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How to Prepare Toddlers for Potty Training
Potty training is largely dependent on the cues that the child gives and the readiness to understand the cues by the parent. More and more paediatricians recommend child led potty training. It is alright to delay the training till the child demonstrates interest in learning the skill.
While some children get potty-trained early on in their infant years, some don’t pick this up till the time they are three. Most modern parents prefer to follow their child’s cues before potty training them.
Parents can delay the training until children demonstrate an interest in getting potty trained. This approach moves away from pressuring the toddler to ‘go’ in the toilet instead of their diapers, and wait for them till they are physically and psychologically ready. However, being child-oriented doesn’t mean that you wait till the child asks to go to the toilet, but it means being able to understand about the discomfort that the child faces when he has ‘gone’ in his diapers or gets more self aware. Potty training though is easier for girls than boys. While some children struggle with the task, others successfully adopt it, thereby reducing the frequency of ‘going’ in the diaper.
It is always beneficial to keep talking to the toddler about potty training (you will be surprised of how much they understand), and make the process less stressful for both yourself and your toddler.Br/> Potty training your child when he is too young or when you haven't helped him prepare will lead to greater frustration for you and your child. A few simple steps can smooth the transition into a diaper-free life. To begin with, watch out for the signs from your toddler.
Watching Out for the Signs
There is no definite age to start potty training. But most children are ready from 18 months to 3 years of age. The child should be looking for positive reinforcement and understand when he has to wee or poo. You can use positive reinforcements like “You can take a wee before you go to play” or make it into a habitual activity like, “Go take a wee after you wake up”. You can also capitalise on already formed bodily functions. For example, if your child poos as soon as he wakes up in the diaper, you can put him on the potty seat as soon as he wakes up and then take it from there.
Tips to Implement Potty Training
Teaching by example: You can demonstrate the stage of feeling the need to use the bathroom, removing clothes to sitting in the toilet, using the flush, washing hands. Children will be interested in watching the whole process. Remember, children are great imitators Explaining your actions: Parents need to help the child understand the importance of potty training. Talking about the body’s need to eliminate waste also helps. Pets also help in this situation – talking about them and where they go to the bathroom is also beneficial for the child to understand
Play
Use the method of play to make your child understand potty training. Pretend with dolls and clean the doll after the ‘potty’
How to Prepare the Toddler
After understanding the toddler’s cues, decide on when you want to start, how you want to start, rewards or positive reinforcement you want to use and how would you handle accidents. When your child is going through the training, praise him for doing the right thing and tell him that he is doing the right thing. Be proud of him. Also, however watch out for over praising – it could make him nervous and might lead to accidents. Potty training always comes with accidents. Try not to get angry or punish your child for the accident. Allow the child to learn at his pace. You can clean up the potty calmly by reinforcing that the next time he can try it in the toilet. You could also buy a colorful potty seat that will make him look forward to the actual act!
Facts about Potty Training
Here are some fast facts about potty training:
While you can prepare your kid for potty training as early as 10 months, the age when kids actually are ready could be anywhere from 18-30 months
Children can get physically capable of independent potty training from ages 2.5 – 4
Determine the readiness of the chid before he can take potty training in his stead
The child’s abilities in other areas has no correlation to future abilities or intelligence
Being pleasant, positive and patient goes a long way in potty training
Night time dryness comes at a later stage when the child’s psychology develops further
Most toddlers urinate four to eight times each day, usually about every two hours or so. So understanding this can go a long way in establishing a diaper free routine
Most toddlers set a pattern of bowel movements (poo) by the time they are 2. So work with the pattern. It could be once or twice or even thrice. You can work on the training keeping this in mind
Ninety-eight percent of children are completely daytime independent by age four.
Continuous positive reinforcement, patience and a complete understanding of the kid’s psychology will go a long way in making ‘potty training’ an enjoyable experience for you as well as your kid. Read more
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Looking Beyond the Food Pyramid - A Practical Diet Plan for Kids
Hundreds of parents, especially moms, complain about one very specific thing - My kid doesn't eat anything or eats very less! I have gone through the same issue with my 17-month-old daughter. She is averagely built, thin and not chubby. But she is an extremely active and happy child. But alas! People will always comment on her diet, weight and thin build. Poor baby!
The fact is that the child's stomach size is very small. In fact, the size of the child's stomach is around the size of the child's own fist and it is stretchable to some extent. Adults have a stomach of around 1-litre capacity which is obviously stretchable. So, we cannot expect that our child will eat the whole meal of roti, veggies, rice and dal in one go like adults do routinely, at each meal time.
'Divide and feed' is the basis of this diet plan for children.
They need a continuous supply of calories and energy in the form of food that needs to be given multiple times. Assuming that the basic food pyramid is fixed in all the mom's brains by now, we will see how to plan these tiny but filling meals for kids in a practical way. Just plan a 3 cereal-based meals (basically breakfast, lunch and dinner). In most of the Indian households, poha, upma, idli dosa, sandwiches, eggs, rice, roti/paratha, veggies, khichdi, fish and chicken are common. Make sure your kid has atleast a few bites of what all meals you have prepared on that day.
Here are Some Additional Tips I Take Care
Add ghee, homemade butter to food to increase its energy content.
Avoid thin dals, juices, soups, watery meals as these tend to fill up tummies fast without providing enough calories.
If there is any dessert, always give it at the end of the meal, as everybody has some extra space for sweets!
Also, give water at the end of the meal so that they fill up their stomach with nutritious food and water doesn't take up that space.
Then comes the tricky part which is snacks (to be given 2 to 3 times in a day). These are important as they provide the required energy and calories to kids energy between meals. Make sure the snacks are healthy too. All varieties of fruits, roasted potato sticks, a bowl of yoghurt, sooji/besan/atta laddoos, dry fruits, dates and cutlets are some great options to start with. Give finger foods that your kid can handle on their own, that's how eating will be enjoyed by them. Avoid junk foods, chips, chocolates and biscuits which may cause unhealthy weight gain and other health-related issues in the long run. Restrict milk intake to 400-500 ml a day so it does not hamper solid food intake.
You can also introduce amla candies, tamarind candies and homemade digestives like ginger lemon ale as these will increase your child's appetite and immunity. Avoid preparing special baby foods which are bland, unpalatable and have a weird taste. The kid will always run away from such foods! Give what you yourself can eat happily without complaining. Always taste food yourself before giving to your kid.
Remember that all kids eat when hungry! So instead of force-feeding, let your child decide the when he wants to eat and its quantity. It may be straight 2 bowls in one meal and less than half bowl in the next! That is totally fine as the degree of physical activity, playtime, moods, likes, dislikes and offered food variety will have some influence on eating. Also, some kids called as grazers, will keep on eating small meals frequently or some will be satisfied in one big meal for a longer duration.
So, do not worry! As long as the child is active, has a normal weight for the age and is not falling ill again and again, he will be healthy fit and fine!
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Celebrating women in many avatars - More power to you !!
Happy Women day to us !I am blessed to be born as a girl. I am happy to be playing so many roles at same time and humbled by blessings and love one receive as gifts. I am blessed to be able to feel turmoil of emotions and yet be able to stand strong. Womanhood is like a drive through a road sometime smooth -sometime bumpy, sometime enjoying the drive - sometime being over cautious.. sometime pressing on that accelature -sometime a strong break... ! Women you are God greates gift & Creation. Playing role of a daughter , sister, wife and mother has helped me grow and learn as an individual. Juggling between personal and professional commitment makes me a better planner and value each and every second of that 24 hrs in a dayThe care, concern and lessons I received as a daughter from my parents make me stronger and confident as primary care giver a mother. Parenting gyan are passed on from one to another generations and they are treasure for a mother. Giving birth and moulding my munchkins with my own hands and seeing them grow as happy kids is the life greatest blessing as women . My husband is my biggest support and best friend. He really held my hand in hardest of times and bestest of life memories. He made be realize that i still can do better and make me believe in me and stay focused and grounded. Family is one place where all our strength and energy come from. Achievening great heights professionally does make me feel proud and so confident of myself but ultimately that relaxing cup of tea and comfort of loved ones we always look forward too no matter how upside down we might be feeling. Often we are bounded by our own limitations and inability to think beyond the usual or clouded by emotions and hence many of us feel weak and left out. The best solution which I have practiced is believe in yourself, have faith that you will sail through and keep working on yourself.Its not easy to be us. Expectations from society , peers , parents and even known associates is supposingly always high. Why do people feel we are super powerful, one man army whereas the Men are applauded at even slightest of efforts made in both professional and personal life. Even if world has moved to digital age and all across there is focus on diversity, women empowerment and women liberty , i feel one needs to focus on individual thinking and stereotype attitude and break the age old created nature. I have two bright twin boys and i am raising them better men and better person. Be brave women and Be strong! Celebrate everyday and Create value for oneself in whatever you do ! Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. hi sir/mam i had taken nerothrestrone prevent-N one tablet of 5mg when i was unaware of my pregnancy to delay my periods only one dosage was taken by me and i scanned fewdays and heartbeat came but there is the gap of 2weeks in my edd according to lmp and esg is there any problem please reply i am so tensed
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
40 mins ago
A. it's okay no problem now. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
1 hour ago
Q. #asktheexperts advice some parenting hack.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
41 mins ago
A. regarding what ok repeat question. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Nikitha has added a new answer
Father of a Newborn child
47 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts what is the best time to keep baby in the sun and for how long?
Nikitha
Mom of a 9 yr 5 m old boy
34 mins ago
A. hello in the morning around 7 to 9:00 a.m. for 10 minutes you can get your baby exposed to the sunlight which would be safe on baby so the child will also get the vitamin d naturally which should be good and nothing to worry about
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
46 mins ago
Q. currently I'm in 25th week of my pregnancy. I would like to when is my 7th month or red trimester is going to start?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
19 mins ago
A. you had to complete 28 weeks ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
41 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts I am having vaginal infection from last 2 months my doc have given me antibiotics meds but still I am having it …. 8 months pregnant I am ….is anything I am doing wrong that’s y I am having this infection
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
18 mins ago
A. ok cd. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
28 mins ago
Q. Hlo sir / madam
I m 36week 6 days pregnant
My baby’s head doesn’t fix into the pelvis
Lightening or baby dropping not happend
My AFI is 18 (mild polyhydroaminous)
What should I do?? Normal delivery possible?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
20 mins ago
A. your treating doctor will advise accordingly ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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