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A Family's Guide to Toilet Training
Maintaining Consistency with Caregivers
By Keath Castelloe Low
Some children begin potty training by using a kid-size toilet. Others use an insert that sits right on top of the regular toilet seat. Caregivers need to be familiar with what your child uses. It is important for parents to communicate this type of information so caregivers can be consistent.
Caregivers will also need to know what your child wears during naptimes and bedtimes (if they will be providing supervision during these times). Many children continue to wear diapers or Pull-Ups at sleep times when they are beginning to toilet training.
What do you do if you are the family member or friend who is providing the supervision? What kinds of questions should you ask about the potty training process? What are the essentials you need to know?
Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician and author of several parenting books, including Toddler 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Toddler (Windsor Peak Press, 2006), recommends caregivers find out what the house rules are. Is the child in charge of remembering to go, or does the parent remind them?
Once your charge finishes going to the potty, it is important to make sure the child wipes – or you can help out. "It is always poor form to leave a child with diaper rash/hiney rash after your watch!" Dr. Brown says.
Make sure the child is sitting after meals. "Having a special relative or change in routine with a sitter can set off a child's schedule," Dr. Brown says. "Encourage the child to sit on the potty after a meal so they don't get wrapped up in an activity and forget to go."
Sonna recommends parents educate famly members and sitters about safety issues, too. "Alert caregivers that your youngster must not be allowed access to an unlocked toilet unsupervised, as there is a risk of drowning," she says. Parents need to reinforce that the toddler should not be left alone unattended in the bathroom even briefly when the phone rings or when someone knocks at the door.
