SIMPLE STEPS TO LOW-STRESS TOILET TRAINING

Embarking on toilet training can be a moment of trepidation for some parents. On the one hand, the thought of saying good bye to soiled nappies is a positive, as is the reduced weekly grocery bill. On the other, we all know there will be many messy accidents and infinite patience required before the objective is achieved. In a new Little Treasures series, entitled Behavior Basics, registered psychologist Anna Malone, of Triple P, outlines some simple steps for keeping the process as stress-free as possible. Most importantly, says Anna, your child must be developmentally ready for this big step. She lays out the seven signs for recognizing readiness in her article, such as wanting to watch mummy and daddy when they go to the toilet. Anna also provides a five-point action plan for gently nudging your child towards understanding their bodily urges and using the toilet successfully. She emphasizes the need to keep the procedure simple and consistent. "Nothing succeeds like praise," says Anna. "Give it abundantly - show your pleasure. Sometimes this can be just for sitting on the toilet." To glean more insight on this tricky topic, read the June/July issue of Little Treasures, on sale from Monday 6th June.