Toileting

Is this normal?

Kids' bodies start to show signs that they are ready to be toilet trained around the second year. In toddlerhood, kids learn to recognize softer feelings in their anal and urethral areas. They also learn how to tighten the muscles that hold and release poop and pee. There is no quick way to potty train a child because they are all different. Keep in mind that by age three, nine out of ten kids are dry most of the time, and by age four, most kids are always dry.

Toddlers are usually learning more about their bodies. Since their poop is a part of their bodies, they may feel like it is a valuable treasure and be worried about getting rid of it. On the other hand, they learn from the people around them that poop is gross and smelly, so they shouldn't touch or play with it. This can be very complicated, which makes sense!

Different countries have very different ideas about what age is right to start toilet training. If you want the child to be an equal part of the process, you might want to wait until they understand what is expected of them. This probably won't happen before 15 to 18 months, but it could happen later.

In their second year, kids are better able to notice and control their body signs. At the same time, they are very interested in "cause and effect" games and the question of how to keep standards. Such as, you might notice that they worry more about dirty clothes and get angry when toys break. Now is a good time to start toilet training because the child will want to follow the rules for going to the bathroom. Being aware of when they need to go to the bathroom and getting upset when they are wet or dirty are also signs that they are ready. Just remember that kids can get upset when they can't do what you want them to, so make sure you comfort and praise them all the time.

Physiological problems that make the child less sure of their ability to control their bowels can make toilet training harder. If kids have pain from constipation, they might hold it in to avoid the pain, which makes the constipation worse. With diarrhea, on the other hand, it may be hard for the child to hold back, so they may give up. Your child's doctor or health worker should be able to help you with these things.

The effects of the health problem

Spending more time at home with kids and their caretakers might make going to the bathroom easy for some, but not for others. It might be harder to learn how to use the potty because of the child's nervousness, the anxiety of those around them, and changes in routines. It could even make them go backwards in toilet training and wet or dirty places they didn't before. Adults shouldn't get mad, but they should try to understand how the child feels and how much more care they need right now. They will be able to catch up soon enough, after all.


The best advice for parents and kids

Read the signs and only expect what is right for the child's age. So go at their pace.

A baby toilet is less scary than an adult toilet because the child is less likely to worry that they will fall in or be flushed away.

Kids need to feel like they are in charge of their poop, and their parents or caretakers need to accept that poop as "belonging to the child" and let them know that they can make it or not.


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