The Health | MARCH, 2019
20
junior
Free them from
diapers ASAP!
Journal of Pediatric Urology
2002 has stated that delayed
potty training among children
can increase the risk of
incontinence later in their
life, besides delay in overall
development
T
raining our child to not wear diapers and
to urinate and poop on their own are usu-
ally not prioritized by parents compared to
teaching them to read and write.
Some even feel like they will know how
to do it on their own when the time comes.
When in reality, potty training your child is an absolute
must, and should be done as soon as they show certain
signs to prevent developmental issues.
According to Child Development Therapist Maryam
Jamadi of BEYOND Home Therapy, many parents are
unaware of the importance in potty training their child
between two to four years old.
Emotional development
“I sometimes worry about some of the parents I know
who prioritise reading and counting more than self-
management in their children. Children should also
learn how to eat, drink, take their clothes off, and
poop on their own. There has been cases where
children at the age of six who are still in diapers
because he/she has not been trained, even
though they have learned to read and write,”
Maryam laments.
Naturally, there will be a phase in our
child’s development where they will start to
snatch their own clothes, go on a tantrum
because they want to use the spoon to eat,
as well as wanting to put on their own shoes.
“These are signs showing that our chil-
dren has the desire to self-manage. And it is
at this time that we should encourage them
to do so rather than say no. It is an impor-
tant phase during their development,” she
adds.
There are several signs parents can look
out for, to see when he/she is ready to be
potty trained:
Child Development Therapist Maryam Jamadi says
that potty training is just as important as reading
and writing.
1. Can sit upright, stand, and step down or up the
steps on their own
2. Have good coordination to open the door
3. Interest to go to the bathroom and toilet as well as
the activities (use the tap, pipe, flush the toilet)
4. Likes to follow people into the bathroom and toilet
5. Have the ability to hold their pee or poop for around
2 hours
6. Start to tell the parents (through body language or
words) that they want to pee and poop
7. Disinterest in diapers, and tries to take diapers off
after peeing or pooping
8. Understand and able to follow instructions
9. Regular pee and poop time (waking up in the morn-
ing, or after meal)
*** The above signs also applicable to children with special
needs, age may vary. — The Health
Children should also learn how to eat,
drink, take their clothes off, and poop on
their own. There has been cases where
children at the age of six who are still in
diapers because he/she has not been
trained, even though they have learned
to read and write.” – Maryam
How to potty train your child
1. Phase 1 (Still in diapers)
a. Bring your child into the toilet 10 minutes before the attended time, usually
after waking up in the morning, after meals, and before bed. Better way is
to bring him/her every 2 hours.
b. Assume correct position when sitting on/standing in front of the toilet.
Teach them to ‘let go’.
c. Praise them when they are able to do it on their own.
d. Whenever they pee or poop in their diapers, show them the diaper and
teach them not to do it in them.
e. Parents should be focused and take their time in training them for one to
two weeks.
2. Phase 2 (Going for diapers only during sleep)
a. Parents can start introducing underwear to replace diapers.
b. Put on diapers during naps and night time sleep only.
c. Take him/her to the toilet every morning and every night before bed as a
routine.
3.
Phase 3 (Going for 100 percent off diapers)
a. Start to decrease diaper use during night time.
b. EXTRA TIP: Use waterproof bed sheets to help make cleaning bed wets
easier.