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Toilet Training: Questions & Answers

by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. and Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.


Many parents have asked our experts question about toilet training. Click on the links below to read the experts' answers.


Q: Dear Dr. Jana,
My 19-month-old girl has started telling me when her diapers are dirty and now is taking them off and sitting on her little potty and going both BMs and urinating? Should I start training her, or is this a phase and I should wait till she is two?

A: Dear Kim,
Your daughter definitely sounds advanced for her age! There are lots of different opinions on when and how children should be toilet trained. My own recommendation is that when a child is able to understand the concepts involved in toilet training and expresses interest in mastering this important skill, as your daughter clearly has, there is no reason why you shouldn't encourage her interest...

• Read the full Early Interest in Toilet Training answer here.


Q: Dear Dr. Needlman,
I have read the articles on toilet training. I have a 20-month-old who has been going to the potty on her own for almost a month now. How do I get to the next step of getting through the night without a diaper?

A: Dear Interested Dad,
Twenty months is still on the young side for a child to master staying dry. Congratulations on the progress you and your daughter have made so far! Since she has only been using the potty for about a month now, it is not at all surprising that she continues to wet when asleep...

• Read the full Staying Dry through the Night answer here.


Q: Dear Dr. Jana,
I have a two-year-old and a three-week-old. My two-year-old is getting ready for potty training. But with my newborn here, I now feel like I can't find enough time to keep up with the training. I know potty training is something you need to stay on top of. What can I do to keep up with it, take care of a newborn, and accomplish the everyday household work?

A: Dear Paula,
The first thing I suggest you do is to ask yourself whether both you and your two-year-old are ready to toilet train. Having a newborn at home is exhausting, and toilet training isn't always as easy as rolling off a log...That said, if your toddler is really interested in toilet training, there are some things you can do to make the process easier for both of you...

• Read the full Toilet Training a Two-Year-Old While Caring for a Newborn answer here.


Q: Dear Dr. Needlman,
My son will be three years old in April. He will pee on the potty with no problem at all but refuses to do a BM. We have to put a pull-up on him to have him go, and even that doesn't work sometimes. What should we do?

A: Dear Donna,
Assuming that your child is healthy and developing as expected in other areas, what you are describing is a very common problem. Many two-and three-year-olds develop a sense of ownership about their bowel movements?

• Read the full A Toddler's Reluctance to Part with His Bowel Movements answer here.


Find out more in our Toilet Training program, Ask Our Expert your own question, or join the discussion on the message board.
 RELATED INFORMATION
*  More Than An End To Diapers
*  When Is Your Child Ready for Toilet Training?
*  When Your Child Is NOT Ready for Toilet Training
*  Toilet Training


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