When And How You Should Consider Potty Training

by Michael Selvon

Mention the words potty training and most parents of toddlers become apprehensive. It takes both energy and patience, and requires countless bathroom visits, not to mention extra laundry and spot cleaning to successfully toilet train a toddler. Timing is key and should coincide with your child's developmental stage. Let's take a look at a few tips on knowing when to begin the process on how to potty train your child and to say bye bye to stinky diapers.

The typical age to potty train begins at around the age 2 or 3. Knowing whether your child is ready to begin potty learning comes down to guesswork, but as a rule, if he or she knows the words for stool, urine and toilet, has the ability to dress, shows an interest in the potty and is aware of when the need to urinate or have a bowel movement is happening, then he or she is probably ready. If you find this not to be the case, then you can simply wait and try potty training again in a few months.

The hugs-and-kisses approach goes like this; each time your child uses the potty correctly, give praise by clapping and giving kisses and hugs. Also point out her or his accomplishments to friends and relatives, so they can fuss over the child too. It is to every parent's advantage to start with this approach and save the rewards for any hurdles you and your toddler may encounter along the way.

The cold-turkey, toddlers potty training approach begins when you let your boy pick out several pairs of fun, big-kid underpants, or let your daughter buy some pretty new undies. Let them put on the underwear and let the spills fall where they may. When they do have accidents, they will feel the discomfort much more quickly. If you're very patient, underpants are believed by many to be a better way to go than disposable trainers.

The no-mess disposable-training-pants approach starts when you switch him or her from regular diapers to disposable training pants. Of course, while they will get the hang of pulling them up and down, you will give the usual amount of encouragement.

Make sure to take your child to the bathroom at regular intervals and ask frequently if he or she has to go. Give lots of praise when they get to the potty in time.

The "he'll-get-it-when-he's-ready" toddler toilet training approach starts at around age 2. You will want to watch for signals that your child is ready, but don't apply any pressure. Put a potty seat on top of your toilet or buy your child their own potty chair and place it in the bathroom, yet don't insist that he use it.

If he does use it, then give hugs and praise, and in time he may approach it more frequently. This approach is less stressful, but it may mean that your child will be in diapers a bit longer. You will definitely need to be patient and wait.

Even after your child is a potty training pro, expect that there will be a few accidents. Until he or she hasn't had an accident for six months, they are not officially potty trained. It may take a few false starts, but eventually, one approach or another will click with your child, and you'll both say goodbye to diapers forever.

Discover more information about potty training from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our potty training advice blog.

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Productive and Positive Potty Training

by Elmo Kandel

Your child's showing all the signs of being ready to potty train. That's great! But now, where do you start?

Explain to your toddler that going potty is a normal process of life and everyone does it, even animals. Talk with them about the toilet, a special place where they can potty just like the big kids. Tell him how the potty works and let him try flushing himself. Explain that they will be wearing underwear and not diapers. Find some educational and entertaining videos of their favorite characters learning to go potty. Be sure to involve other family members in the process and emphasize the importance of consistency during this process.

Make a special trip to the store and purchase new underwear with your toddler. Let them have a voice in what you get. The underwear will have much more significance if your toddler helped choose them.

Overalls, pants with lots of buttons, snaps or zips, tight or restrictive clothing and oversized shirts will all be an obstacle to your child during this process. Put these kinds of clothes away for the time being.

Decide whether or not you're going to use pull-ups, training pants or regular underwear and try to stick with this decision so your child has consistency and isn't confused. Think about whether or not you want to use rewards or not. Figure out a strategy on how to handle potty issues when you're away from home.

If your child is in child care, ask your provider for their advice and make sure there aren't any hard and fast rules the center or caregiver has in place that may be an issue. Let them know that you're going to start and enlist their help with the process.

Praise your child for each successful trip to the potty, and comfort them when accidents happen and try to remain patient and calm when they do. Avoid using candy or other treats as reinforcement. Let them know that it will take a while to get the hang of using the potty, and encourage and praise each attempt they make. With consistency, encouragement and praise, they'll soon be completely trained.

Elmo Kandel is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

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Baby Bathing Checklist

by Robert Perman

A lot of new parents are having difficulties during the first bath time with their newborn and feel a bit confused about the do's and don'ts of baby bathing. Indeed, first couple of times can be somewhat tricky, and require additional attention and care from the parent. It's those first times when it's really important to be prepared in order to avoid some common mistakes. Once you you'll get used to it, you and your baby will be able to enjoy bath time as pure fun!

Here are 10 basic tips of safe baby bathing:

1. Never leave your baby alone in the bath. This is of crucial importance, make sure you are not in a rush and will not be interrupted. Even if it's your doorbell ringing or someone calling on the phone – do not leave the room and just ignore it. In case of necessity wrap your baby up in a thick towel and take with you, but never leave alone.

2. The water temperature must be about 96-100F. Most infants prefer cooler water than adults, so it's best to use a thermometer to be sure about is it suitable for your baby or not. If you use water heater, check its temperature settings twice, it should be 120F at the very most. Also, if you mix hot and cool water, make sure it is mixed thoroughly.

3. Fill the baby bath with no more than 4 inches of water (about 10 centimeters). While this does not seem much, it's more then enough to make your baby clean. Remember, too much water can be of a serious danger for a newborn, so it's better not to risk it.

4. Remember that bathtubs are often extremely slippery, so you will have to prevent slipping and falling. This is done by placing a bath mat on the bottom of the tub. This will free your hands so that you don't have to hold your baby all the time.

5. Prepare everything you will need beforehand, that is:
a. two dry and warm towels
b. soft sponge
c. baby soap, ph neutral
d. clean clothes

6. Do not overlook the metallic bath spouts; it's best to cover them with spout covers that can be bought in most baby shops.

7. Do not over-do it with soap and shampoo. It is absolutely necessary to use only baby soap or shampoo, and even then it is important not to use more then needed. Also, never use soap to wash newborn's face, in any case warm water should be enough.

8. Make sure your baby can't reach faucet handles. Sometimes they are not so hard to move as it seems, and that can lead to unforeseen consequences.

9. It's always a good idea to bath your baby with your partner, or maybe a relative or a friend. This can speed things up and add some safety.

10. Remember, there is no need to bath your baby too often. Newborns only need to take a bath every three days or so.

Bathing can be a special and enjoyable time for both baby and parents, and by using these tips you can avoid almost any incident and make it safe for your baby.

This article was written by Robert Perman, the owner of http://www.babysafetyinfo.com, a website for parents where you can get essential and detailed information on baby safety.

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Baby Bathing Checklist

Tips On How To Potty Train Your Son

by Michael Selvon

While it is not easy to potty train a child, potty training boys can be doubly hard. Statistically, boys do take longer to train, but that fact shouldn't discourage you from beginning the process. Keep in mind that when you gain your child's trust and confidence, the potty training skills will follow.

Advice and tips from other parents on the process can be very helpful and comforting. Just know that your boy will be potty trained when he is ready and not before. Here are a few tips on how to potty train your son.

Although no one seems to understand why, it does take longer to potty train boys than it does for girls. The difference may be partially due to the fact that moms are usually the person responsible for potty training.

Without a male role model to imitate in the bathroom, boys may take a little longer to get the idea. Boys have more steps in the learning process as well. They first learn to potty sitting down and then learn how to potty train standing up.

Make sure your little boy become comfortable with using a potty chair before you transition to the main toilet. Having their own potty seems to encourage quicker potty learning. Give him enough time to pace his learning and often times when he is finally allowed to use the main toilet, he will become interested in potty training again, as he will feel like he is a big kid.

Getting him accustomed to the main toilet means sitting down to urinate. Once he shows that he can control himself consistently, it is the right time to demonstrate how to urinate while standing up. This part of the toddlers potty training process is more easily demonstrated by his father or another male family person.

Once he has mastered urinating sitting down, he can move up to the standing position. Try to arrange for Dad or an older brother to help with this step. Allow him to watch the process and then let your son try it out for himself in his potty chair.

Boys love a challenge, so if he seems disinterested, try floating a few Cheerios or other small targets that can be flushed in the toilet bowl. Until he refines his aim, expect to clean up a few training potty messes!

You should always encourage your son during the potty training process, even if it means he doesn't get it right the first time or on subsequent attempts. It is just part of the training process to try and fail until the concept is mastered.

With commitment and patience, you can teach your little boy the correct way of using the toilet, though there may be many difficulties to contend with along the way. Hopefully, these potty training tips have helped you figure out how to potty train your son.

Discover more information about how to potty train your boy from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our potty training advice blog.

Article Source: Tips On How To Potty Train Your Son

Rubber Ducks And Other Bath Toys

by Victor Epand

Children are not generally the cleanest of people, what with all the falling over in the mud, rolling about in the garden, shinning up trees, and crawling about the floor into dusty corners. It is therefore a necessary fact that they need regular baths. Unfortunately, they don't always agree, and so trying to make bath time fun whilst you scrape the dirt off your child to discover them lurking underneath is important.

Fortunately today there is a wide range of bath toys, and we are not stuck with having to stare at one bewildered looking plastic duck bobbing away through the foam. Rubber ducks are still very much a popular item, generally coming in family packs of four of five it seems now though, but there are many other toys besides, some of which are designed purely to make bath time fun, others to be a little educational. After all, water can be educational in itself when you think about the amount of science that uses it.

For example, there are some toys which use rubber suckers to stick to the bathroom wall - usually as this is tiles they stick very well. These toys then allow a bucket or can of water to be poured in to the top, which then causes a variety of effects as it trickles down and runs back into the bath. In some cases it makes a water wheel turn round, which is both fun and helps them to understand the idea of a waterwheel. Others have animals on whose eyes, hands or head rocks backwards and forwards as the water runs through. Almost always the mechanics of this movement are visible, so that whilst to begin with the child may simply be satisfied with seeing the effect, after a while they may show a natural curiosity to try to understand how falling water can achieve a sideways rocking effect.

Another popular toy along a similar principle relies on suction, rather than gravity. Again, it sticks to the bathroom wall, and looks just like a shower head. A rubber hose drops down into the bath water at the bottom, and in the middle there is a big button. By pressing the button, water is sucked up the hose, and eventually comes out of the shower head - a bit like siphoning the water through a shower system.

There are also many toys which help to teach other principles - such as volume. A series of cans or other containers which vary in size can be used to explore how many of one cup it takes to fill a big cup, and so on. Still another is a small submarine or diver with a long hose attached with a bulb at one end. The diver sinks to the bottom, but when you squeeze the bulb, he rises to the surface. This principle works on exactly the same principle as submarines use to surface or dive, and simply uses air pressure. This can appear to be a magical effect for children, and it will be many years before they really start to understand the principle of it.

So as well as being fun, there's no reason at all why children can't be learning even at bath time. But of course, don't tell them that!

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, dolls, and video games. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, dolls, and used video games at these sites for kids toys, bath toys, educational toys, dolls, and used video games.

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Let’s Make Your Toddler Have Fun Bath Time

by Francisca C

During infant, a bath time is very relaxed and soothed for both parents and babies. He has not made a strong movement. Only his eyes look around and there is almost no blink at all. As the time goes by, he grows stronger to make some simple movement like splashing and playing around in his bath. When your toddler becomes bigger and older, he may get bored of only playing the water. Toys can help you to make your toddler enjoy his bath time though some toddlers are scared of getting their face wet and / or having their hair washed. The most important thing is that pleasant bath time can make your toddler enjoys bathing. Though not all parents are lucky to have their toddlers that don’t mind bathing, do not worry since you may have a try on some bath time games below:

1. Provide your toddler with a basket filled with bath toys, e.g. rubber ducks, plastic animals, plastic toys of his favourite characters like Mickey Mouse, Spongebob, etc.

2. Bring one or two small bath toys that already frozen in a plastic cup of water and see the melting ice. If you mind to freeze the toys, you can just take some cube ice and do the same thing.

3. Put in some drops of food coloring to the water to have a colorful and fun bath. Later on he can choose and negotiate the colour he likes each bath time.

4. Get a shower pump for the bath. As your toddler pushes the pump, bath water is sucked up and pumped out of the shower head.

5. Soft sponge can be used to teach your toddler part of his body as you wash that part of his body. Besides, by using sponge, you can show it floating. That must give your toddler some more fun. As an alternative, you can use a small washer to name each part as you do.

6. Almost all infants and toddlers are afraid of having water splashed on their faces. You may try to take your toddler in the shower with you occasionally to make him get used to with water. It will make washing his hair and swimming easier later in his life. However, if your toddler is still afraid of doing it, you may let him wear goggles to avoid shampoo getting in his eyes.

7. Put a number of small bath toys in the water and give your child a net to catch them with.

8. Pouring water out of a plastic cup or bowl from a height can keep your toddler fun during bath time till end.

9. Blowing bubbles in the water using a straw can be one of fun activity your toddler might really enjoy. Otherwise, you can provide him with soapy water and blow it through some round hollow things to make some different bubbles.

10. In the last part of the bath give your baby to a cup and teach him to fill a bucket with water. After he finished bath and wear his cloth, ask him to go outside and water the garden with the bucket of water. It is a good example of reusing the water which might set in your toddler’s mind.

Francisca Cahyaningsih, a mom with one toddler, is a bachelor of English Education. She is a devoted parent and has published other online content. She actively writes articles for http://www.answer5wh.com, which covers various topics such as family and parenting, business and finance, education, gifts and fashion, travel, etc.

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