Poop Problems

Potty training can be hard for some kids. From my conversations with parents, I can tell that they are doing a great job at helping their kids get ready and excited for potty training. However, sometimes there are setbacks or problems come up that you were not expecting. Hopefully these tips will help with some of those problems your child may be having. Warning: this blog will be talking about POOP.

Is your Child Ready to Start Potty Training? Find Out How to Know if it's the Right Time!

Every new parent always has the same question of...

“When should I start potty training my child”

Although most children start potty training between 22 to 30 months, every child is going to start at a completely different time.  One of the most important things to remember is that if you push your child to start early and they aren't ready then it can lead to frustration for both you and the child.  Before children can begin to start potty training, they have to be able to have the basic motor skills mastered by themselves.  Once they are physically ready for potty training then it's time to make sure they are emotionally ready! MamaOT shares some signs that your child may be ready to start the adventure of potty training:

• Your child experiences discomfort when wet or soiled
• Your child indicates that he or she has a dirty diaper
• Your child has regular bowel movements on a fairly consistent basis
• Your child can sit on a potty for a short time when placed on it
• Your child demonstrates a pattern of being able to stay dry for about two hours or more at a time
• Your child can pull down their pants independently
• Your child demonstrates interest in watching and imitating other' bathroom-related actions
• Your child can follow basic directions

These are only a few of the list that MamaOT shares! Check out the link to see more detailed information.

Now that you have seen the signs that your child is ready, do you want to know some helpful tips? Kids Health has a great list of how to help with the potty training process, but just remember that it doesn't happen overnight.

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• Set aside some time to devote to the potty-training process
• Don't force your child to sit on the toilet again his or her will
• Show your child how to sit on the toilet
• Establish a routine
• Try to catch your child in the act of pooping
• Have your child sit on the potty within 15 to 30 minutes after meals
• If your child has pooped in their pants, remove it from the diaper and put it in the toilet to teach children where poop goes
• Don't have uneasily removable clothing on children when potty training (Overalls, lots of layers of clothing)
• Allow your child to go a certain amount of time throughout the day without wearing a diaper. If they don't have an accident then you can reward them somehow
• For the boys: have "target practice"
• Reward your child with small things (stickers, stamps, etc.)
• Make sure all caregivers (babysitters, grandparents, childcare workers) follow the same routine of bathroom time and use the same names for body parts

Once you feel ready to conquer the task of starting the potty training process, remember to be patient with your child. It will happen and every child will be different!  

Do any of you experienced potty-training parents have any suggestions or other tips that would be helpful to those parents struggling with teaching their child the tricks of potty-training?

Apps save lives!! Do you have an app for that?

Let’s be honest. Isn't that the question these days? And amazingly enough, there really IS always an “app for that”. It constantly amazes me. Incredible tools are available, not just with mobile apps, but also through social media tools, software, and other devices. Recently, I've found some extremely useful apps all along the spectrum. Here are a few that might be helpful to you as parents.

The first one was starts with this amazing story shared in multiple news publications back in 2010. The CNN article records, “Alone in the darkness beneath layers of rubble, Dan Woolley felt blood streaming from his head and leg. Then he remembered -- he had an app for that. Woolley, an aid worker, husband, and father of two boys, followed instructions on his cell phone to survive the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.” (Read article here)

Amazing!!

The app is produced by the American Heart Association and has over 30 instructional videos and illustrations to educate individuals on CPR and First Aid. Click here for more info.

A second app, is almost as incredible when it comes to survival techniques. This app helps parents survive the inevitable period of potty training. My little niece was successfully potty trained, but when her little brother was born, she had a little set back and started having accidents again. I think its going to be a long haul for my sister.  Someone had told us about a potty training app and when I showed it to my sister and my niece, she fell IN LOVE with it and whenever I’m visiting, tells me that she wants to play the Potty Training Memory Game. No really. EVERYtime i'm there. And she makes sure to tell me that she's potty trained. If you need a good laugh, just to their website and watch their video. You’ll love it. And now, you’ll be able to survive potty training too!


The third app to share is from one of my favorite books called Press Here by Henre Tullet. One of the funnest, interactive books ever! Written for preschool ages, it teaches them how to interact with a book and learn directions, movements shapes and colors. Its unreasonably fun for a 28 year old. (I shouldn't admit that…) The app takes you through similar games that the book has and is really colorful and visually stimulating. Honestly, a great baby shower gift! The book and the app together! Perfect.

So whether you need help at you're scuba diving, taking wedding pictures, recording your gas mileage – just know that resources abound. There’s got to be an app for that!

What are your favorite apps that you use? Share the golden nuggets of technology with us!

Potty Training Part 2 - After Training, what to do??

Whew!  Successful potty training finally accomplished!  Or is it?

Toilet training is most successful when your child is in charge and when you stay non-judgmental and matter-of-fact during the process, so your child can feel pride in his achievement, not yours.  Even so, it is common to have setbacks in both bladder and bowel training after control is learned.  They are as upsetting to your child as they are to you. (For additional info, check out our other blog post about potty training!)

I ask three questions when a setback occurs:
1) Has there been a change?
2) Is there an illness?
3) Has the child experienced trauma?

Illness such as a bladder infection is easily ruled out with a simple urinalysis (not invasive procedures like catheterization, ultrasounds, etc).

Trauma is often accompanied by behavioral or emotional signs besides toileting accidents.  These cases can be treated by your pediatric health care provider.

Change, however, can be enough to derail most children.  “After any family stress, such as a move, a parent’s absence, or a new baby, expect your child to fall back a few steps.  This often happens as a child faces a Touchpoint, a demanding new developmental advance or any new fear.  You need not feel defeated when your toilet-trained child suddenly wets or soils again.”  (Brazelton and Sparrow, Toilet Training the Brazelton Way, p.40)

What to do?  Realize that, as distressing as setbacks are, they are the norm (just not a norm parents want to share much).  Reassure your child that she will get herself back on track when she’s ready.  Let her choose whether she needs diapers or training pants again for a short while.  Help her change her sheets and put them in the washer, but don’t point out her failure.  When she’s ready to try staying dry again start with daytime, then add nap time and finally nighttime.  (Nighttime dryness takes the longest to achieve.)

Trust your child to be in charge of regaining control.  He will do it for himself, not you, and will never forget his feeling of achievement.  And you’ll be delighted at what he’s capable of on his own.

For other resources check out this great book by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

Contributed by our Child Development Specialist, Robin Lindsay, MSN, FNP.

Wetting the Bed: It's Okay!

We had an awesome guest blog on potty training awhile ago and a lot of the comments from parents expressed concerns about wetting the bed at night. So here's a little more information on what's going on and what to do when your child is struggling with bed wetting.

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The technical term for wetting the bed is nocturnal enuresis and it's present in about 40 percent of 3 year olds, it's most common in boys. So it's pretty common and a part of natural child development. Children are developing their nighttime bladder control and it will just take time to develop, and all children acquire this skill at different times. Your child just doesn't have a sense yet for when his bladder is full or the ability to wake up when they have to go to the bathroom. It's important to know that it really isn't your child's fault, they're still developing and it's just part of maturing to make mistakes along the way!

Another great thing to know about bed wetting is that it's often hereditary. So chances are if you wet the bed when you were younger, your child will too. This also means that they'll probably stop wetting the bed when you did!

So what do you do?

• If they wet the bed, don't get mad! It's not their fault and they probably feel uncomfortable about it, so just help them understand that it'll get better.
• Try to avoid drinking liquids before bedtime
• Double sheet the bed so you can have a quicker clean up in the middle of the night
• Go to the bathroom more often during the day so the bladder won't be as full at night
• Go to the bathroom before bedtime
• Setting an alarm to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night may be helpful

When do you see a doctor?

Even though wetting the bed is a completely normal part of development and will most often stop on it's own,  there are times when seeing a doctor may be appropriate. If the child is still wetting the bed by about age 7, started wetting the bed again after being dry for a long period of time, or if children complain of pain, snoring or unusual thirst- it may be a good idea to consult with your doctor.

Overall, know that the dry days will come! Be patient and understanding towards your child until that day! Wetting the bed doesn't mean they aren't potty trained or are acting out, it's just a normal part of developing!

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Quick Parenting Tips on Toilet Training

1. Wait until your child is ready:

- The average child potty trains at 27 months.

- Child can use words to tell you what he needs.

- Child is able to pull clothes off.

- Child imitates you.

- Child has dry spells of up to 3 hours.

2. Give your child words to use such as “Go potty?”

3. Dress your child in clothes easy for her to pull off.

4. Use toilet training dolls and books to help explain.

5. Be ready for many mistakes!

6. Use a timer to remind your child to go to the bathroom.

7. Don’t compare your child to others.

8. Avoid training when child is experiencing stress:

- New baby expected or already here.

- Divorce.

- Moving.

9. Make it fun!

- Reward with stickers or play time treat.

- Praise for success but don’t yell at mistakes.

Share your advice on toilet training, funny stories, or success stories. We want to hear them!

Source: National Exchange Fund Foundation

For other parenting tips from the National Exchange Fund Foundation, visit http://www.preventchildabuse.com/parentingtips.shtml