10 TIPS TO FOLLOW BEFORE YOU TOILET TRAIN YOUR LITTLE ONE

Things to keep in mind when you start toilet training your child:
• Choose an appropriate week, perhaps when you both will not be leaving the house for a long duration.
• Avoid using nappies or diapers while the child is awake. Keep nappies and diapers only for night sleep and afternoon nap.
• Make your child wear comfortable clothes, which he/she can easily remove or wear. Like elastic pants/shorts for boys and a comfortable dress or skirt for the girls.
• Make your child sit on the toilet seat when he/she is likely to have bowel movements. The best time is half an hour after eating or before or after having a bath.
• Make sure your child is not constipated. Hard stools can make toilet training difficult. Add lots of fibre rich food in his diet.
• Kids usually show signs before they need to go the toilet, like a change in posture, passing wind or they suddenly become quiet. Look out for these signs.
• Children respond to positive reinforcement. Praise your child each time they progress and achieve a new stage. Small praises like “Well done!!” or “good boy for sitting on the potty” could help them learn and adapt faster. As they progress further, you may reduce the number of praises.
• If the child seems disinterested or is not willing to learn. Then give him a break for a week or two and then start fresh. Forcing or punishing the child will only delay the learning process.
• Don’t make the child sit on the toilet seat for more than 5 minutes. Beyond 5 minutes children consider it as a punishment.
• Initially, for the first few months, make sure you clean the child’s bottom as it is difficult for them to learn. For girls, remember to clean from front to back and not the other way round. This reduces chances of urinary tract infections.
• For boys, make him shake his penis after passing urine, this way he will get rid of any residual urine. If your child is uncomfortable standing then make him sit, this will be less messy in the initial stage.
• Make your child wash their hands after using the toilet. This can be a fun activity and most kids enjoy this and it eventually becomes a part of their routine.
• If accidents do happen, do not scold the child. Just clean it up.
The process of toilet training can take from a few days to a few weeks. The key is to not push your child. Each child learns at his/her own pace and once they are ready, they get a hang of it. Time to time encouragement and gentle reminders eases the process. You can tell them stories or read them books about toilet training.