How to go about potty training your kid
Every mother takes pride in potty training her child early. While there is no doubt that early control is desirable, many mothers over do it with undesirable results. Development is a gradual process and we cannot hasten it beyond a point. Every child is born with a unique genetic map, which cannot be changed. However external factors can influence an individual in varying degrees either favorably or adversely.
In infants the bladder and bowel work only on reflex and there is absolutely no voluntary control. Quite often a mother complains that her baby passes motion as soon as she feeds him. This is because any intake causes reflex activity of the large intestine resulting in passage of stool. This is normal in early infants some babies may pass motion up to 15 times or more per day, though there are variations. The frequency gradually comes down. Bowel control is attained earlier them bladder control. Very young infants simply cry after passing urine or stool due to the discomfort of a wet diaper. After one year a child starts pointing to his diaper and makes some sign signaling that he has passed stool or urine. Mother should immediately attend to him. Otherwise the child may stop communicating about a wet diaper and this may delay toilet training. Later a child starts giving some signal when he is about to pass motion. He stops doing whatever he was doing and may show a different facial expression. Some may run to the mother and make a sound, which the mother would be able to associate with passage of stool. In the beginning he may soil his diaper before being placed on a potty. Gradually he learns to hold till he is seated on a potty. Gradually he may be helped to sit as the toilet seat. It takes some time for the child to learn how to sit properly. He should them be taught how to use toilet tissue and flush the toilet. Disposable diapers are becoming increasingly popular. While there is no doubt that they are very convenient to use they may cause skin irritation. They are also not eco-friendly. Cloth diapers can be washed and reused and may be more economical in the long run. It is also believed that disposable diapers increase the temperature around the scrotum and result in low sperm count in later life. It may be prudent to follow the middle path and use cloth diapers at home during day and use disposable ones when going out and at night. While early attainment of bladder and bowel control is desirable parents should not be in a hurry to train the child. Accidents do happen while learning and parents should avoid ridiculing or scolding the child. This will create a sense of insecurity in the child and may actually delay the process of potty training. Child should be complemented whenever he displays control over his bowel movement. He should be told about the desirability of staying dry as soon as he is able to understand. Return from potty training to child health
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