After taking a brief break to talk about my new grand-niece, I'm back to potty training. The time is right given that potty training in warmer weather is easier and spring (we hope) is right around the corner for many of us.
Parents frequently hear that it’s best to wait until a child is “ready” for potty training before beginning the process. But what exactly does the term “ready” mean? For the answer we turn to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Guide to Toilet Training (2003). According to the AAP, parents should watch for readiness in three specific developmental domains: physical, cognitive, and emotional. Over the next few postings, we’ll take a closer look at what’s required in each case starting with physical readiness.
According to the AAP, in order to actively participate in potty training, children must be physically able to:
• Sense when they need to eliminate
• Delay elimination long enough to get to the potty
• Sit independently on a potty chair
At what age do these skills typically appear? This is an easy question to answer based on the information about the history of potty training I described in my 1/14 posting. If you’ve had a chance to read that entry you may remember the fact that before the invention of the disposable diaper in the early 1960s, children in the United States were routinely trained by 18 months! Is there any reason to suspect that children have changed so radically over the last 50 years that they’ve completely lost these physical abilities? Obviously not! If that was the norm up until the 1960s, then clearly children today are physically ready for potty training well before age 2.
In other words, it’s simply a cop out (as my son would say) to use a lack of “physical readiness” as an excuse to delay potty training until children are 2.5- to 3-years-old.
Stay tuned for discussion of cognitive and emotional “readiness.”
Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, the Baby Signs Program
and
Professor Emeritus, UC Davis
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Welcome, Baby Lorelei!
I had decided to dedicate the first blog entries of the year to providing advice about potty training (and the role of signing to help it along) and have already started on that mission with two postings. Rest assured I will have lots more to say on that topic, but I want to take a break to describe something else that I recently enjoyed.
I just returned from spending a week on the East Coast with my niece and her brand new baby daughter who arrived on Christmas Eve. Little Lorelei would have been my sister’s first grandchild had she not died of brain cancer 18 month ago. I had promised Judy before she died that I would do my best to fill in the painful gap her death was creating in her two daughters’ lives, and traveling across country to help with this sweet baby was a joyful, if bittersweet, way to live up to my pledge.
What new insights did this experience give me? None, really. But it did remind me about a few things:
- How tiny a newborn baby’s fingers can be.
- How soundly newborn babies sleep!
- How worried new parents, especially first-time parents, are about every little thing.
- How sweet it is to hold a baby in one’s arms knowing that it is being welcomed into this world with deep reservoirs of love.
And finally, it reminded me of the importance of family—not just as a buffer against the pain and sorrow that the world so often and so unfairly delivers, but also as a source of great joy and inspiration—clear evidence of the continuity of life and love.
Welcome to the world Lorelei!
Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-founder, the Baby Signs Program
and
Professor Emeritus, UC Davis
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Year's Resolution: Potty Time!
The new year is upon us and, if you’re like me, your mind out of habit is gravitating toward “New Year’s Resolutions.” (It’s a given that two of mine will be to exercise more and eat less—and this year I mean it!)
But as I let my mind drift back, it returns to a New Years over 20 years ago—1988 to be exact--when my son, Kai, was 2 ½ and I was facing (no, dreading!) the challenge of potty training. I had been asked by my mother-in-law over Christmas why he wasn’t trained yet and I told her he “wasn’t ready” and that my pediatrician had assured me that Kai would let me know when the time was right. But darn it, he seemed perfectly content to let things continue as they were! The problem with this was that I needed to enroll him in a new child care program more convenient to the university where I taught and they wouldn’t let him in unless he was out of diapers.
So, I made a New Year’s Resolution to start in the Spring. Ready or not, here I come—with the potty! By that time he was closing in on 3 and really not interested in wasting time using the potty when he could be playing and just using his diaper as he had been doing for the past 30 months. Problem was that the child care enrollment deadline was looming and he simply had to get trained!
Fortunately, the passage of time has dimmed my memory of the struggles that ensued (and there were struggles)—with one exception. I remember vividly promising the director of the child care center that he was, indeed, trained—and then feigning surprise when they would inform me that he had had an accident again. “Oh, I’m sure it’s the stress of starting a new school,” I lied. I’m not proud of myself for lying to them, but, like many parents before and since, I was desperate!
Since that time I’ve learned a lot about potty training, enough in fact, to feel comfortable writing about a book about it and creating a whole program designed to make it easier for parent and child alike. In the next few postings I’ll talk about some of the most important lessons I’ve learned in the hope that it will help some of you out there to make good on your own New Year’s “Potty Time” Resolution.
Happy Signing!
Linda
Co-Founder, the Baby Signs Program
and
Professor Emeritus, UC Davis
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Baby Signs Potty Training Program Video Contest: Extended Deadline!
If you've used the Baby Signs Potty Training Program, you could win $200!
Baby Signs, Inc. is creating a television commercial to raise awareness about how fun and easy it can be to potty train babies before the age of two - and how doing so can help parents save money and contribute to a healthier environment.
You can be in this commerical! To audition, send a short video (1-minute or less) about your experiences with the Baby Signs Potty Training Program. You'll be talking directly to parents who haven't used the program, so here are some of the things they will want to know:
Baby Signs, Inc. is creating a television commercial to raise awareness about how fun and easy it can be to potty train babies before the age of two - and how doing so can help parents save money and contribute to a healthier environment.
You can be in this commerical! To audition, send a short video (1-minute or less) about your experiences with the Baby Signs Potty Training Program. You'll be talking directly to parents who haven't used the program, so here are some of the things they will want to know:
- Did the program make potty training easier or more fun?
- How old was your child when he/she potty trained?
- How did your friends and family react?
- How helpful were the products? (Potty Train DVD, Book, Whistle, Stickers)
- How much did you save in diapers?
These do not have to be professional-quality videos. They can be taken with your cell phone or web cam.
We will choose two videos to include in the commercial. If your video is chosen, you'll win a $200 American Express Cash Card! (Many thanks to our sponsor, Guideposts.org)
Submission Guidelines:
- Your video should not exceed 1 minute.
- Your spouse and/or child(ren) can be included in the video if you like.
- Your video must be in electronic format (mpg, avi or flv) or you can submit a link to the video on YouTube or another video sharing site.
- No purchase is necessary to submit a video, but you must have actually used the program to be eligible to receive the cash award.
By submitting your video, you grant Baby Signs, Inc. the right to use the footage.
Submission deadline: Extended to Sunday, June 6 at midnight PST. Send your video file to lindae@babysigns.com.If your video file exceeds 15mb, we encourage you to use www.yousendit.com (it's free if your file is less than 1 gig).
Good luck! We are looking forward to seeing your videos!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Early Potty Training Positively Impacts Environment
Looking for ways to help the environment?
Consider potty training before your baby is two.
Think it's not possible? Consider this:
Before disposable diapers were invented 95% of all children in the U.S. were fully potty trained by 18 months.
Think it's hard? Consider this:
Children are naturally more cooperative before the age of 2. They like to imitate parents and siblings. And they haven't yet discovered the word "no."
Here are some videos that will help you learn more:
National Geo: Impact of Diapers of Environment
Introduction to the Baby Signs Potty Training Program
The Baby Signs Potty Training Program on THE DOCTORS
Consider potty training before your baby is two.
Think it's not possible? Consider this:
Before disposable diapers were invented 95% of all children in the U.S. were fully potty trained by 18 months.
Think it's hard? Consider this:
Children are naturally more cooperative before the age of 2. They like to imitate parents and siblings. And they haven't yet discovered the word "no."
Here are some videos that will help you learn more:
National Geo: Impact of Diapers of Environment
Introduction to the Baby Signs Potty Training Program
The Baby Signs Potty Training Program on THE DOCTORS
Real Life
Comments on Facebook this week from moms who are potty training before 2:
"My 12 month old just signed potty for the first time today while watching the Potty Train dvd. He actually asks for the dvd by bringing me his whistle and then dances and watches intently for the entire thing. Thanks for the encouraging tools!"
"My 10 month old just signed potty while watching her dvd too! And she really loves the whistle. She gets to play with the whistle when she goes potty. She thinks it's really funny so it's a good positive reinforcement for going potty!"
Earth Day Coupon
One Day Only!
Save $10 on the Baby Signs Potty Training Kit
Coupon Code: 10bucks
Offer Good on Thursday, April 22
Coupon for retail orders only. Offer not valid for Instructor wholesale orders. No cash value.
It's Potty Time (For Boys) It's Potty Time (For Girls)
Toilet training is a important step in a child's development; however, young children can sometimes be frightened by the sight and sound of a flushing toilet. Now you can read It's Potty Time (For Boys) and It's Potty Time (For Girls) with your child and help prevent or eliminate those fears. As you read the book together, invite your child to push the button on the book to hear the sound of a flushing toilet and giggling children. Use the chart on the last page of the book to acknowledge and reward your child's potty-time success!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Can earlier potty training help prevent child abuse?
The Problem
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “…more abuse occurs during toilet training than during any other developmental step.” (Source: Schmitt, B.D. Toilet Training your child: The basics. Contemporary Pediatrics. 2004; 21 (3): 120-122. As quoted in AAP Potty Training Guide http://www.aap.org/practicingsafety/module7.htm) (See also www.childdeathreview.org/reports/FL_2007CADRrpt.pdf)
Examples: Some recent cases reported in the Wichita Eagle (KS) - July 08, 2009
*Summer 2008: A little girl was severely beaten for soiling her diapers. She was then stuffed in a pillow case and trash bags and placed in the attic. A medical examiner said the girl was likely still alive and suffocated over the course of several hours.
*Summer 08: In Memphis, police say a 2-year-old girl was beaten to death by her father over a potty training issue.
* June 09: In Sacramento, Calif., a 27-year-old man was arraigned on murder charges for allegedly throwing his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son against a wall after the boy urinated in his diaper in the night.
*June 09: A husband and wife in Phoenix were accused of severely beating their 4-year-old daughter because she had not gone to the bathroom.
* And in Columbia, S.C., a father is in jail after being accused of kicking his 3-year-old daughter in the head and stomach, critically injuring her, over potty training issues.
WHY the problem?
These are examples of out-of-control parents who obviously lack the knowledge and skills to handle potty training. However, even the most educated and savvy parent will tell you than potty training is challenging.
The basic problem is that, all too often, parents assume that “waiting until a child is ready” means waiting until the child volunteers to learn to use the potty. Unfortunately, that seldom happens. The result is that too many parents keep waiting—as their child turns 2, 3, or even 4!
But at least children this old can talk and, therefore, tell you when they need to go. Isn’t that critical? The answer is no. According to child development expert, Dr. Linda Acredolo, “the age at which children become really verbal (around 24 months) is also likely to be when they also are beginning to strongly assert their independence. As a result, delaying potty training until they can talk all too often ends up involving a huge battle of wills.” Instead, parents who begin potty training before age 2 can tap into a period of development when toddlers are still relatively complaint and are naturally more inclined to imitate parents and siblings.
But if they can’t talk, how can they communicate their need to go? Here’s how.
Signs for Success
Babies love to use sign language to help them communicate before they can talk. By teaching babies the sign for “potty” (make fist with thumb between first two fingers, shake), they can easily communicate to their parents when they have to go. With the use of simple potty-time signs, babies can take advantage of the physical and emotional readiness that develops around their first birthday—and before their favorite word is “no.”.
Early potty training may not work for all children due to individual differences, health factors or developmental delays, but it will work for most – and it offers the promise of reducing parental frustration and protecting children from potential abuse.
Happy Signing!
--Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Baby Signs Program
and the Baby Signs Potty Training Program
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “…more abuse occurs during toilet training than during any other developmental step.” (Source: Schmitt, B.D. Toilet Training your child: The basics. Contemporary Pediatrics. 2004; 21 (3): 120-122. As quoted in AAP Potty Training Guide http://www.aap.org/practicingsafety/module7.htm) (See also www.childdeathreview.org/reports/FL_2007CADRrpt.pdf)
Examples: Some recent cases reported in the Wichita Eagle (KS) - July 08, 2009
*Summer 2008: A little girl was severely beaten for soiling her diapers. She was then stuffed in a pillow case and trash bags and placed in the attic. A medical examiner said the girl was likely still alive and suffocated over the course of several hours.
*Summer 08: In Memphis, police say a 2-year-old girl was beaten to death by her father over a potty training issue.
* June 09: In Sacramento, Calif., a 27-year-old man was arraigned on murder charges for allegedly throwing his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son against a wall after the boy urinated in his diaper in the night.
*June 09: A husband and wife in Phoenix were accused of severely beating their 4-year-old daughter because she had not gone to the bathroom.
* And in Columbia, S.C., a father is in jail after being accused of kicking his 3-year-old daughter in the head and stomach, critically injuring her, over potty training issues.
WHY the problem?
These are examples of out-of-control parents who obviously lack the knowledge and skills to handle potty training. However, even the most educated and savvy parent will tell you than potty training is challenging.
The basic problem is that, all too often, parents assume that “waiting until a child is ready” means waiting until the child volunteers to learn to use the potty. Unfortunately, that seldom happens. The result is that too many parents keep waiting—as their child turns 2, 3, or even 4!
But at least children this old can talk and, therefore, tell you when they need to go. Isn’t that critical? The answer is no. According to child development expert, Dr. Linda Acredolo, “the age at which children become really verbal (around 24 months) is also likely to be when they also are beginning to strongly assert their independence. As a result, delaying potty training until they can talk all too often ends up involving a huge battle of wills.” Instead, parents who begin potty training before age 2 can tap into a period of development when toddlers are still relatively complaint and are naturally more inclined to imitate parents and siblings.
But if they can’t talk, how can they communicate their need to go? Here’s how.
Signs for Success
Babies love to use sign language to help them communicate before they can talk. By teaching babies the sign for “potty” (make fist with thumb between first two fingers, shake), they can easily communicate to their parents when they have to go. With the use of simple potty-time signs, babies can take advantage of the physical and emotional readiness that develops around their first birthday—and before their favorite word is “no.”.
Early potty training may not work for all children due to individual differences, health factors or developmental delays, but it will work for most – and it offers the promise of reducing parental frustration and protecting children from potential abuse.
Happy Signing!
--Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Baby Signs Program
and the Baby Signs Potty Training Program
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Baby Signs Program and Autism: Exploring the Benefits
Hello!
I have a request. Over the years, Dr. Susan Goodwyn, co-founder with me of the Baby Signs Program, and I have received emails from Baby Signs Instructors, from parents, and even from our academic colleagues, all commenting on the potential benefits, not just of signing, but specifically of the Baby Signs Program, for autistic children and urging us to take a closer look. Given the severe problems so many autistic children have with verbal language, we believed they were right, but there always seemed to be other initiatives taking priority—until now. For some reason the frequency of such comments has increased recently, and one email in particular from a Baby Signs Instructor this week has caused us to really sit up and take notice. Here’s what she told us:
“I got a call from someone who teaches autistic children. She thanked me for teaching the Baby Signs® Program and shared that she uses signs with the older kids she works with and it really helps them. She went on to say that our teaching signs to parents of babies is a wonderful thing for autistic children because parents often do not get a diagnosis until they are older, so they are getting some intervention before they even know there is a problem. I have heard the same thing from other parents. A relative of my sister was told by her intervention team that having her baby in a preschool that used signs really helped him escape some of the detrimental affects of his autism. With 1 out of every 150 children being diagnosed with autism, it is more important than ever that we reach families and children early, and your program is doing this.”
What startled us into action was the insight that by teaching young babies to sign, we are providing parents of autistic children “…some intervention before they even know there is a problem.”
With this email as our inspiration, Susan and I have began to explore the research literature more closely. What we have already learned strengthens our hypothesis that our program, including our DVD-based potty training program, holds the promise of being especially beneficial to families with autistic children, both before and after they are diagnosed. What we are hoping now is that, by posting this message, we can reach individuals who might have relevant observations to share—both parents and professionals—about the impact of signing in general and/or of our program in particular on autistic children.
So, if you do have any insights to share, we’d really appreciate hearing from you!
• What have you observed?
• What has worked—and why?
• What hasn’t worked—and why?
• Would you be able to help us to conduct an informal study of the effectiveness of our program?
These children—and their parents—deserve any help we can provide. Feel free to comment here or contact me personally by email at dracredolo@babysigns.com.
Happy Signing!
Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, The Baby Signs® Program
I have a request. Over the years, Dr. Susan Goodwyn, co-founder with me of the Baby Signs Program, and I have received emails from Baby Signs Instructors, from parents, and even from our academic colleagues, all commenting on the potential benefits, not just of signing, but specifically of the Baby Signs Program, for autistic children and urging us to take a closer look. Given the severe problems so many autistic children have with verbal language, we believed they were right, but there always seemed to be other initiatives taking priority—until now. For some reason the frequency of such comments has increased recently, and one email in particular from a Baby Signs Instructor this week has caused us to really sit up and take notice. Here’s what she told us:
“I got a call from someone who teaches autistic children. She thanked me for teaching the Baby Signs® Program and shared that she uses signs with the older kids she works with and it really helps them. She went on to say that our teaching signs to parents of babies is a wonderful thing for autistic children because parents often do not get a diagnosis until they are older, so they are getting some intervention before they even know there is a problem. I have heard the same thing from other parents. A relative of my sister was told by her intervention team that having her baby in a preschool that used signs really helped him escape some of the detrimental affects of his autism. With 1 out of every 150 children being diagnosed with autism, it is more important than ever that we reach families and children early, and your program is doing this.”
What startled us into action was the insight that by teaching young babies to sign, we are providing parents of autistic children “…some intervention before they even know there is a problem.”
With this email as our inspiration, Susan and I have began to explore the research literature more closely. What we have already learned strengthens our hypothesis that our program, including our DVD-based potty training program, holds the promise of being especially beneficial to families with autistic children, both before and after they are diagnosed. What we are hoping now is that, by posting this message, we can reach individuals who might have relevant observations to share—both parents and professionals—about the impact of signing in general and/or of our program in particular on autistic children.
So, if you do have any insights to share, we’d really appreciate hearing from you!
• What have you observed?
• What has worked—and why?
• What hasn’t worked—and why?
• Would you be able to help us to conduct an informal study of the effectiveness of our program?
These children—and their parents—deserve any help we can provide. Feel free to comment here or contact me personally by email at dracredolo@babysigns.com.
Happy Signing!
Linda
Linda Acredolo, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, The Baby Signs® Program
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
GreenDaily.com on Green Potty Training
Ever wonder how potty training can be considered a "green" activity?
Read more at http://www.greendaily.com/2009/03/27/baby-signs-potty-training/.
Read more at http://www.greendaily.com/2009/03/27/baby-signs-potty-training/.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
An Amazing Potty Training Success Story
Potty training is sometimes a frustrating eneavor. That's why I just have to share this inspiring email we received yesterday!
Linda Easton
Baby Signs, Inc.
-------------------
Hello There :
I bought the Baby Signs Potty Kit when my son was going to turn two .He already knew a bunch of different signs before I bought the DVD but I thought it would take him a couple of months or even more to start using the potty ... I am shocked he learned the signs for the first time he saw the video and started using the potty next day!
I cannot express how thankful I feel! After 2 weeks watching the DVD there were no more accidents and he uses both the potty seat and the toilet . Recently I went to the swimming pool with him and he used the public bathroom 4 times to go potty! My son does not talk yet so this video was extremely helpful.
Nathan was born in June 5, 2007 and he is a diaper free baby!!!!
I would also like to mention how much he likes the rewarding stickers! I bought some extra ones and he LOVES getting them.
Thank you again,
-Karina K.
Linda Easton
Baby Signs, Inc.
-------------------
Hello There :
I bought the Baby Signs Potty Kit when my son was going to turn two .He already knew a bunch of different signs before I bought the DVD but I thought it would take him a couple of months or even more to start using the potty ... I am shocked he learned the signs for the first time he saw the video and started using the potty next day!
I cannot express how thankful I feel! After 2 weeks watching the DVD there were no more accidents and he uses both the potty seat and the toilet . Recently I went to the swimming pool with him and he used the public bathroom 4 times to go potty! My son does not talk yet so this video was extremely helpful.
Nathan was born in June 5, 2007 and he is a diaper free baby!!!!
I would also like to mention how much he likes the rewarding stickers! I bought some extra ones and he LOVES getting them.
Thank you again,
-Karina K.
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