As children get older, they can learn to wipe themselves and wash their hands after going to the bathroom. This way they can get used to it. Try again later.
Girls should be taught to wipe from front to back so that germs from bowel movement are not wiped into the urinary area. The following tips may help you get started with toilet training:
If your child has siblings, ask them to let the younger child see you praising them for using the toilet. It’s better to use a potty chair on the floor rather than putting the child on the toilet for training. If
you decide to use a seat that goes over the toilet, use a footrest for your child's feet. Children should be allowed to play with the potty: Sit on it with clothes on and later with diapers off. Never strap your child to the potty chair. Children should be free to get off the potty when they want. Your child should not sit on the potty for more than five minutes. Sometimes, children have a bowel movement just after the diaper is back on because the diaper feels normal. Don’t get upset or punish your child. You can try taking the dirty diaper off and putting the bowel movement in the potty with your child watching you. This may help your child understand that you want the bowel movement in the potty. Children often learn to go to the potty for bowel movements before urine, so you may want to start with bowel training first. If your child has a usual time for bowel movements (such as after a meal) you can take your child to the potty at that time of day. If your child acts a certain way when having a bowel movement (such as stooping, getting quiet, or going to the corner), you may try taking your child to potty when he shows it is time. If your child wants to sit on the potty, you may stay next to your child and talk and read a book. It is good to use words for what your child is doing ("potty," "p*e" or "p**p"). Then your child learns the words to tell you. Remember that other people will hear these words. It is best not to use words that will offend, confuse, or embarrass others or your child. Avoid using words like "dirty," "naughty" or "stinky" to describe bowel movements and urine. Use a simple, matter-of-fact tone. If your child gets off the potty before urinating or passing a bowel movement, be calm; do not scold. If your child successfully uses the potty, give plenty of praise (smile, clap, hug). Children learn from copying adults and other children. It may help if your child sits on the potty while you are using the toilet. Children often follow parents into the bathroom. This may be one time they are willing to use the potty. Initially, teach boys to sit down for passing urine, as, at first, it is difficult to control starting and stopping while standing. Boys will try to stand to urinate when they see other boys standing. Some children learn by pretending to teach a doll to go potty. Make this teaching fun for your child. Make going to the potty a part of your child's daily routine, such as first thing in the morning, after meals and naps, and before going to bed.
