Toilet Training Twins
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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Just like the start of breastfeeding, toilet training doesn't always happen effortlessly or overnight. Your toddlers' are moving from weeing in their nappy without thinking to actively think about and act on the urge to go to the toilet. This is a surprisingly complex process and one that a toddler needs to be ready for. Your toddlers' are ready when they can pull their pants or undies down and are independent in other areas, can concentrate on a task for at least five minutes, can follow simple instructions, can indicate with cues that they are weeing or pooing in their nappy and have had a good understanding of toilet related words and practices for a couple of months.
The toilet training process can take anywhere from three to twelve months to master. It is usually around twenty to thirty months of age that most toddlers are ready to begin but it doesn't matter if they show they are ready before or after this age. Expect setbacks, mess and accidents and with twins that means double the mess and accidents requiring double the patience. Give them time and encouragement while they learn the new skills involved in mastering bladder and bowel function.
If your twins are used to eating together, sleeping together and playing together they will usually be happy to use the bathroom together however, when it comes to toilet training one size doesn't always fit all. If one is ready and the other isn't just train one at a time.
The toilet training process can take anywhere from three to twelve months to master. It is usually around twenty to thirty months of age that most toddlers are ready to begin but it doesn't matter if they show they are ready before or after this age. Expect setbacks, mess and accidents and with twins that means double the mess and accidents requiring double the patience. Give them time and encouragement while they learn the new skills involved in mastering bladder and bowel function.
If your twins are used to eating together, sleeping together and playing together they will usually be happy to use the bathroom together however, when it comes to toilet training one size doesn't always fit all. If one is ready and the other isn't just train one at a time.
A few months before you start
· Let them watch you or other siblings going to the toilet. Talk about what is happening and that they will be doing it like that one day. Toilet vocabulary is important to add to their repertoire - wee, poo, paper, wipe, bottom, penis, toilet, potty, undies, hold on and wash hands
· Notice and respond when you see them recognise they want to go to the toilet or they have already been in their nappy
· There is no rush, the more ready they are the easier the task. Wait for a good time to start - summer is good. There are fewer clothes to manage; it is not as stressful and difficult when there is mess
· Dress your toddlers' for success. Make clothes loose and easy to remove. Avoid buttons and fasteners
· Have two potties ready if you suspect there will be fights waiting for the one toilet. Transition to the toilet when they have more control. A step and rail or toilet insert at the toilet is also handy.
Time to start
Choose a day or two when you won't be going out. Make sure you are all relaxed and well. Avoid beginning on days when they are unwell or tired.
Offer them plenty of fluids beforehand. (No sugar drinks, juice or caffeine)
Suggest the toilet or potty twenty to thirty minutes after a drink or if you see signs that they need to go. Holding on and marching on the spot is always a sure sign!
Don't leave them on the toilet longer than two to three minutes or put them on too often. Remember this is to be an enjoyable experience, not a never ending chore.
· Let them watch you or other siblings going to the toilet. Talk about what is happening and that they will be doing it like that one day. Toilet vocabulary is important to add to their repertoire - wee, poo, paper, wipe, bottom, penis, toilet, potty, undies, hold on and wash hands
· Notice and respond when you see them recognise they want to go to the toilet or they have already been in their nappy
· There is no rush, the more ready they are the easier the task. Wait for a good time to start - summer is good. There are fewer clothes to manage; it is not as stressful and difficult when there is mess
· Dress your toddlers' for success. Make clothes loose and easy to remove. Avoid buttons and fasteners
· Have two potties ready if you suspect there will be fights waiting for the one toilet. Transition to the toilet when they have more control. A step and rail or toilet insert at the toilet is also handy.
Time to start
Choose a day or two when you won't be going out. Make sure you are all relaxed and well. Avoid beginning on days when they are unwell or tired.
Offer them plenty of fluids beforehand. (No sugar drinks, juice or caffeine)
Suggest the toilet or potty twenty to thirty minutes after a drink or if you see signs that they need to go. Holding on and marching on the spot is always a sure sign!
Don't leave them on the toilet longer than two to three minutes or put them on too often. Remember this is to be an enjoyable experience, not a never ending chore.
While on the toilet or potty keep them relaxed with a little patter-cake game or book. You could also sing or play them some music. The pelvic and sphincter muscles need to be relaxed to release.
Limit their distress by not pursuing toileting if they have woken up grumpy or when they are particularly resistant to comply. Some days might just have to be back-to-nappy-days to give them a break. This could also happen when you go out during the early days of training.
If getting them to sit on the potty or toilet is difficult try using a stamp on their hand as a reward for sitting.
A little boys' penis sticks straight out making it difficult for him to aim down into the toilet. Use a target in the bowl to help focus the aim. Use a fruit loop in the water or a target that hangs on the inside back of the bowl. Make a big deal of it when they aim straight.
Try to avoid rushing to the toilet. This will help to avoid a wild spray.
If boys are too short, stand them on a step (if they are standing to wee) or sit them on the toilet backwards (if they are sitting to wee). Using a public urinal or weeing outside in your garden can help them learn to aim straight. Make sure they know it is only while they are learning and when you are with them that they wee outside in the garden.
Teach boys to pull their foreskin back a little if they are not circumcised.
Washing hands is always a part of the process before going back to play.
Dry by day and wetting the bed at night is normal for many children until they reach five or six years of age. There are many reasons why children wet the bed. Some are physical reasons and some are behavioural or psychological reasons. This book is not going into these issues.
Limit their distress by not pursuing toileting if they have woken up grumpy or when they are particularly resistant to comply. Some days might just have to be back-to-nappy-days to give them a break. This could also happen when you go out during the early days of training.
If getting them to sit on the potty or toilet is difficult try using a stamp on their hand as a reward for sitting.
A little boys' penis sticks straight out making it difficult for him to aim down into the toilet. Use a target in the bowl to help focus the aim. Use a fruit loop in the water or a target that hangs on the inside back of the bowl. Make a big deal of it when they aim straight.
Try to avoid rushing to the toilet. This will help to avoid a wild spray.
If boys are too short, stand them on a step (if they are standing to wee) or sit them on the toilet backwards (if they are sitting to wee). Using a public urinal or weeing outside in your garden can help them learn to aim straight. Make sure they know it is only while they are learning and when you are with them that they wee outside in the garden.
Teach boys to pull their foreskin back a little if they are not circumcised.
Washing hands is always a part of the process before going back to play.
Dry by day and wetting the bed at night is normal for many children until they reach five or six years of age. There are many reasons why children wet the bed. Some are physical reasons and some are behavioural or psychological reasons. This book is not going into these issues.
Things may be different with number two's
Toddlers may just hold poo in, as it can be too stressful and they are too impatient to have to wait on the toilet until it happens
The sensation of a poo leaving the body can be scary
The different sensation and experience when sitting compared to standing for boys
Dietary factors can cause constipation and pain when pooing making it something they want to avoid
They are afraid they may fall in the toilet and be flushed away if they have witnessed this happening to poo and paper
Had a previous bad or embarrassing experience while on the toilet. There are many approaches to the process of toilet training such as starting early vs. later, using a potty vs. toilet or standing vs. sitting (for boys) but ultimately, it is up to you to choose the one that best suits you and your toddlers' personality. If your toddlers' are not learning good toilet habits with your encouragement and praise there could be a reason for this - physical, psychological or social. Seek the advice of your child health professional, general practitioner or chiropractor.
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