Professional Potty Training with the Potty Whisperer

Potty Training a Special Needs Child

by Adriana Vermillion, The Potty Whisperer™

Potty training a child is difficult under any circumstances, however before you can begin potty training,

we suggest you take their abilities and delays into consideration if your child has special needs.

This may seem like a daunting task and if you worry about your child, believe he or she will take a long time to toilet you will be train if you take your time and prepare your child you can achieve potty training success!

The first step in potty training is to familiarize yourself with the basics behind the task.

When you've got those basic concepts down (and I'm sure you're already aware of which tactics will work for your special child and which won't), you'll be ready to decide if your child is ready to begin potty training.

When Is My Child Ready to Begin Potty Training?

There are a few signs that will let you know that your child is physically ready for potty training, however with the right preparation and training your child can start training at any time. For example, you may notice that your child's diaper stays dry for about two hours at a time during the day, their bowel movements come at regular times, and (usually) they stay dry through the night.

For normally developing children this will usually happen between the ages of two and slightly after their third birthday.

But it's important to remember that children with special needs move at their own pace and forcing potty training on a child who just isn't developmentally ready will not only be a waste of time, it will also be a horrible experience for both you and your child.

How will you know when your child is developmentally ready for potty training? Here are some signs to look for...

Your child can follow two-step instructions
Your child can communicate a need to go
Your child can imitate others
Your child is willing to cooperate
Your child shows a need to be independent
Your child can get to and from the toilet independently
Your child is aware of wet or soiled diapers
Your child is able to pull pants down and maybe even up
Your child is able to sit on the potty for 5 minutes without help

Of course, not all kids will be able to do all of these things, but you should have a good feel that your child is on the right track developmentally to handle potty training. If you feel your child is both physically and developmentally ready to begin potty training, then it's time to get started!

Adriana Vermillion is the Founder and CEO of P.O.T.T."Y" Generation®, The Potty Whisperer™, a Lead Trainer and Parenting Coach with over sixteen years of experience in potty training special needs children and coaching parents. Adriana is a freelance writer, author and a frequent motivational speaker available for your event at www.adrianavermillion.com

What is Encopresis?

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Potty Training Process

by Adriana Vermillion

What is the right time frame for potty training?

In a nutshell: we believe when you are ready! I know some parenting experts may disagree with me, however I believe potty training can be done like anything else, that’s why is called training. Unlike other developmental milestones, kids are programmed with one-of-a-kind schedules — some say it's crucial to let your child set the pace for when to start potty training, and I attend to some degree, however I also believe it is crucial to train your child as early as possible for several reasons:

· School

· Camps

· Play dates

· Development

· Savings

If your child is past eighteen months you can probably look for some of the following potty-training

readiness signs:

1. Changing fewer wet diapers

Until about eighteen months, kids pee so frequently that expecting them to control their bladders is probably unrealistic. But a toddler who stays dry for an hour or two at a stretch — and occasionally awakes without wetness — is physically ready for potty training, however knowing that practice makes perfect I suggest use the frequent potty breaks to teach your child instead of changing diapers.

2. Your child's bowel movements are predictable

Whether your child has a BM in the morning, after meals, or right before bed, “a regular rhythm will help you anticipate when to pull out the potty — and thus boost his likelihood of success” some experts say, however what I say is use diet, rest and patience to get your child to have regular BM as well as get the timing just right, after all do you have a BM at the same time every day?

3. Your child broadcasts bodily functions

Some children happily announce when a bowel movement is about to or through less-verbal means — say, by retreating to a corner or producing a preemptive grunt. No matter what the signal, if your child shows he's aware of his body's functions, he's ready for potty training, and I have some good news… your child did that the first time he/she had to pass a BM or urine.

4. Your child despises dirty diapers

Every time your child has a meal, the child needs to use the bathroom and every time your child (as a baby mostly) cries because he/she is wet they communicate with you and you have an opportunity to train, however over time the child becomes desensitized and the diapers more absorbent. By the time your child reaches toddler stage or preschool stage he/she learn how to open the diaper and maybe even tell you they are dirty. As you can see the child communicates at every stage, however the parent needs to learn how to take initiative and start the training.

5. He or She is able to perform simple undressing

If you would like for your child to be independent at potty training when nature calls, the potty won't be of much use unless your child can quickly yank down his trousers or underwear, and girls should be able to pull up their skirts in a flash, however if your child is younger and motor skills are still in development be of help, you will be glad you did.

6. Your child understands bathroom lingo

Whether you prefer kid-friendly jargon like "poop" and "pee" or formal terminology like "defecate" and "urinate," your child's ready for potty training if he understands and is able to use the family's words for bathroom functions and any associated body parts.

7. Your child demands a live demonstration

If your child has toileting on the brain, he'll want to see how the experts do it. So don't be surprised if your little one follows you into the bathroom to have a look.

Do you have any other tips or suggestions? Comment bellow and let us know. If you are potty training or thinking to start soon don’t forget to request our Top 10 Potty Training Tips on your right.

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Constipation and Encopresis in Children

by P.O.T.T."Y" Generation® Staff Writers

What is constipation, and does it cause Encopresis?

Many people think of constipation as not passing a bowel movement every day. However, each person has his or her own schedule for bowel movements, and many healthy people do not have a bowel movement every day.

A constipated child might pass a bowel movement every third day or less often. Constipation implies not only infrequent bowel movements, but also having difficulty or experiencing pain when doing so.

In most children with encopresis, the problem begins with painfully passing very large stools.

This may have happened long before the encopresis starts, and the child may not remember this when asked.

Over time, the child becomes reluctant to pass bowel movements and holds it in to avoid the pain. This “holding in” becomes a habit that often remains long after the constipation or pain with passing bowel movements has resolved.

As more and more stool collects in the child’s lower intestine (colon), the colon slowly stretches (sometimes called megacolon).

As the colon stretches more and more, the child loses the natural urge to pass a bowel movement.

Eventually, looser, partly formed stool from higher up in the intestine leaks around the large collection of harder, more formed stool at the bottom of the colon (rectum) and then leaks out of the anus (the opening from the rectum to the outside of the body).

Often in the beginning, only small amounts of stool leak out, producing streaks in the child’s underwear. Typically, parents assume the child isn’t wiping very well after passing a bowel movement and aren't concerned.

As time goes on, the child is less and less able to hold the stool in-more and more stool leaks, and eventually the child passes entire bowel movements into his or her underwear.

Often the child is not aware that he or she has passed a bowel movement.

Because the stool is not passing normally through the colon, it often becomes very dark and sticky and may have a very foul smell.

P.O.T.T."Y" Generations treats children with Encopresis and Soiling problems. For more information please contact us.

SOURCE:

American Academy of Pediatrics