How to teach a child to the pot?

Most parents dream of getting rid of diapers and diapers as soon as possible. Moms and dads start to seriously think about at what age they can do this and how to properly accustom their child to a new way of defecation. There are many important nuances that will help make the learning process as comfortable as possible for all participants in the process.

The American Academy of Pediatrics assures young parents that children achieve physical readiness to go to the pot only in 1.5-2 years. It turns out that starting acquaintance with the pot before this age threshold simply does not make sense. It is important that not only physical but also psychological readiness should be observed. The degree of development of the nervous system of the baby depends on the level of stress of the child when weaning from the "diapers" and the overall impact of this event. Be attentive to your child and watch his development. In order to choose the right learning method, you should consider such factors.

• Physiological maturity. The muscles of the sphincters and channels must be sufficiently strengthened to control the excreta. Developed nerve endings in the rectum and bladder help in time to understand that it is time to defend the need.
• Psychological maturity. Showing awareness and attention to the requests and advice of parents.
• Emotional readiness. Positive reaction to the acquisition of a new skill, a joyful interest in everything new.

Doctors set the average age at which the infant develops a certain skill. Such information will help young mothers and fathers to better understand their child:

• at 14 months begins to annoy and upset the consequences of natural need, which copes for themselves;
• at 1.5 years begins to react anxiously to what he wants to crap or write;
• at 22 months tries to notify parents about the desire to meet the need of all available methods, but not with words;
• in 24 months does not empty the intestines and bladder for 2-3 hours, and when there is a corresponding desire, then he removes clothes;
• at 27-29 months asks for a pot with words;
• in 3 years can take off his clothes, sit on the pot and get dressed, but often a parent is needed nearby.

Pediatricians, guided by the information described above, are advised to start inculcating a new hygienic skill to a child from the moment he himself begins to react negatively to the prospect of poking his pants.

Inoculating a new hygiene skill is a responsible exercise. Follow the simple rules to teach walking on the pot of your baby.

• By the process of learning should be prepared, all participants in the process - the baby and parents. The latter should clearly understand that the baby will need more attention. Be prepared for the fact that the child can first relieve the need next to the pot, you will have to clean it much more often.
• Remember that if you started the learning process, then there is no way back.It is impossible to drive a child in diapers on weekdays, and to teach him to a “night vase” on weekends. With such illogical actions you will greatly confuse the child and significantly complicate the whole process.
• It is important to first teach the child to relieve the need for your personal toilet during the day, and only after that to teach it during the night of sleep.
• A new object in the house will surely cause not only interest, but also incomprehension in the baby. It is necessary to ensure proper familiarity and help the child get used to the pot.

• When the baby successfully needs a small toilet, be sure to praise him. He must clearly understand that he did everything correctly and his parents are satisfied. In the event of a miss, do not even think of scolding or shaming; take such situations calmly.
• It is important to teach the child not just to the pot, but to the whole ritual. Consider the sequence of actions, starting with the removal of clothes and ending with the washing of hands.
• Start to put the baby on your personal toilet so that this process is associated with regime activities. The child will quickly get used to the pot immediately after waking up or before going outside.
• The first time, you can continue to use disposable diapers during a walk or a night's sleep. As soon as the new skill is mastered, discard the "diapers" at all.
• Do not let us mess with the "night vase", otherwise it will not be a small toilet, but another toy.

It is important for the child that the parents do everything clearly and consistently. Any fussiness on your part can confuse the baby. All methods of instilling new skills have clear instructions, but you need to know general principles. Experts have identified 5 main stages of potty training.

• First, show the pot and explain why it is needed. You will help a special toy hover. It is necessary to collect water in it and release it into the "night vase." Be sure to explain to your child how this process is called and why it is correct to do it on the pot, and not in the pants.
• Offer the child a “night vase” before and after all of the regime activities. This is especially true of sleep and walks.
• Discard the use of disposable diapers during the day. This way, the child will be able to study himself and better control the bowel movements At this time, it will be easy to teach him to ask for a pot.
• Every time a child has informed you in time about his intention to pee or poop, praise him and show joy. As a reward, there should be no toys or sweets, words and admiration are enough.
• If you see that the child has already mastered the day trips to the pot, then you can go further. Explain that needing at night is also needed on the pot, not on the bed. Wake the baby several times during the entire sleep period and offer the pot. If possible, try to choose for the moment of awakening that moment when sleep becomes restless. Over time, the child will stand up at night and go to the night vase himself, without your participation.
• When all skills are mastered, it remains only to fix them. Use praise as an incentive.

Most dads and moms want to make the process of teaching the kid to go to the pot as fast and comfortable as possible. There are some tricks to help you achieve results faster.

• If there is a firstborn in the house, then you can train the child according to his example. A senior can show a younger one how to contact an unfamiliar device.
• Seat the baby on the pot for 5-7 minutes, no more. This time is enough to relieve the need. At the same time, in such a short period, a negative association with a new subject will not appear.
• During the period of inculcation of a new hygienic skill, it is important to wear as little clothing as possible, it should be free from various ties, laces or buttons. You and the baby should be able to quickly and easily take off your pants or panties in order to sit on the "night vase".
• The pot must be set so that the child always has access to it. Baby should understand that he should not wait for his parents to pee or poop. The most convenient location - not far from the place of games.
• You can use different children's books that tell the child about the role of his small toilet.

Quickly teach your baby to use a personal toilet is possible only if you accurately catch the moment when he is fully ready for this process. This is not an easy task, so be prepared in advance to calmly accept all the mistakes and mistakes of the child. It is important to pay attention to the special signs that signal the readiness of the baby to potty training:

• emptying the intestines at about one time every day;
• pees no more than 1 time in 2 hours;
• may be distinguished clothing (panties, pants) and body parts;
• knows why pop and genitals are needed;
• understands what the words “write” and “crap” mean;
• tries to imitate parents;
• feels discomfort because of a dirty diaper and shows it to parents;
• makes attempts to independently stretch clothes;
• shows interest in a baby pot or an adult toilet;
• already turned 1.5 or more years.

If all these signs are there, then the learning process will be much easier for the child and the parents. It is worth considering that the first time after giving up “diapers” the baby will be hard to restructure. That is why it is worth refusing to use them to make it easier for the child. At first, you can still wear “diapers” for a walk, but no more.

There are some features of schooling that depend on the sex of the child. The girl should be taught according to the classical scheme, there are no difficulties in this.

Such a quick method of teaching a child to the pot is called "Voluntary baby." Developed by Gene Ford, a former maternity nurse. This method is suitable for children who are 18 months old. The kid should be able to perform simple actions and understand the parents, their requests. Method by day.

• Wait for the baby to wake up and tell him about the rules of the new life. It is necessary to explain to the child that it is time to get rid of annoying diapers and make friends with a new object - a pot. Show "night vase" and offer to use it. For the first contact, just 10 minutes is enough. Repeat attempts every 20 minutes until the child resolves the need.
• Try to notice all the signs that the child wants to write or crap, immediately propose a new subject to solve the problem. So you can consolidate the information that was reported to the baby yesterday. Do not forget to communicate and explain. Before going outside, you can wear a diaper for your own convenience.
• The general behavior of parents does not differ from the previous day. True, this time give up the "diapers" at all, even on the street. You can take a pot with you for a walk so as not to accustom the baby to uncultured excrement in the bushes.
• For the next 4 days, consolidate your skills. Carefully monitor the behavior of the baby, offer him a pot until he starts asking for it.

The method of emergency training of the baby is useful before going to kindergarten or traveling on a trip. But do not amuse yourself with illusions, for three days the child will not be able to completely restructure. This time will be quite enough for the formation of a basic skill, from which then you and your baby will build on with further training. The quick method works only if the child is more than 1.5 years old, but less than 2 years old.

It is important that he already tried to tell you that he wanted to relieve himself, and did his best to get rid of the dirty "diaper". If the child shows readiness to acquire hygienic skills, then feel free to proceed. Preparation for learning goes like this.

• Buy a pot and tell your child about its purpose. Take the kid on a trip to an adult toilet. Be sure to explain that the toilet is an adult pot.
• A week before the start of the training, tell the baby that you will soon get rid of the "diapers" and start using comfortable panties and the same pot.
• Ideally, both parents will have to be with the baby every minute for three days, so take care of free time. Prepare your food in advance and clean it up or arrange for someone to help you.
• Think in advance of entertainment for yourself and your baby. Choose cartoons, books, toys. Prepare everything so that you can always have fun and nothing distracting you, not annoying.

Once you have completed the training, you can begin to master the technique. The next three days of your life should be like this.

• Wait until the child wakes up, change the usual diaper on the panties. Explain what innovations are connected with. Put a new object in a convenient place in the nursery and introduce the baby to him.
• Water the child a little more so that he writes more often. Try to make every effort so that the child defecates that day exclusively in the pot. If there was a misfire, then remove the puddle together and explain to the child how to avoid wet panties in the future.
• Have a child sit on the pot every 20–30 minutes. Keep track of all signals that precede a bowel movement. Such a task still requires the attention of both parents. So the chances of success increase significantly.

Before going to bed, you can wear a disposable diaper for convenience.

• After waking up, proceed in the same scenario. Today you can go for a walk without a “diaper”, but before going out wait for a hike on the pot. If the weather is not summer, it is better to walk near the house so that at any time you can return. If the weather is warm, take along clothes for a change and a second pot.
• Great hopes are placed on this day, so please be patient. "Pampers" is no more, but today you need to walk twice already. Take a pot with you so as not to confuse the child with bushes. Now you already know how often the baby pisses and poops, so plant him on the pot with the necessary regularity.

Hygiene education is not always smooth and easy. It happens that a child has fears or anxieties about a new object in the house. Some children may have health problems due to which the learning process is seriously impeded.It sometimes happens that a child perfectly masters the skill of using a night vase, but suddenly refuses to sit on it. If mom or dad insists that the child sit on the pot, a real tantrum may begin.

Possible causes of this phenomenon.

• Sometimes the child reacts negatively to any changes in the usual life. Hike in kindergarten, moving to a new home, replenishment in the family can cause confusion. Outwardly, this may well manifest itself in the form of regress of skills or in disagreement to perform ordinary actions.
• At the age of 3 years, the child enters a crisis period. The kid may begin to rebel and do everything in spite of his parents. It is likely that when you ask him to sit on the pot, he will spit in his pants.
• The negative situation in the family, especially scandals between parents, can seriously affect the child. The kid may begin to rebel and behave aggressively, or, on the contrary, withdraw into himself and simply stop reacting to what is happening around him. In both cases, there is a partial or complete loss of skills.
• Temporary abandonment of the stool into a personal toilet can be associated with a routine inoculation, a cold or painful growth of teeth.

To solve the problem, it is enough to understand the causes of its occurrence. Remember that if you do not eliminate the source, then the regression can be quite serious. You may notice that the child is afraid of the pot, and for no apparent reason. If he cries, breaks free and does not want to sit on him at all, then parents often have complete stupor. There are several reasons for this behavior:

• You started dating the night vase too soon.
• You praise little for success and blame for failure.
• Unpleasant first acquaintance. For example, you sat the baby on a cold pot, which was still unsteady.
• Constipation, due to which the crumbs appeared association pot with pain.
• A child may just be shy to do his business in front of close people and a lot of relatives.

Fix the situation easily. For a while, leave the baby alone, wait until the fears are a little forgotten. Remember that trying to slip a crying baby a pot can only aggravate the situation. Try to play with the baby. Offer him to put his favorite toy on the night vase and try in every way to cause a positive reaction. You can come up with a story for the child that the pot is bored and sad when the baby does not fit him. The plot of this story can be absolutely anyone, push off from the interests of the baby. An interesting option is to decorate the "night vase" with stickers in the form of your favorite cartoon characters.

All the above problems are psychological in nature, but there are also purely medical factors that interfere with pot training. If you observe involuntary emptying of the intestines or bladder in a child over 5 years old, you should consult a specialist. The lack of control in a child may be due to the following factors:

• pathology of organs, which appeared at the birth of a baby;
• inflammatory processes in the urinary tract;
• problems in the nervous system;
• hereditary diseases;
• prolonged stress, fears, anxiety.

It happens that the child can not adapt to the use of personal toilet because of the incorrect behavior of parents. The most common mistake is that moms and dads lead the baby to the “night vase” too soon.However, it is recommended to wait for the child's readiness, otherwise you can inflict psychological trauma on the child, which will significantly complicate further education.

Another common mistake is the excessive use of disposable diapers. Modern parents often teach the child from birth to the fact that "diapers" on it day and night. When you abruptly decide to get rid of the diaper, the child will not be able to immediately adapt to this. Remember that in order to adapt in this case it may take about 3-5 months.

Constant use of the diaper leads to the fact that the child’s organs do not have proper training and stimulation and are not accustomed to retain large amounts of urine. Hygienic means gives a feeling of comfort, so even at the age of 1, he can often write in small portions.

Pampers at night interfere with the proper development of kidney function. Children who are accustomed to diapers, can be written in bed up to 4 years. Normally, this phenomenon disappears by 2-3 years. To solve this problem is quite simple - let the child walk naked in the afternoon, when it is possible. Very well, if you can not wear a "diapers" at night. It is better to put a diaper under the sheets so as not to spoil the mattress. So the baby will be able to get acquainted with his body and begin to learn to understand his body.

If you constantly tear off your child from the games and put them on the children's toilet, you will not achieve positive associations with the process. Parents who are themselves too interested in the pot should understand that the child will definitely take it seriously as soon as he is ready for it.

Another common mistake of young mothers and fathers - swearing and trying to cause a feeling of shame. Often, such behavior does not even the parents themselves sin, but their relatives. This is due to the peculiarities of the pedagogical processes in the Soviet era, where the feeling of shame was a serious stimulus. Such inappropriate behavior on the part of adults can lead to the development of phobias, neuroses. Experiencing stress will cause negative associations with the pot and the learning process will be greatly delayed.

If you still want to focus the child on the fact that he did his business on the floor, then it is better to attach him to the cleaning. Quietly give the baby a rag and explain that you need to wipe the puddle, so that no one gets dirty, does not slip. Tell your child that going to the pot can save him from unpleasant cleaning. So you will not cause a feeling of shame, but just tell me how to act correctly. The kid will surely listen to you and decide for himself that the “night vase” is his friend, not the enemy.

Young parents can make another misstep, which is associated with the banal ignorance of the stages of dating a baby with his body. Remember that the child will first begin to experience discomfort from soiled clothes or bed. Then the baby will understand what this discomfort is connected with, and will begin to learn how to control trips to the toilet. Only after that the child will be able to successfully get acquainted with the "night vase."

Some parents are sure that it is enough to choose a pot with a princess for a girl or with cars - for a boy. In fact, the process of choosing a device is quite painstaking and responsible. So, for a girl it is better to be a round pot, and for a boy - an oval. In the latter case, a device with a divider between the legs will be very useful.

Important nuances of choosing a pot.

• Choose a "night vase" from high-quality plastic. The pot should not be cold when the baby sits on it. This can cause discomfort and negative associations. The baby gets used to the touch of a soft diaper or diaper, so the contrast will be very noticeable.
• The convenience of the product is important.The size should fit the child so that the edges do not press down when sitting. Take care of the presence of the back so that the baby can relax while he does his business. Your job is to provide comfort during potty training.
• "Night Vase" must be sustainable. A wobbly pot can cause an accidental fall. Such an event will spoil the impression of the pot and can cause a complete abandonment of the pot for a long period.

• If possible, select the pot with the child. Offer your child several suitable options and leave him the choice of colors, decor and other things.
• Pick a pot with a lid and a comfortable handle. The first option makes it possible not to make its contents immediately. The handle will provide convenience for you during washing of a product.
• Make sure that the pot is not perceived by the child as a toy. Do not encourage games with the device in any way. The child must clearly understand the function of this subject.

Today in the shops you can buy a variety of models of baby pot.

• Plain. Suitable for children of any age. The ideal option for the first toilet, the lack of decorative elements will help to explain to your child the main function of the new object.
• With aromatization. A pleasant light aroma from a night vase drowns out the smell of feces and urine. There are cases when unpleasant smells repel a baby from a night vase, and this option will help solve the problem.

• In the form of a toy. The device can resemble a typewriter, scooter or any other object. It helps to teach the child to the pot in the form of a game. Special attention should be paid to ensure that the baby does not perceive the new object as just another toy.
• Baby seat for toilet. Such a device will help to accustom the child to the toilet after the pot or in its place. The seat pad has secure clamps that allow you to strengthen it on the toilet of any size and shape.
• With music. After the baby went to the pot, a pleasant melody begins to play. Such a signal makes it clear that the child can already get up, clean and continue to go about their business. "Night Vase" with music will help get rid of anxiety, which is associated with a bowel movement.

For many parents, teaching the child to the pot becomes a real challenge with a bunch of obstacles. Often this process becomes a prolonged stress for all family members. Tips from experienced moms and dads will help prevent mistakes and facilitate learning.

• Try to notice changes in the behavior of the baby and wait for a full physical, psychological and emotional readiness for the pot.
• Come up with a ritual in which the baby will play the main role. Let him take off and put on his clothes, take out the pot with you and wash his hands.
• It is better to start the acquaintance of the child with a personal toilet later, and not earlier. In this case, mastering the skill will be faster and easier. If you hurry, then the baby can react negatively to the object even when it comes to physiological readiness.
• Have patience, get ready for a lot of unsuccessful attempts. Praise your child more often and communicate more with him.
• When you plant a crumb on a small toilet, do not force to write or crap against your will. Tips to push harder will not bring results, but the baby will feel that upsets you.

• Choose a potty training method based on the characteristics of your child. Try to consider ways that will be as comfortable as possible for you. If mom and dad get nervous and get lost, then the baby will not be able to safely use the “night vase”.
• If a child is not able to get used to using a personal toilet for a long period (about a month), then give up learning for a while. Perhaps the baby is still not ready physically or mentally.
• If the child is afraid of the “night vase” or reacts inadequately to it, then try to find out the cause and eliminate it.
• If you understand that the child is going to school soon, and he still cannot consciously control the urinary bladder excrement, be sure to go to the doctor. In this case, it is impossible to tell the kid that something is wrong with him so as not to provoke the development of complexes.
• If the baby is sick or his teeth are cut, then postpone the potty training process.

How to make the learning process simple, enjoyable and most importantly - effective? At what age is the child ready to learn? At the reception of Dr. Komarovsky - the family of the singer and TV host Andrei Kishe, they discuss the topic of early potty training and share their experiences.