New research on the timing of potty training shows problems for pushing children too soon or waiting too long. The frustrating journey of toilet training a child is a struggle every parent faces. Starting kids down this path early can be tempting, but a new study from Wake Forest University found that pushing the topic too soon — or too late — can cause physical problems and lead to wetting accidents. Children who are toilet trained prior to age 2 or after age 3 have significantly more daytime and nighttime accidents than children trained between the two ages, the study showed.
But training too early or late is a risk factor, and we want to prevent toileting problems in all kids with maximal effect. As long as a child stays in diapers, his or her bladder continues to grow in size.
Once toilet training is introduced though, that growth stops. So, according to research from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , children who toilet train earlier will automatically have smaller bladders, potentially setting them up for future toileting problems. But the real culprit behind wetting accidents, Hodges said, is constipation.
Increased fullness in the bowels presses on the bladder, making it harder for children to control the flow of urine. In addition, the muscles used to restrict bowel movements are connected to muscles that control urination; constriction can make it harder for children to learn proper toileting behaviors.
This study is the first research to connect constipation to wetting accidents in younger children. Are you looking after an incontinent child? According to Doctors, potty training too early can cause a range of health problems later in life. Hodge believes that early potty trainers often suffer from constipation, urinary tract infections, bedwetting and kidney infections. The less a child visits the toilet, the more opportunity for infection-causing bacteria to develop in the bladder.
It can also cause extreme constipation, which in itself can be a cause of faecal and urinary incontinence due to causing irritation. Children of a young age do not like chores such as using the potty, and will be likely to put it off so they can spend more time playing with toys.
The main problem that stems from early potty training is the development of chronic holding. Chronically holding urine and faeces can cause urinary tract infections. Experts claim that a child must be physiologically and behaviourally ready. Incontinence specialist Dr Donohoe recommends parents wait until their child is between 2.
However, bear in mind that some children may not be ready until they are around 4 due to a variety of reasons. You also want to avoid causing problems and pressure if your child is too young to bladder train. If you wait until your child is older, they will be mature enough to know the importance of going to the bathroom as soon as nature calls and not hold it. They still need to be reminded about toilet trips, however are more responsible and less likely to hold it until they are desperate.
For a number of reasons, it might be wiser to spend more time enjoying your baby than agonizing over potty training early.
Offer a reward if they do. If they are really upset by it again, pause for a week. Ignore wet nappies overnight, as many kids will still need to wear pull-ups to bed after they have successfully potty trained. If your child is totally happy sitting in their own filth without mentioning it, then they will struggle to communicate with you about when they need to go to the toilet. They need to recognise the sensation of needing to go to the toilet and what it feels like when they do.
I mean 10 wees on the carpet and zero in the potty in the space of a couple of hours. They also just might not be ready to take that mental leap yet. Combining a major step like potty training with something out of your normal routine is a bad idea. Underwear preferably let your child choose it or get some with their favourite TV character on so that they are excited to wear them.
A reward chart this is really useful when your child is a little stubborn. Toilet step helps your toddler get on and off the toilet by themselves. I recommend putting your child in a nappy for long journeys of more than an hour.
If you would like tips for potty training, including the easy method that worked for me, check out these posts:.
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