INSTRUCTIONAL books that introduce the skills needed to master the potty; and those that are primarily ENTERTAINING, for children who understand what is supposed to happen on the potty, but need extra time to make it happen.

Potty Training Concepts has a great selection of potty books for children.

Urine, pee, pee-pee, wee wee  or whaever words you and your family are comfortable with.

Bowel Movement, BM, poop, poo, poo poo, doody, caca

Wet

Dry

Messy or dirty

Clean

Bottom or behind.

• Stays dry for two or more hours at a time

• Has regular bowel movements

• Wakes up from naps dry

• Stops an activity while urinating or bowel movement in the diaper

• Has expression facial and body expression i.e stands a certain way or holds on to the diaper as he eliminates

• Is interested in "big kid" training pants

• Want to imiitate parente or older sibling using the toilet.

• Is able to understand and follow simple directions.

• Can sit and play quietly for about 5 minutes

• Can put toys and other possessions where they belong.

2) Most toddlers have one to two bowel movements per day. 

3) Most toddlers have regular pattern for bowel movements i.e. they will have go at about the same time each day.

4) A child elimination (sphincter) muscles reach full maturity somewhere between the age of 12 and 24 month, with the average age if 18 months.

5) Potty training can begin at any age - however, independent toileting can only mastered after the child is ready - which is anywhere between the ages of two and four.

6) Potty Training is an acquired skill just like walking, talking and running AND each child acquires these skills when he or she is ready.  Mastering these skills bears no correlation to intellingence or future abilities.

7) The "best time" or window for potty training is when your child is between the age of 18 months and 32 months old.  However, each child is different, so the perfect age for each child is different.

There is a difference between being potty trained during the day and the night.  Night time dryness is only a concern after the age of 6.  At the age of 5 years, 15-20% of children are still wetting at night 2-3 times per month.

9) Constipation in toddlers refers to infrequent (less than 3 BMs per week) or incomplete bowel movements.  A toddler between the age of 1 and 3 should have 4-12 BM per week or on the average - 1.4 BMs/week.  Over the age of 3, it is 3-14 BMs per week, or on the average 1 BM per day.

10) More than 80% of children experienc set -backs in potty training.

Does parenting have anything to do with potty training?

I think this two are closely related!!

So, what I suggest is that you create a reward system that build up i.e. a reward for a single success, a bigger reward for a certain number (say 5 successes)  of successes and then you can have a special reward at the end of the day for having had such a great day - and this can be as simple as additional attention at bedtime with an extra story.

You need to keep you child interested and working with you until toilet habits are a routine part of you childs life.

The best way to keep track of these reward is to use a potty chart and stickers.  Go online and you will find many places where not only can you buy charts and sticker, but you will also find free printable charts and stickers.

Place stickers on the chart for each success.  10 stickers equals a bigger treat - say a small gift that you know will keep your child motivated.

Once potty training has become a habit for your child, you will find that the need for child is going consistenly and is no longer interested in the rewards.

RELATED ARTICLES:

I recently had a discussion with a Le Leche Legue Mom and she said to me it that they refer to it as Potty Learning not Potty Training - and this is because "potty training" or "potty learning" is a developmental skill that is learnd by the child at his own pace and his own way.  And therefore it is potty learning.

Now potty training implies that the child is being trained to use the potty; but does it imply that the child is not learning??

I don't think so.  I think if we debate this we would be getting caught up in the semantic and not the actually process.

Just to be clear - in my opinion - it is both - the child is learning how to use the potty, but is also being trained by the parent on what are acceptable behaviours and what is not.

So, I choose to use the works potty training simply because it is more common and more familiar.  AND by doing this I am not saying that the child is not indeed learning!! 

Thank God we live in a free world and have choices.  Choose the words that work for you!!

Narmin

The concept of using potty charts and sticker is not only provide a reward or reinforcement for the desired behaviors of pulling down you pants, sitting on the potty, going on the potty, washing hands etc, but to provide a visual reinforcement for both the parent and the child.

Visually seeing the progress that your child is making as a result of all your efforts can be rewarding and reinforcing to you.

Visually seeing his or her own progress can be rewarding and reinforcing to your child.

What did you think about the show?

I think a discussion defining happiness would be protuctive.