Why should we potty train our kids?

Learning to use the toilet is an important milestone for both caregivers and children. For caregivers, it means freedom from diapers and new worries about accidents. For a child, it is a step toward independence and self-sufficiency.

Before you begin toilet training, it is important to know if the child is ready, how to help the child, and what to do if there are problems along the way.

Is my child ready? Developmental skills

The age when a child is ready to learn to use the toilet depends upon a number of factors and can vary from one child to another. Most children are able to stay dry during the day by age two to four years. Staying dry at night may happen at the same time or may take months or years longer.

Most experts agree that before starting toilet training, a child should be able to do the following:

● Walk to the toilet

● Sit up on the toilet

● Stay dry for several hours or wake up dry after a nap

● Pull clothes up and down

● Follow simple instructions

● Communicate the need to go to the toilet

● Demonstrate independence by saying “no”

● Show interest in toilet training

● Express a desire to please (give gifts, enjoy praise)

● Imitate adults and older children

How long will it take to learn? 

The average time it takes a child to learn to stay dry during the day is six months, and most children learn to control their bowels before or at the same time that they learn to stay dry during the day. Staying dry at night may take months to years longer. Females usually complete toilet training earlier than males. First children usually take longer than subsequent children to complete toilet training.

Toilet training can be a challenging process, full of both successes and failures. The most common problems that occur during the toilet training process include temporary setbacks, bedwetting, and refusing to use the toilet

Bedwetting

Bedwetting is a common problem that affects 20 percent of five-year-olds and 10 percent of six-year-olds. ​​To help your child overcome the trouble of wetting the bed, consider using an alert system at night. 

The Wet-Stop3 is a training sensor and alarm that will recognize moisture and wake the child in time for them to make it to the bathroom. The sensor can detect very minimal wetness, so depending on how you set it, the alarm will either vibrate or ring aloud to wake your child. There is no longer a need to replace the sheets in the middle of the night or do a full clothing change, although dry underwear may be necessary. If your child struggles with potty training or nighttime bed-wetting, call BioRelief, Inc. today at 1-877-782-3675 to talk about the Wet-Stop3 bed-wetting system.