Dear Readers...
This morning was my turn on the car pool run and as I opened the front door to let my neighbour’s son in, her youngest was eagerly in tow wearing a pair of very cute shorts. He had shed his nappy and was full of excitement about it. “Undies, undies!” he shouted, desperate to get in and tell us all. Emily came running out to see what was happening. “Oh Nicky, no nappy!” she excitedly squealed. “Mummy, Nicky hasn’t got a nappy on.” We all praised him and made lots of fuss, resulting in him running off looking like he felt ten feet tall!
It’s been a while since my children were in nappies and my many attempts at toilet training. I felt very pressured with Cristian, as everyone else’s child of the same age seemed to be toilet trained, however he just wasn’t getting it. I spoke with Robin Barker, (author of Baby Love), who told me to “go with the flow, pardon the pun. Don’t compare him to other children, he will get there, he won’t be in nappies forever Jane.” She was right.
Toilet training is a major milestone in a child’ s development, however it need not be a major drama for parents. Spring is the perfect time to shed the nappies and give it a go, so with this in mind we have compiled an e-newsletter this week with expert advice from Dr John Irvine. This really useful edition is loaded with tips from our experienced bloggers to help you.
Good luck. |
Jane King
Mother to Emily 8, Cristian 14
Founder of Parenting Australia |
Bloggers
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My three year old daughter is fiercely independent. She has been from a young age, and I suspect she always will be. “I can do it by my own self!” has long been a phrase heard in our house... By Catherine Oehlman. Read more.
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As last summer approached we decided it was the time to toilet train Noah. He was two and a half then and knowing I was giving birth to our second child in early 2009, it seemed the optimum time to tackle toilet training head on... By Johanna Baker-Dowdell. Read more. |
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Toilet training is one of those less wonderful parts of parenting that must be attended to. No one I know has enjoyed toilet training their toddler, yet the feelings of relief and accomplishment when our little ones finally “get it” are definitely worth the effort... By Ghania Dib Read more. |
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| Dr John Irvine's Top Ten Tips for Toilet Training Toddlers |
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Remember there is no one right way or time – every child is different. |
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Different children, even in the same family, often learn in different ways – some very private, some suddenly, some start and stop and start, some very public. |
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The age at which children become toilet trained is generally no indicator of intelligence, school potential or parental competence. |
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Read the signs of readiness rather than the age of expectations and be encouraged by progress. |
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Take it easy. Some parents find the less they stress the easier the kids learn. |
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Praise success – encouragement for any success does lift their motivation. |
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Have regular but not rigid routines – so that their system functions well and gets to know the routine. |
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Good bowels are all about good fibre, fluids and food … not bribes, bullying and bargaining. |
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Keep the process natural and low key – don’t let the family focus on faeces.
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Don’t fuss – fussiness leads to sphincter muscle tension which leads to constipation, accidents, impacted faeces and toilet avoidance. No normal child is still in nappies at big school, they will grow out of it, so try not to spin your wheels unnecessarily. |
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Peter Potty is designed to make the potty training process easier - so you will have more success, with less mess!
This product allows children to urinate by themselves. Peter Potty is sized to fit and grow with your little boy and can be wall mounted or free standing on its base.
Little girls need to sit, but with Peter Potty, little boys can stand like Daddy. No more training your little man to sit first and stand later. This is the world's only flushable toddler urinal. Known to achieve success at a younger age - from 2 to 6 months faster than traditional sit-down training methods. |
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| Bedwetting at night (nocturnal enuresis) is very common in young children, in fact, quite normal up to the age of five. The exact cause is not entirely known, but it is believed that genetic and hormonal factors may contribute; it is rarely a sign of an emotional or physical problem. Most children grow out of bedwetting as they get older with only 1 in 20 children still wetting by age 10. The best approach is to be patient and try to manage both night toilet training and bedwetting, with the least amount of stress possible on both the child and parent. Absorbent bed mats such as the Slumberdry Overlay help reduce the workload and fuss while waiting for this phase to pass! |
Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat
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Date: 30 Sept - 10 Oct
Time: 10am & 12pm Tue-Sat, 6.30pm Sat 10 October (only)
Venue: Seymour Centre, corner City Rd & Cleveland St Chippendale 2008 |
| Milli, a solitary shoemaker, has a special gift, fixing things. She can take a thing that is a nothing and make it… a something. But people in the town only want ordinary, practical things... |
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Toilet Training Regression
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Sometimes after your child has been fully toilet trained they can regress and start wetting their pants again. Sometimes this can be because the child is feeling some kind of stress... |
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HeadStart’s unique approach to childcare ensures that children at the centre enjoy higher staff ratios, nutritious meals freshly cooked on the premises, extensive educational programs for all ages as well as a comprehensive preschool program.
Their programs are designed to meet specific developmental needs of every age group – from babies to preschoolers. Their school readiness program ensures that children leave HeadStart educationally and emotionally ready for school.
In addition to age appropriate educational programs, HeadStart also provides children with an abundance of educational and developmental resources including computers and age appropriate software for the older children. For the younger children and babies, individual daily routines are designed to mirror the routine and environment children have in their homes. |
www.headstartelc.com.au |
| Parenting Australia Loves... |
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This season sees a varied and engaging program that delves into all areas of performance from circus to musicals and beyond. Participants will have the opportunity to try out their ideas and put themselves centre stage as they learn new skills and most importantly have fun.
ATYP's emphasis is on encouraging creativity and allowing young people the opportunity to realise their ideas on stage. All week long workshops will culminate in a short performance for family and friends. They have a fabulous line up of tutors these holidays. All ATYP tutors are industry professionals with a great deal of experience in facilitating theatre workshops for young people. |
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Special editions of Parenting Australia’s eNews to look forward to |
6th October
13th October
20th October
27th October
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Get Your Body Back!
School Readiness
Dress to Impress
Family Pets |
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The content of this article is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner. |
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