10 simple tips on how to potty train

Over the years we have learnt some little tricks to help you potty train they are:

1. Try to be positive and upbeat show the change as something exciting.
   
2. Give lots of praise whenever your child manages sit on the potty. Stress how grown up and clever they are like their dad or sibling.
   
3. Don't rush things. Sometimes if you start teaching later, it takes less time. Toddlers over two and a half may learn almost overnight.
   
4. Expect to have setbacks and don't make a fuss about them. Learning to use the toilet is just like other skills your toddler learns it takes time.
   
5. Give your toddler clothes that can be pulled down or up easily. You may also want them to wear training pants at first, to cope with those inevitable accidents.
   
6. Take your child to pick out the potty and toilet seat, make it a treat.
   
7. Never force your child to sit on the potty. This will only upset them and won't make the process any faster.
   
8. It always takes longer for a child to learn to stay dry at night. When they start having the occasional dry nappy in the morning, it's a good sign that the time is right to try going without a nappy.
   
9. Get a mattress cover for your child bed when you put them to bed without a nappy for the first time. When they have an accident in their bed they will often be very upset by it, we wouldn’t like waking up in a wet bed either, so try to be sympathetic and tell them it doesn’t matter and that they can try again another day
   
10. Remember to get your toddler to wash their hands afterwards, so that using the potty or toilet is associated with hand washing from the start.
    

If your child really isn’t getting it and every time is an accident after a about a week give up and try again in a month or so, it maybe that they are just not ready and it is very stressful for them if they are making a mess every time

Baby teeth - Oral hygiene it important even in babies

Keeping the emerging teeth clean is important for long-term dental health. Why should we keep them clean when they are going to fall out? i hear many of you asking, The answer is that even though the first set of teeth will fall out, tooth decay can hasten this process and leave gaps before the permanent teeth are ready to come in, thus the remaining baby teeth may then crowd together to attempt to fill in the gaps, which may cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked and out of place, so it is worth it.

In actual fact daily dental care should begin even before your baby's first tooth emerges. You should wipe your baby's gums daily with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze, or brush them gently with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush and water (no toothpaste!).

As soon as the first tooth appears, brush them with water. Toothpaste is OK once they get old enough to spit it out. An important tip for preventing tooth decay is to not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice can pool in their mouths and cause tooth decay and plaque.
For more advice speak to your dentist or a medical professional.

Potty training - when to start

You should be able to potty train your toddler sometime between their second and third birthday. By the age of three, most children are dry in the day although the many still need nappies at night.
On average, most children begin learning to use a potty by around their second birthday, but as with everything in children's development, each child is different so if you are having no joy forcing your toddler will not help.

It is interesting to know that up to the age of 20 months, toddlers bladders empty often, making it difficult for them to master holding on for the loo.

Follow your child's lead - when they are ready to use a potty they will let you know. Don't feel pressured by other mothers who state, "Oh, my daughter was out of nappies by now" or by what your mum did, trust your own instinct.

Sometimes parents find it easier to potty train their children in summer, when toddlers can run around with fewer clothes on. It can take longer for boys to learn, especially as they also have to master weeing while standing up. Most boys learn sitting down first. It is great for a dad to teach his son to stand up when he is ready and you can get a little step to help him reach, but make sure the men teach them to put the seat down afterwards we do not want to breed another generation that fails to use a toilet properly!

Signs that they may be ready to potty train

• do they stay dry for a couple of hours each day
• do they show when a bowel movement is taking place, by squatting or making a grunting sound for example
• are they letting you know when they want to be changed when their nappy dirty
• do they take an interest when you, your partner go to the toilet
  

If you see any of these signs then talk to them about using the potty and see what their reaction is if it good have a go, if not wait there is no law it is all about the individual child.

Note *There are times when it is better not to start potty training your child as you will be setting them up for failure and you will spend all your time on your hands and knees cleaning your carpet, they are when:

• there is a new baby in the house
• they are being moved from a cot into a bed
• they are starting a new childcare arrangement
• there are family relationship problems
• you are moving house

It is simply not worth wasting your time trying when there is any kind of upheaval it just doesn't work so why put yourselves through it

Teething - what to expect

Teething, can be a frustrating time for many babies and their parents, your wonderful quiet baby turns into a moaning whinging monster. It helps to know what to expect when your child is teething, and what you can do to make the process a little less painful for you and your child.


Teething can begin as early as 3 months and continue until a child's third birthday (long time). Around 4 to 7 months, you will notice your child's first tooth pushing through the gum line. The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, also known as the central incisors. These are usually followed 4 to 8 weeks later by the four front upper teeth (central and lateral incisors). About 1 month later, the lower lateral incisors (the two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth) will appear. Next to break through the gum line are the first molars (the back teeth used for grinding food), then finally the eye teeth (the pointy teeth in the upper jaw).


Most children have all 20 of their first teeth by their third birthday. In some rare cases, children are born with one or two teeth or have a tooth emerge within the first few weeks of life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to pose a choking risk, this is usually not a cause for concern. If you have any questions or worries it's a good idea to talk to your child's doctor.


When your child begins teething, you may notice that your child seems to dribble more, and seems to want to chew on things. For some babies, teething is painless, others may experience brief periods of irritability, and some may seem cranky for weeks, experiencing crying episodes and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns. Teething can be uncomfortable, but if your baby seems very irritable, contact your doctor.

Although tender and swollen gums could cause your baby's temperature to be a little higher than normal, teething, as a rule, does not cause high fever or diarrhoea. If your baby does develop a fever during the teething phase, it is probably due to something else and your child's doctor should be contacted.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when your baby is teething:

• Gently wipe your baby's face often with a soft cloth or cotton pad to remove the dibble and this will help to prevent rashes from developing.


• Give your baby something to chew on. Make sure it's big enough so that he or she can't swallow it and that it can't break into small pieces.


• Rubber teething rings are good, but avoid the ones with liquid inside because they can break. If you use a teething ring, be sure to take it out of the freezer before it becomes rock hard you don't want to bruise those already swollen gums!


• Try a teething gels there are many on the market that may help but always read the label carefully before you buy them.


• Be careful of grandparents, they may rub whiskey on your baby's gums, they will see no harm in it as they probably did it to you. It is not a good idea as it numbs the gums so much that the child can harm themselves without knowing not to mention the question of giving alcohol to baby.
  
  

  

Separation anxiety

Clingy behaviour
At times your child will be clingy it helps to remember that you and you're partner are the most important people in your child's life. A fear of strangers and separation from you is completely natural it is known as separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety
This can be a very difficult time but is merely a developmental stage when your toddler gets upset when you leave them, even if it's only to leave the room. It often starts at around nine months and in some children it can go on well into the second year, or even longer.

Learning to handle separation is difficult for parents and children, but it does get gradually easier, there are many ways to deal with it, you could try the following:

Keep the separations short at first, when you need to leave your toddler, especially for the first few times, try to keep separations short and allow enough time for your child to get to know his carer first.

Reassure your child that you will be back- even quite short partings, such as going to nursery for the morning, may be difficult. Always take time to talk to your child in advance about what's happening and reassure them you'll be coming back.

Never just sneak away - even though goodbyes can be upsetting, it's less worrying for your child than if you just disappear. Be positive and upbeat and try not to string out your goodbye. Taking ages to leave or acting worried only passes on your anxiety to your child.

Try to be patient - if your child clings to you even when you're simply going about your everyday business at home or at the shops, try to stay calm and carry on. It may not be easy to make lunch or talk to someone while your child's clamped on to you, but he'll feel more secure soon.

Above all try to be patient your toddler will eventually feel ready to be more independent.

Although it may be hard to believe when you are in the middle of it, many parents miss this behaviour once it's over. Try to trust the people that you leave your children with, calling every half an hour will just unsettle you and who ever has your child will feel that you don't trust them. If you don't trust them go with your instinct and don't leave your child with them you will not be able to relax.

Helping your child to become independent

It is really important to encourage your child to do more for themselves, even though in most cases it is easier to do it yourself.

Ways to help:

Accept some behaviour - defiance and disobedience, or refusing to comply with your requests, are essential parts of your toddler's growth into an individual try to accept some of their behaviour and respect that in some case they can decide for themselves.

Try to avoid barking orders and ultimatums - lead and teach rather than getting into power struggles, a child is much more likely to react in the wrong way if you speak to them in a forceful or aggressive way.

Use distraction - you may find it impossible to get your toddler to follow orders without upset. It's much smarter to use diversion tactics or allow them to make choices and offer them some control over their decisions.

It is just part of life with a toddler and you have to accept the fact that a lot of the time, your toddler will just do the opposite of what you want. They may also seem to resent almost any form of control by you. They will wants to get dressed by himself and feed himself etc. take heart all of this is totally normal.