Talk:Toilet training

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 1 July 2019 and 23 August 2019. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Aoka222.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 11:27, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Copyright violation?
Much of the material currently on this page is identical to phrases at http://familydoctor.org/179.xml and http://www.parentingme.com/toiltrng.htm; both of these pages indicate licenses that would preclude use in wikipedia. What is the source of this article? I think all of the shared material was added 31 January 2006, by an anonymous user at what is now a dynamicly-allocated IP address.

Cleanup Tag on this page
I am wondering from looking at the contents of the article and its general layout, how on earth it could require cleanup. It may be a little short, but it contains most of the information required to make it a viable entry into the encyclopedia. If anyone has ideas on what could be done to improve this article, could you please post them here and let us see exactly what does need doing to bring it up to Style Guidelines. Thanks - Thor Malmjursson 14:41, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

Editing!!!!!
This article needs to sound more formal and professional. It's annoying me.
 * Can you give an example of what you dislike, or point to a source you prefer? I noticed myself that it is (Aug 2006) written in the form of suggested ways of toilet-training one's child, devoid of any references.  I think the most important thing is to add references: there's no obvious stylistic changes one can make before we have more factual content.  I don't mean to say that the article has no factual content, just that there's currently few places where reasons or substantiation is given, so it isn't clear how authoritative/factual it actually is, making it hard to decide what to do when other sources give conflicting advice (as is readily available for most aspects of bringing up children!).  Some parts of the article already give reasons: e.g. search for "since", "because", "to prevent", "This provides". Pjrm 02:57, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Hey Pjrm

Well I know even now  it  need  Major  Editing. I can see it  has  not  improved. 184.163.238.18 (talk) 22:06, 3 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, you can start by not having 2nd-person language in the article. It's one thing to talk in general about differing methods; it seems unencyclopedic to tell people how they should train their child. This is an article about the act of toilet training. Wikipedia is not an advice column, and so it should avoid giving any sort of advice. It should give I formation and allow the reader to draw their own conclusion on what they should or should not do. For example, the article on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) should have information on studies showing the health effects of HFCS. It should *not* say "you should avoid consuming HFCS." Same thing here.. Article should not say "you should" do this or that to toilet train your child. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.183.113.3 (talk) 19:06, 10 December 2012 (UTC)

Earliest age to start
My wife reports that her younger brother was poo-toilet-trained (in some sense) by the age of one month: each evening, at an appropriate time after eating, his mother would lift his legs, and he'd know to do a poo. Is this common? Is it recommendable? Pjrm

A:) No, it's not common. B:) No, it's not recommended, and C:) Many babies have a regular bowel. You feed them, time them until you get the hang of when they will poo, and catch it. It is not potty training in any sense of the word! Thor Malmjursson 00:20, 3 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I don't mean to be a nay-sayer, but I disagree with some of the statements by Thor Malmjursson. I would venture to guess that neither he nor I are 'experts' in this matter, but I have been doing some reading on the subject recently in preparation for the arrival of my forthcoming offspring.  Based on the reading I've done concerning Elimination communication, the experience of your wife's family is most certainly common.  By common I mean that over fifty percent of the world's children do not routinely sit in their own feces for extended periods of time.  While this practice may not be recommended by Proctor and Gamble or any other disposable diaper manufacturer, I can't find a single lucid argument against this practice.  Personally I find the fact that in  my country we use around 18 billion disposable diapers completely deplorable and unacceptable.  See the talk page on the EC article for some comments from those who have practiced this technique.  Man It&#39;s So Loud In Here (talk) 19:16, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

No it's not common, but it is possible. It is far more likely for a baby to start having control over bowel movements after 2 months of age. As long as the method used does not force a bowel movement (by use of suppositories or enemas) or use punishment, then there's no harm in attempting toilet training from birth. It is training, because not only does the parent learn the baby's natural elimination times, but the baby can, even at 2 months, start controlling his bowel movements if the potty is offered predictably, either by a schedule or by reading the baby's cues. See the articles elimination communication and infant potty training for more information. In my case, I started offering the potty to my daughter at 3 months and she was bowel trained by 7 months. (Definitely trained, as she held her bowel for the potty.) Historically this is not unusual, and even today in developing countries it is still common. Earthnut (talk) 02:49, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Cleanup Tag -- Wikipedia is not an instruction manual
Wikipedia is not an instruction manual, but in fact that is almost entirely the way this page is written. To quote from What Wikipedia is not:


 * 4. Instruction manuals - while Wikipedia has descriptions of people, places, and things, Wikipedia articles should not include instruction - advice ( legal, medical, or otherwise), suggestions, or contain "how-to"s. This includes tutorials, walk-throughs, instruction manuals, video game guides, and recipes. Note that this does not apply to the Wikipedia: namespace, where "how-to"s relevant to editing Wikipedia itself are appropriate, such as How to draw a diagram with Dia. If you're interested in a how-to style manual, you may want to look at Wikihow or our sister project Wikibooks.

I have added a cleanup tag to request work on this problem. Nova SS 03:51, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

Wikification
I'm going to take a stab at wikifying this article, but don't have the time or inclination to do it tonight. I'm just parking this reference: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/103/6/S1/1353 so I can remember where I found it when I get back to this project. Any and all assistance greatly appreciated. Patience. Cmichael 04:50, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Dead Links
The links to articles from Mainichi News are dead and I can't seem to find anything on their current site, or on google. I'm removing them, as well as the sections that referenced them.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/archive/news/2005/04/20050402p2g00m0dm999000c.html http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/archive/news/2002/07/20020726p2g00m0dm999000c.html Ziiv (talk) 13:26, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

Diaper vs. No Diaper
I heard that parents who don't require their kids to wear diapers learn to be toilet trained at a younger age than parents who require their kids to wear diapers? Is this true and shoud this be put in the article? Gibsonj338 (talk) 06:57, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

No, time is of the essence. Many 18 month old babies are ready to start toilet training. Other babies are not ready to close to three years old. Wait for signals. One very importnant and prominent signal is when they start pointing or signing to their bottom. This is showing "readiness" to caregivers. - Markat13 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Markat13 (talk • contribs) 23:02, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Check out "Elimination Communication" for more details. I wouldn't dare to not use diapers at all, but I did regularly give my baby chances to use the potty, and yes, she toilet trained on the early side. Even parents going "diaper free!" are usually using some diapers as backup, at least when they are first starting. Additionally, parents who use cloth diapers on their kids tend to have kids who toilet train earlier than those using disposables. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Carlyle123 (talk • contribs) 20:22, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Yes, certainly if you don't use diapers your baby will be trained earlier than if you do, because you will be forced to offer something else for them to eliminate into (namely a potty). However, you don't need to go diaper free to train early if you pay attention to their natural elimination cues and schedule. I did not go diaper free at all yet my daughter was bowel trained at 7 months. However, using cloth diapers before starting potty training does not make for earlier potty training. When diapers are their only choice, it doesn't matter what kind of diaper it is. After starting potty training, switching to cloth (or directly to underwear) can speed the process because they can more easily feel the wetness. As for "readiness" signs, the modern toddler readiness signs are not the only ones. Infants can show potty readiness signs too: having predictable eliminations of the bowel or urine, eliminating right after being changed, and waking dry from naps all indicate early control of the sphincter muscles; complaining immediately about a dirty diaper or not wanting to lie on the changing table indicate psychological readiness. Though I started offering the potty to my daughter at 3 months, I did not see any progress in her training until she showed distinct discomfort about having solid poops in her diaper at 6 months. After that, she was quickly bowel trained. Earthnut (talk) 03:14, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Question (moved from article page)
How do you start toilet training? Thor Malmjursson (talk) 13:21, 12 September 2008 (UTC) on behalf of 58.107.142.197.

Question (moved from article page)
How do you start toilet training? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.107.142.197 (talk • contribs) (moved here from article by Thor Malmjursson (talk) 13:22, 12 September 2008 (UTC))

I would like to add some suggestions to this page. Often, the best parenting advice comes from parents who are actually in the midst of parenting, in this case potty training. The most helpful and practical advice comes from parents. I really suggest that this topic add a section for parents to add their experiences. Although many of us do not have a Ph. D. this is still equally valuable. I would like to see parents helping parents - not just doctors and psychologists handing out all of the advice. From markat13 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Markat13 (talk • contribs) 20:44, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

I think the  best  place  to  ask  that  question  is  either  Wikipedia:Reference  Desk,  or WikiAnswers. This place is  for improving. Read a  Welcome:WikiPedia  to find  out.

184.163.238.18 (talk) 22:09, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

This article needs major help
This article is poorly written and has very little content. I think there is a way to flag for this, though I don't know how to do it. It seems too long to be a stub, but much too short for a complete article. I added a section on the history of potty training in the US. What other sections should be included? I'm in the midst of training my 12 month old so am reading a lot about it (though not a lot about late training, as she is mostly trained already). Earthnut (talk) 03:25, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Of course it  needs help Earthnut. You can feel  free  to  do  an  appropriate  edit. You may want to  try  an  edit  Request  on  Requests:Editing. Thank You and I  agree.

184.163.238.18 (talk) 22:01, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Psychology category inappropriate
This article should not be in the psychology category. Toilet training is a physiological, developmental, and pediatric issue, but it does not have any special psychological significance, regardless of age. Severe potty training may have psychological ramifications, but so may any severe method of child care. Freud's theories on potty training are outdated and discredited. http://www.parentingscience.com/science-of-toilet-training.html Earthnut (talk) 05:23, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

How is Phsycology Category  Innapropriate  ] ? We are talking  about  Toilet  Training  here,  it is  supposed  to  be, Partially.

184.163.238.18 (talk) 22:04, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Vague Sentence
"Most children can control their bowel before their bladder, boys typically start and finish later than girls, and it usually takes longer to learn to stay dry throughout the night."

I've tagged this sentence as vague because it's unclear whether it is stating that it takes longer for boys to stay dry through the night or that it takes longer for children in general. Biggs Pliff (talk) 21:32, 4 August 2013 (UTC)

Pet Training
Any interest in adding something about litter box/paper training pets? 76.103.93.154 (talk) 06:25, 22 February 2016 (UTC)

Modern practice
Most people advise that toilet training is a mutual task, requiring cooperation, agreement and understanding between the child and the caregiver, and the best potty training techniques emphasize consistency and positive reinforcement over punishment – making it enjoyable for the child. The vast majority of studies concentrate on children 18 months old and older. In this age range, research suggests that children over 24 months train faster and girls train slightly faster than boys.

Accidents
Toilet training "accidents" are when a child urinates or defecates in an inappropriate place, such as in their underwear or training pants. Accidents are a normal part of toilet training.

History in the United States
Until the mid-1900s, the vast majority of babies finished toilet training by 2 years, and achieved nighttime dryness by 3 years. Since then, the age for toilet training has increased dramatically. The convenience of disposable diapers, pull-up diapers (such as Huggies Pull-Ups introduced in 1989) and more efficient laundry facilities may contribute to this trend.

In 1957, the average age of starting toilet training was still under the age of one year, 11 months, and 90% of children were dry during the day by 2 years.

In 2002, the average age that parents recognized their child "showing an interest in using the potty" was 24–25 months, and daytime dryness was achieved on average at almost 3 years of age. Now nighttime accidents are considered normal until 5 or 6 years of age.