Question

A nurse working in a community pediatric clinic explains the process of toilet training to mothers of toddlers. Which is a recommended guideline for initiating this training?

A) The child should be able to hold urine for four hours.
B) The child should be between 18 and 24 months old.
C) The child should be able to communicate the need to void.
D) The child does not need the desire to gain control of voiding.

Answer 1

To initiate toilet training, a child should be able to communicate the need to void. Developmental milestones guide the process, and children typically show readiness between 18-24 months. Positive reinforcement from caregivers is crucial.

Step-by-step explanation:

The recommended guideline for initiating toilet training is that the child should be able to communicate the need to void. It is essential to take developmental cues from the child to determine readiness for potty training, which includes both physical and cognitive milestones.

Children generally start showing readiness for toilet training between the ages of 18 and 24 months, but this can vary. The ability to hold urine for a period, such as four hours, sign of physical readiness, whereas the capability to communicate the need to void is an indicator of cognitive maturity. A child does not necessarily need the desire to gain control of voiding, as this can develop with supportive training and encouragement from caregivers.

Using developmental milestones as a gauge, parents and caregivers can encourage toilet training through positive reinforcement, creating a supportive environment for the child. This process benefits from being in tune with the child's abilities to control bladder and bowel movements as they mature, usually around the age of three.