Toilet Learning vs. Toilet Training

Toilet learning differs from Toilet training. Child toilet training is adult-directed; toilet learning is when the child is involved in their learning. Toilet training may involve time pressure on your child which seems to be a quick fix but may have consequences.

Toilet training involves an attitude of having to do it now because the adult chooses to. The difference between toilet learning and toilet training is the adult’s attitude, which can make a big difference for the child.

Toilet learning starts with readiness signs and is not learned through a reward system. Toileting is a skill that needs to be learned; it cannot be taught overnight. The key to toilet learning is teaching, not training the child. Learning on their own is reward enough for them to be able to independently help themselves in remaining clean or not soiling themselves.

Allow the child to learn on their own, with a bit of support and help from the adult, with the use of toilet training pants and clothes they can independently put on themselves. Toilet learning is linked to the child’s self-esteem, so genuine verbal praise is important. There are no ‘accidents’ during toilet learning, only lessons. Language also plays a big part in keeping a positive attitude with toilet learning.

Adult Attitude and Points to Consider in Toilet Learning

It is important to decide if you are ready to commit to the process and all it entails. This could include loads of washing, wet or soiled carpets, and what people may think if your child is not toilet ready by a certain age. More often than not, it requires months of learning for the child and it is important to have and maintain a positive attitude and avoid putting a period or the age you wish your child to be toilet trained. Children may develop manipulative actions regarding toileting (wetting themselves on purpose or being more “clingy” or sensitive) if they believe it will affect their behavior.

Every child is different and toilet ready at a different age, these are some tips to help the process and explain the rationale behind the method. However, it is up to you which toilet learning or toilet training approach you think suits you, your child, and your lifestyle.

The Montessori Toilet Learning

The Montessori approach to toilet learning is to begin at birth and by using cloth diapers. Once the child is walking, they transition into cloth underpants; wearing underpants at this stage in the child’s development also aids movement as diapers can be restrictive. The child will sit on the potty or small toilet when they wake in the morning, awake from naps, before and after all meals, before and after excursions, and before bed. It is central to the approach that babies are kept in natural cotton or soft wool diapers or underpants.

Disposable diapers draw moisture away from the skin rapidly, whereas underpants allow the child to feel the moisture and learn to recognize the result of urinating (the wet sensation). The children then learn to associate this sensation with the result of being wet instead of conflicting results as experienced in disposable diapers.

When your child is still young, make it a habit to change their diaper when they have been soiled so he/she does not get used to the feeling of being soiled but being always clean. Soon they will be used to the clean feeling so that if they are soiled they will let you know in some way.

All children are put on the potty after each diaper change. Often they feel the sensation of urinating or passing a bowel motion but don’t feel the end product because of super-absorbent disposable diapers. A child is physiologically ready to use the toilet at 12 months old, but with the use of disposable diapers, a child usually starts at two to two and a half years old. Introduce a potty as young as 12 months just to get the child used to it as a part of the toileting routine, before the power struggle starts or as we say in the under threes movement- the crisis of self-affirmation (tantrums). It doesn’t take long to associate the potty with regularly urinating once they feel the potty under their body. They are not yet toilet trained but they’re going through the process of learning.

The regular use of the potty allows the children to become familiar and comfortable with both the toilet and potty. It is a positive experience and the children enjoy exploring the environment. This allows the children the freedom of movement so that they can teach themselves to move on and off the potty/toilet at their own learning pace, additionally this allows the child to be more independent.

Clothing for Toilet Learning

We recommend that all clothing be a two-piece set during this learning process. The bottoms should be elastic waist allowing the child to independently pull up their trousers/skirt. Also, this allows the child to pull down their clothes quickly if they need to use the toilet urgently. There are toilet training pants that can be bought that are made of thick fabrics or terry toweling so the moisture is absorbed but still lets the child feel the wetness.

Underwear needs to be cotton and elastic should not cut off any circulation, be sure to buy appropriately sized underwear to allow for ease of dressing the self. Plastics are plastic covers placed over underpants and are used for outdoor play they will sometimes protect clothing from getting wet but still allow the child to feel the sensation.

Toilet Learning and Language

Children must understand the language they use during toilet learning. Quite often there is some embarrassment in using certain words. Remember to consider your attitude when interacting with children; if you are embarrassed talking about a certain body part or bodily functions, your child could also learn this attitude. Using the toilet is an everyday event and being comfortable explaining the process and body parts to children is important and it’s a natural part of our lives.

It is important to feel comfortable using adult words around children like to describe body parts and functions. This ensures that your child will not have to use ‘baby words’ (e.g. wee and poo) and demonstrates that you see your child as a capable toilet learner.

We recommend considering your language when inviting children to use the toilet always keep it clear, direct, and positive, for example, “You may go and sit on the toilet/potty”. If the child refuses, maintain positive language “you need to sit on the toilet so that you can urinate”. Never force a child on the potty or toilet against their will or use language in a negative way saying they “must sit on the toilet”.

When a child urinates on themselves try not to refer to this as an ‘accident’. Tell them “You have urinated. We need to sit on the potty when we urinate”. Then make sure to sit the child on the potty after the event and change their wet underpants. Always remain calm and in control of emotions to model this behavior for the child.

Signs of Readiness Checklist:

• Physical Readiness
• Child can stay dry for longer periods, or overnight
• Child knows the feelings that signal he/she needs to use the bathroom
• Child can pull down own pants, and pull them up
• Child can get him or herself to the toilet
• Mental and Language Readiness
• Child can follow simple directions
• Child can point to wet or soiled clothes and ask to be changed
• Child pays attention to the physical signals even when she is doing something else (a challenge for many children, which is why accidents are so common)
• Child knows the words for using the toilet and can tell an adult when he/she needs to go
• Child has asked to wear grown-up underwear
• Emotional Readiness
• Child seeks privacy when going in a diaper
• Child shows interest in using the toilet-may want to put toilet paper in and flush it
• Child shows curiosity at other people’s toilet habits
• Child has decided he/she wants to use the toilet
• Child is not afraid of the toilet
• Bowel Movement Control

In toilet learning, urination is often the focus; this is usually because it is a much harder skill to control liquids rather than mass. However, in many children bowel movement control occurs much later. Many individual factors can contribute to this including physical, emotional, and mental readiness.

Bowel movement control sometimes happens before urinary control. If they are regularly going to the toilet to urinate, chances are they may have a bowel movement while urinating. It is for this reason that boys should preferably sit instead of stand during the first stages of toilet learning until they have mastered bowel movements.

Every child is different in learning this skill; many children are aware of when they are having a BM but will often be shy in telling an adult or not know what to do. It is important to build up trust and reassure the child that everything is ok. Many children who are showing signs of readiness will want to ask questions and look at what is happening while you are changing their BM. It may be helpful to talk the child through what is happening in their bodies and include them in the process as much as possible.

Many children have bowel movements at the same time each day; this predictability can be used as a tool in helping the child succeed in BM control. Writing a chart of times the child is likely to have a BM and looking for other signs (body posture and facial expression) can help signal that the child should sit on a potty or toilet. It also helps chart the frequency of the child’s BMs, on occasion if the child is feeling anxious about passing BMs they may hold them and become constipated.

Toileting Routine

• Wake time – the child is allowed to sit on the potty after the diaper is removed from the night.
• He/she is then put in training pants/underpants.
• Plastic coverings over underpants may be used.
• Ask the child to go to the toilet if they need to.
• Sit them on the potty when they wake in the morning, before going anywhere outside of the home, before and after sleep time, and after meals.

Hope these tips help you and your toddler through the toileting process!

-Ms. Cristina, Beetle Teacher

(references from DailyMontessori.com)