toddler.
Toddlers should be able to verbalize the terms associated with usingthe potty, such as “pee-pee,” “poo-poo,” or “potty.” It helps if toddlers are excited to try the potty out, and parents can do a goodob of fostering this excitement. Toddlers must be more than psychologically ready to use the toilet, though. There are certain physiological milestones that a toddler must achieve before potty training can be effective. A toddler may have all the best intentions inthe world to use the toilet, but if they don’t have the ability to sense
when their bladder is full then good intentions aren’t going to do them much good. Potty training will also go much more smoothly if the toddler has the physical ability to take their pants down by themselves. Without this ability, the entire task of going to the potty may become simply too frustrating to the toddler. This is a combination for failure. If the attempt at potty training came at a time when other big changes are afoot in the family, such as the arrival of a new baby or any other major change, the toddler may simply feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. Toddlers absolutely love routine and predictability, and it’senough for them to have to try to gracefully deal with one big change.
Add to this that suddenly everything they know about pooping and peeing has suddenly changed, and it’s no surprise that a toddler may rebel from potty training. If all signs point to a ready toddler but the process isn’t going well atall, maybe he simply isn’t ready. It is understandable that parents are
anxious to say goodbye to the days of dirty diapers (and the monetary expense that comes with the purchase of the diapers!) but the mostimportant thing is to pay attention to the comfort level of the toddler. A child forced into potty training before they are ready is not going tobe a happy child, and parents may be surprised at how incredibly
stubborn a toddler can be when it comes to potty training. Remember, kids don’t go to college in diapers, so rest assured that sooner or later your child will embrace using the potty without a struggle.



























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