Baby, Pregnancy, and Parenting at Babies Online » Potty Training

Bedwetting: What Can You Do About It?

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:30:49 +0000

My son and his best friend have been bugging us for months, their moms, to arrange a sleep over. The boys are keen, the moms aren’t. “Why not, mom?”, asked the two 6-year olds. “Because you guys are not yet ready for a sleep over.” The thing is, my son is ready but his friend is not. He has what I call “the hidden childhood problem.”

Moms are always ready to share tips with other moms on putting the baby to sleep, getting the baby to eat, even on potty training. As our babies grow older, we are also open to advice on asthma, food allergies, even social behavior. But there is a childhood problem that we tend to keep to ourselves, something that we feel should be kept private. In doctor speak, it’s called nocturnal enuresis. In layman terms, it’s called bedwetting. So why are we so reluctant to talk about bedwetting?

It’s embarrassing. The issue of bedwetting can feel like an embarrassment for both mommy and child. For mommy, some feel it’s an indication of failure as a mother. The question often asked is “what did I do wrong?” For the child, it has a strong social impact – think about sleepovers, slumber parties, and camp.

What causes bedwetting?

Bedwetting is not about laziness to get up and go to the bathroom. It is really about night time bladder control and may be due to a lot of reasons.

Biological -There are medical explanations for bedwetting and these include dysfunction of the urinary bladder due to delayed maturation, infections, hormonal imbalance. It could also be due to constipation, diabetes, and yes, even genetics. However, biological factors explain only 3% of bedwetting cases.

Psychological – The large majority of cases of bedwetting are due to psychological stress. Now, parents, before you start being defensive, psychological stress does not necessarily mean (though it includes) major issues like negligence, abuse, personal loss or disruption of family life. It could also be the little issues like a new bedroom, new residence, new school, new teacher, or loss of a security item. Psychological stress big and small can lead to sleep disorders and loss of bladder control.

It’s more common than you think.

If it is any comfort to you, bedwetting is more common than you think. Here’s some statistics from a WebMD article:

5 to 7 million children who are potty-trained still wet their beds at night.
Bedwetting seems to be twice as common among boys as girls.
15% of kids aged 5 still wet their beds from time to time.
12% of children aged 6 still have this problem.
95% of children aged 10 are dry at night.

What can you do about it?

Check your family history. According to pediatrician Dr. Howard Bennett, author of Waking Up Dry: A Guide to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting, 3 out of 4 kids with bedwetting issues have a first-degree relative who had the same problem as a child. Scientists have even mapped the specific genes involved!

Do not blame anybody. Unless there are really major family issues involved, bedwetting is nobody’s fault. It is important to communicate to your child that it is not his/her fault. Make sure that your child is aware he or she is not alone in this. It is hard not to be disapproving when you have to change and wash sheets every morning but putting pressure on your child that adds to the stress. And you shouldn’t blame yourself either.

Be patient. I had a sibling who had this problem and my mom’s attitude was “she’ll outgrow it” and eventually she did.

Minimize the damage. There are, however, things that you can do to minimize the risks and the damage. Here are some tips on bedwetting “damage control”:
- Put on disposable diapers on preschoolers at night.
- Make sure your child goes to the bathroom right before sleeping.
- Restrict the amount of fluid intake close to bedtime.
- Use bedwetting alarms that wake up the child.
- Cover the mattress with a plastic mat.

Check with a health professional. Dr. Bennet believes that if bedwetting causes anxiety and social problems, then it is best that a health professional be consulted. A doctor can try to pinpoint the possible cause of the problem. There are certain exercises to stretch the bladder and increase its carrying capacity. There may be therapies to ease the psychological stress. Some doctors may even prescribe medications (though I am not really keen on this).

I am ready to give my son up for a night. I myself am ready to take damage control measures in case his best friend comes for a sleepover. My son’s best friend’s mom is embarrassed about her son’s problem and is reluctant to go for it.

What do you think?

Do you think I should push the issue or should I wait?

Potty Training Praise and Encouragement – How much?

admin — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:25:19 +0000

by Elizabeth Pantley author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution

When your child is learning to use the potty should you give lots of applause and praise, or simple, matter-of-fact acceptance? Which is the right response for potty-training success? If you research this seemingly simple question you’ll get adamant advice on both ends of the spectrum. Some experts say you should give lots and lots of positive feedback, including a party-like atmosphere – with noisemakers, cake and party hats. Others say you should avoid getting overly excited or emotional and simply acknowledge that he’s done well.

The right answer is that the right answer is different for every parent and child pair. Some parents are naturally more enthusiastic about everything their child does whether it’s taking the first step, building a block tower or tinkling in the potty. Other parents tend to be more reserved.

Children need different things from their parents, too. Some children thrive on their parent’s energy and will do anything for a round of applause, other children are easily overwhelmed and prefer more subtle praise. Even two different children in the same family will respond better to different levels of enthusiasm.

Probably the best advice is to do what comes naturally and what seems to encourage your child to keep trying. What’s most important is that you want your child to know that you support him, and that you are proud of his efforts along the way, as well as his successes.

A reminder to be patient
This whole potty-training process takes time. You probably won’t feel confident to completely turn over your child’s toileting to him for many months. So, relax, be patient, and enjoy the journey. Children are only little for a very short time – it’s nice to enjoy and embrace every moment.

This article is an excerpt from The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-Bye to Diapers

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

When Not To Begin Potty Training

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:09:04 +0000

by Danna Henderson

Potty training can be a stressful experience for you and your child. It’s best to start potty training when your child has an established daily routine and is not dealing with any additional stress. Potty training should be the only major change in your child’s life.

If your child is showing signs of potty training readiness, ask yourself if any of the following situations exist:

New baby – Although the thought of double diaper duty may be overwhelming, your child needs time to adapt to the new baby before you begin potty training.

Divorce or Separation – Divorce or separation is always stressful for children. Your child may be living in two different homes or under two separate sets of rules. When things calm down, share your potty training plan so that you are both aware of the other person’s plan and can work together for the benefit of your child.

New daycare/babysitter – If your child has recently switched day cares or baby-sitters, wait a couple of weeks/months (depending on how your child adapts) before you start potty training.

New bedroom or bed – Small changes, like a new bedroom or bed, can have a big impact on your child. Wait until your child has adapted to his new bed before you begin potty training.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

About The Author
Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training information as well as a large variety of potty training products. For more information about potty training, visit the ZIP Baby Potty Training Store.

Toilet Terrors and Other Potty Training Fears

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:07:10 +0000

by Danna Henderson

Potty training fears, often called toilet terrors, are common among toddlers and small children. Look at things from your child’s perspective. He is giving up the security of a diaper for a big, cold thing with a giant hole that might swallow him. Up until this point, your child has been able to go in his diaper. He didn’t have to control himself until a potty was available. He could go anytime and anywhere, knowing that someone would always be there to change his diaper. The idea of having to go to a specific location means he will have to stop what he’s doing to use the potty. To top it all off, he looses the warmth of his diaper and must now go potty naked where other people might be watching!

Common potty training concerns and solutions:

Fear of Making a Mistake
Your child is just beginning to control his bodily functions. He won’t be perfect at it, and might worry that he will be punished for accidents. Throughout the potty training process, assure your child that you are there for him and he can come to you if he’s afraid or worried about something. When accidents happen, don’t make a big deal out of them. Simply clean up and tell him that you know he is trying. Potty training is often a good time to build a trust between you and your child that will last throughout your lives.

Fear of Automatically Flushing Public Toilets
More and more public restrooms switch to automatically flushing toilets. Children who are at the later stages of potty training (transitioned from the potty chair to the toilet) are often fearful of the public toilet flushing while they are seated. These fears can be alleviated with a simple, inexpensive device called the Flush Stopper.

Fear of Falling In
The fear of falling in the toilet is common when your child has mastered the small potty-chair and transitions to the toilet. You can help alleviate this fear by purchasing a potty seat that either fits on the toilet or attaches to the toilet such as the Flip-N-Flush or PRIMO’s Ducka. The potty seats will decrease the size of the toilet hole and help your child feel more secure. The Flip-N-Flush is especially useful because it flips down for your child’s use and flips up so that other family members can easily access the regular toilet seat.

Your child’s fears need to be addressed as real and serious fears. If your child knows that you understand and are trying to help, he will feel more relaxed and comfortable while potty training.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

Prepare Your Child For Potty Training

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:50 +0000

by Danna Henderson

When your child shows most of the signs of potty training readiness, you can start introducing him to the idea.

Potty Training Books, Videos, & DVDs
Potty training books, videos, and DVDs provide a great opportunity to introduce the potty to your child. Read a book as a bedtime story or watch a video together. Your child will surely have questions and be delighted when he finds a potty chair of his own!

Potty Chair or Seat
As you begin introducing the potty to your child, be sure to put a potty chair in the bathroom. Children love to imitate other family members and your child will probably sit on it when he sees you use the bathroom. After watching a potty training video or reading a potty training story, your child will have a pretty good idea what the potty is for.

Potty Training Doll
Dr. Phil recommends purchase an anatomically correct drink & wet doll for potty training. His method involves having your child teach the doll to use the potty, thereby learning himself!

Training Pants
Potty training pants facilitate potty training by enabling your child to feel that he is wet. Diapers draw the moisture away from your child’s skin so he can’t always tell that he has just peed. Training pants allow your child to feel the wetness while protecting everything else from leaks.

Potty Training Incentives
Rewards and incentives such as stickers, snacks, and certificates can be great potty training tools. They work especially well for children who understand the basics but need an incentive to stop what they are doing and sit on the potty.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

Potty Training Techniques That Don’t Work

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:58:35 +0000

by Danna Henderson

Your attitude and actions have a huge impact on your child’s potty training success. The following potty training techniques don’t work and should never be done:

Punishing your child for accidents
Making your child wear soiled diapers or underwear
Making your child sit on the potty for more than 5 to 10 minutes at a time
Making your child “hold it” if he or she needs to go
Making your child sit on the potty when he or she is crying

Try to make potty training fun and exciting for your child. Positive reinforcement generates better results than negative reinforcement. Browse our selection of potty training products to choose the right product to use with your chosen potty training technique.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

Potty Training Secrets: How To Make It Successful and Fun

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:55:34 +0000

By Tamara Kauppinen

Diapers costing you a fortune? It may be time to tackle one of the most important challenges in your young child’s life… the dreaded potty training experience.

One of the most common questions that I am asked is in regards to subject. Many parents will ask me something like this:

“Do you have any tips on potty training a two year old, that has no desire to try?”

I have been very lucky in my own four children that they potty trained literally on their own, but I have had several daycare kids that were not as interested in this phase of their little lives.

First of all I know that everyone says not to push them, but it is very true. DO NOT try and force the issue. As a parent we must learn to pick our battles with our children and this is one that is not easily won, if they are not ready for it. I started out with “Potty Training” books. There are a lot of different ones out there at your local library, or bookstores (I saw a cute hardcover one at Wal-Mart yesterday called “I Have To Go Potty!” It was under $8.00). There are also many different videos on this topic as well, I know that Dora, and Barney have their own videos on potty training.

Second, talk to your child about the potty in their language. For example: “Mommy and Daddy go pee pee and poopy on the potty, do you think sometime you want to go potty too like Mommy and Daddy?” Make any conversation with them at their level and also answer their questions if they have any.

Third, this is a HUGE deal, so make a big deal out of it. Take your child shopping, have them help in picking out the potty chair or a package of their very own “Big Kid” underwear. Also make sure that you have rewards for them. Whether this be M&M’s, dum dum suckers, skittles, raisins, whatever is a motivator to your child. Purchase those items with your child and make sure to remind them, that the candy is for after they go potty on the potty. (If you do purchase candy, make sure it is something little that you can easily manage, because if you give them a whole bag of M&M’s each time they go potty, you will have one hyper child, just a few m&m’s or skittles at a time and that is why if you purchase suckers go with the smaller ones.) Once your child has the hang of potty training and you are working on night training, again take them to the store and have them pick out something special to them, a stuffed animal, new video, a new book, game, truck, barbie, etc. Tell them that once they are dry all the time and have no more diapers then you and your child will go purchase that special item, “because they are a BIG boy or GIRL.” I can’t stress enough to involve them and make them feel important!!!

If you child is hestitate about even sitting on the potty, do not push them, but make a big deal out of it, when he/she does finally sit on the potty. Encourage him/her to sit on the potty with their diaper on at first if they are too afraid. Gradually work to take the diaper off of them when they are on the potty. Also look for the signs that your child may have that they are about to go potty in their diaper, and then ask them then if they want to go use the potty (remind them of the treat at the end if they do go). Reward them for every little step that they take, so that they feel important. I use to make up a potty dance with my kids. Every time after they went, we would do the potty dance together, and many times even after I went to the bathroom, my kids would do the potty dance for me, because they were then proud of my accomplishment as well. This may sound corny, but it is a great way to motivate your children in not just potty training, but I’ll save that for another article.

You can never encourage your children enough in anything, so start the cheerleading team and “GO POTTY TRAIN!”

Remember, stay positive, go slow and have fun with you child during this trying process! Good Luck.

About The Author
Tammi Kauppinen is a proud stay at home mom with five wonderful children. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater with a degree in Special Education, she decided to find a way to stay home and raise her children. That hasn’t kept her from working with kids! She has run an in-home day care for ten years, worked in variety of school districts with children with special needs, acted as a foster parent to teenage boys and as a respite provider for other foster children. She continues to work with children – including her own – on a daily basis and publishes a weekly email on stay at home mom tips. To sign up for this FREE service go to http://www.stayathomemominc.com.

Potty Training Facts

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:47:31 +0000

By David Chandler

Potty training, toilet training, toilet teaching or toilet learning are names frequently used to describe how kids learn to use the bathroom independently.

Children who are potty training or ready to potty train will:

Walk to the potty and undress

Consistently keep underwear clean and dry during the day and/or night

Recognise the need to go to the potty and let you know or goes by self

Use the potty-chair or toilet by himself or herself.Children will potty train at different rates and stages:

Detours in potty training come with the territory and should not be taken as a sign of failure.

Physical and mental developments play a large role in potty training success.

By using training pants in your training approach will help to make it a positive and rewarding experience.Facts to keep in mind:
Girls usually complete training at a younger age than boys and generally start earlier than boys. The time-spent training does not change in most cases. 80 percent of boys and girls are completely trained by age 3-1/2. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Potty training takes an average of eight months but will vary from child to child. One child can take one month; another might take up to a year or more. There are kid trackers online that you can use to determine if you child is where they should be in their progress.

Potty chairs are best for most kids, but a potty seat for the big toilet can work with a little assistance and a step stool.

Before your child has started potty training, start thinking about a reward system that will work for both you and your child. Keep it simple and easy to stick with such as a sticker on the chart for sitting on the potty!

About The Author
For more information, go to: http://www.PottyTrainingInfoCenter.com.

Potty Training Battle of the Wills

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:45:55 +0000

by Danna Henderson

Some children practically potty train themselves, while others struggle and resist against the potty. Potty training should never turn into the battle of the wills. If it does, both you and your child will loose. When dealing with strong-willed child, it’s best to turn potty training into a game. Use the following suggestions to make potty training fun and exciting for you and your child:

Musical Potty Chairs
Musical potty chairs, like the Tinkle Toonz, use positive reinforcement by playing a tune to reward your child for a job well done.

Potty Training Dolls
Dr. Phil recommends that parents purchase an anatomically correct drink & wet doll for potty training. Both the Corolle and Aquini potty training dolls can be used with Dr. Phil’s method. By helping your child teach the doll to use the potty, your child will learn without realizing it.

Potty Training Charts & Stickers
Potty training charts and stickers can go a long way to motivate your child to use the potty. At first he may need a reward each time he sits on the potty. Eventually you will need to restrict rewards to actually using the potty. When your child uses the potty consistently, stickers can add up to a bigger reward for a specific number of accident free days.

Potty Training Watch
Some children don’t want their playtime to be interrupted for frequent potty breaks. However, if you have a fun way to remind your child to take a potty break, he will probably be more receptive. Try a potty training watch, such as the VibraLite, which can be set to vibrate every 30 minutes to 1 hour to remind your child to sit on the potty.

Potty Training Targets
Potty training targets are a great way to teach boys how to aim. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, the potty training targets can also be used to teach colors and shapes.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

Potty Training At Daycare and Preschool

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:42:04 +0000

by Danna Henderson

With 61% of children between the ages of birth and 6 years in daycare, it’s important that parents work closely with their child’s care professional while potty training. When you child is ready for potty training, the right potty training guidance and supplies can make all the difference.

Be Sure Your Child Is Ready – Before you begin potty training, make sure your child is ready. Your child should show the following signs of potty training readiness:

Expresses an interest in the potty
Tries to imitate family members
Stays dry for two hours
Express the need to go potty or indicates that he or she just has
Able to pull pants up and down
Irritated when diapers are wet
Expresses interest in cotton underwear
Has predictable bowel movements on a regular basis
Diaper stays dry overnight

Introduce Potty Training
If your child is in daycare, he or she will probably notice that there are other children around who wear cotton underwear and use the potty. This kind of light peer pressure can motivate your child to want to use the potty as well. Start introducing the idea by watching a potty training book or video together. Be sure and tell your child’s daycare provider that you are beginning the potty training process. You child’s daycare provider can help by watching for signs of potty training readiness and answering questions from your child.

Discuss the Plan
When you begin potty training your child, discuss your plan with your child’s daycare worker. This person has probably potty trained many children and may have useful tips and tricks that he or she has found useful. Make sure your potty training methods are similar.

Set Potty Training Rules
Work together to set some basic potty training guidelines. For example, agree that neither of you will punish your child for accidents or that you’ll give stickers as rewards for using the potty. The potty training process will be easier for your child if both you and the child care worker are providing the same potty training guidance.

Progress Reports
Speak with the child care provider often to exchange progress reports. Both of you need to be aware of any successes or potential problems. If the daycare worker tells you that your child used the potty earlier that day, be sure and tell your child that that you heard about his or her success and that you are proud of him or her.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com