TOILET TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
Hi moms…
This time I will share my experience for giving a toilet training to children. Because of our busy lives, we prefer to dress our children who are still at an early age, like the age of 1-3 years with diapers so we won’t often get bothered by changing children’s pants when they wet or defecate.
But did you know the use of diapers in the long term has a dangerous effect and will hinder the development of children both physically and psychologically. Their skin will get irritation and also they will have difficulty controlling the urge to urinate and defecate, so they can easily wet the bed anywhere and anytime. Wrong habits in controlling urination and defecation will also affect the child’s personality, namely: resulting in children being undisciplined, spoiled, and experiencing psychological disorders.
Therefore, it is important for parents to teach their children on toilet training from an early age. Toilet training is an effort to train the children to be able to control the urge to urinate and defecate correctly and regularly. This process requires intensive assistance, especially from us as their parents. We can see this from the child’s physical readiness by recognizing their feelings which in state where they want to pee or defecate. The child will show feelings of discomfort with behavior that looks uncomfortable, fussy, and feels dirty or usually says “mama… I want to take a pee, its wet”, “mama… my stomach is hurt, I want to take a poop”. While the emotional readiness of children is shown by their interest or curiosity to use the chamber pot or toilet. They tend to understand the use of the toilet or communicate with his parents using a sign language to use the toilet.
Okay moms, we will try gradually to teach our children about toilet training. Don’t be too hasty and forced. Practice simple things like asking them to pee in the toilet while taking a shower, and telling them when they feel the urge want to take a pee. Its easy mom, isn’t it?
When do children begin to be introduced to the use of the toilet? Start introducing toilet training around 1 year 6 months to 2 years 6 months. In addition to being able to understand what you are talking about, the muscles that control the bladder and rectum begin to function at this age. So when they’re entering the age of 3 years, generally, your little one is no longer needs diapers and has been able to use the toilet by their self properly.
The following are the stages of toilet training that moms can give to children on a regular basis so our children become accustomed to it:
1. Introduce your child to the toilet
First, introduce your baby to the toilet. But it’s not just the tools, Mom. Also tell your little one on how to toilet training such as the correct squatting or sitting position when pooping for girls. When finished pooping, teach her to clean their genitals. Teach her to wash their genitals using her left hand starting from the front of the vagina, then to the anus. This aims to prevent the transfer of bacteria from the anus to the vagina. For boys, teach him to point his penis under the chamber pot or closet to avoid splashing urine on the front of the chamber pot or closet seat. Teach your child to clean his penis with water after pooping.
After finishing peeing or pooping, teach them to clean the dirt in the toilet. If the toilet in Mom’s house is a sitting toilet, then explain to them about the flush button. And if it’s a squad toilet, practice together how to take and flush water.
Lastly, remind your child to wash their hands with soap after they done in the bathroom.
2. Invite them when you want to use the toilet (explain what you are doing)
If you want, take your little one into the bathroom when you’re about to take a poop. They will see a real model. At that time, also explain what you did. Like the way you sit, flush and clean the dirt.
It’s all moms, how to introduce a toilet training to your children, and it is very important thing. Although your little one won’t immediately understand it in one try. Keep practicing it gradually and slowly, step by step. Tell them about the do’s and don’ts, also explain why. Be a good model, because your little one will usually imitate what they see. Toilet training will provide several benefits for children, including making our child more independent, responsible, and disciplined.
Good luck, Moms!
