Potty Training

Part 1 The right time to potty train: child development - the physical and mental development that allows your chuld to control his bladder and bowels and the age at which to expect it; girls and boys - the difference between the sexes; recognizing the signs - letting your child lead the way and ensuring that he is ready to toilet train; in my day - the difference a generation makes, how potty training practices have changed; potty pressure - "all my friends' children have been potty trained for months", the social pressure to rush. Part 2 Potty Preparation: show them the way - children are wonderful mimics; discussing poo and wee with your child and allowing them to be more aware of their bodies; real pants or nappy pants; what potty?; childcare - will being in day-care affect your child's potty training? a look at the research and the ways to prepare your toddler and his nursery for the big event; it worked for us - tips from parents; books and videos - stories to make potty training appealing and fun. Part 3 Nappies off: making it easy on yourself - how to set your house and lifestyle up for trouble (and mess) free potty training; sense over style, getting fressed for action; now, Mummy now! getting on that potty, deciding between the relaxed and intensive approaches to potty training; little boys - toilet or potty? standing or sitting? tips to help boys hit the target; how to cope when you're out and about with a toddler in pants, including your essential emergency kit and gadgets to make life easier; how to encourage your toddler and make them enthusiastic about potty training; now wash your hands; losing your cool - the mistakes parents make and how to minimize them; how we cope - stories from parents who survived potty training. Part 4 Troubleshooting: I hate pants - how to help the child who is resistant to the potty and how to recognize when it's better to put your child back in nappies for a while; number twos - how to cope if your child insists on a nappy to poo, becomes constipated or soils; the toilet monster - hints on how to cope with the transition from potty to loo; relapses - the cause of relapse and how to manage them, when should you be worried?, how late is too late for potty training and when should you seek expert advice. Part 5 Dry nights: when to throw the nappies away; bed wetting - how common is bed wetting and how can we help children who wet the bed?, tips from parents and experts; when to get help - when bed wetting becomes a problem and the ways in which it may be treated. Part 6 How to get help: family and friends - help or hindrance; professional help - the role of the GP, health visitor and school nurse.