Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Toilet Training Consultant?
We work with families who want to start toilet training, as well as families who have already started but need some help. We don’t just toilet train children; we teach parents how to train their kids effectively and in a way that fits their needs.
Does This Method Use Diapers?
Yes we use diapers! You are busy, your whole family is busy – you need diapers. When you use Developmental Toilet Training consistently you can greatly decrease the number of diapers you’ll need to use over time.
What Can I Expect?
Your baby will learn to recognize, communicate and control their toileting needs in a developmentally appropriate progression. Our system uses basic principles of behavior shaping to scaffold learning in a fun and engaging way.
What is Developmental Toilet Training?
Developmental Toilet Training teaches children how to use the toilet in the same way that they learn other skills in early childhood – by starting with the basics during infancy and progressing through toddlerhood until the skill is mastered. Developmental Toilet Training does not try to toilet train infants. The toilet is introduced during infancy, which creates familiarity and comfort with using the toilet. Recognizing bodily needs and communicating them to adults is the next focus, followed by full bowel and bladder control. This method can lead to complete toilet training at younger ages without pressuring, punishing, or battling a toddler.
What are the benefits of Developmental Toilet Training?
- A healthier, more natural approach to toilet training
- Reduced stress for children and parents
- Increased communication and body awareness skills
- Money saved on diapers (imagine the savings of training your child a year earlier)
- Environmental impact of using fewer diapers
Why Do You Start Putting Babies On The Toilet If You’re Not Trying To Toilet Train Them?
We put babies as young as 4 months on the toilet because we want to introduce it when they are big enough to hold up their heads and interact, but small enough to not have a lot of interest in other things or to be afraid of the toilet. At 4-7 months, babies are not typically crawling and are used to being set down in lots of different places. They are doing new things all the time, so having them sit on a toilet doesn’t feel any more strange or new than anything else they do, or at least not for long. Sitting on a toilet 1-3 times a day gives a baby familiarity with it so they feel safe, but with no pressure or expectations.
Can a Baby That Little Really Use The Toilet?
Yes, absolutely! They can’t be expected to have a bowel or bladder control and “hold it” until they get there, but definitely they can (and do!!) urinate and have bowel movements in the toilet. They just need to be given the chance.
What If My Baby Doesn’t Like Sitting On The Toilet?
A big part of Developmental Toilet Training is about making sitting on the toilet something your baby or toddler will want to do. There are lots of ways to do this depending on your child’s preferences and age. Please watch the videos for loads of details on making the toilet fun!
What About Group Talks?
Want to learn more about Developmental Toilet Training in person? Grab a group of friends, clients, or co-workers and book a talk. Our group talks are a fun way to learn the basic principles of Developmental Toilet Training. Email us to arrange a private talk.
Why Should I Use A Developmental Training Consultant?
Many parents feel uncertain about how to approach toilet training. They have questions about when to start, what method to follow, whose advice to listen to, and what to do when things don’t go as expected. There are some very common problems that parents encounter, which Danielle has years of training and experience addressing. These include:
- fear of using the toilet
- refusal to sit on the toilet
- training for bladder control but not bowel control
- inability to recognizing the need to go
- failure to communicate needs to an adult
- frequent accidents
- nighttime wetting