Toilet Training for Working Moms
Toilet training a toddler can be demanding for anyone, but perhaps more demanding for a working mother. She may have limited time with her child, or she may shift the child to various places throughout each day, which means being frequently away from each other and/or from home. Some young children show self-sufficiency and master the potty without much help. More often, however, toilet training children involves regular supervision, instruction and encouragement.
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Circumstances
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Working mothers face various circumstances. Some work by choice and others by necessity. Many have husbands who are employed or unemployed, and many are single mothers. Many opt for day care. Many collect their toddlers after work each day and go straight to activities for their older children. Some mothers work from home. Some hire private caregivers. Nearly all working mothers share the common circumstance of limited one-on-one time with their children, and this includes potty-training time.
Expert Insight
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Time management and ongoing communication are mandatory when toilet training. According to the Raising Children Network, a child already accustomed to following regular routines will more easily adopt toilet training. Healthy children typically take three to four weeks to potty train. Experts at PottyMD say giving a child the final decision on when, how and whether to potty train is neither wise nor practical.
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Time Management
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Experts with Above and Beyond Time Management recommend that a working mother plan ahead of time, factoring time periods for daily activities, and budgeting time only for things requiring her immediate or specific attention. Unimportant "extra" things should temporarily be put on hold. If her child requires four diligent weeks to potty train, a mother must budget for that estimated time period.
Communication
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Children develop at different rates, and are ready to toilet train at varying ages, but all require patient, diligent, calm trainers. A working mother's child may train with a day caregiver, and with the mother at night. According to Dr. Marilyn Heins at Parent Kids Right, all trainers involved should communicate pre-planned instructions and methods to the child, preventing confusion. Regular reminders must equal regular encouragements, or the child may grow to hate the training.
Considerations
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Toilet training equipment for working mothers' children should address their particular needs. According to the Raising Children Network, both potty chairs and toilets are effective, but a child perhaps has more independence with a potty chair. A potty chair can be used anywhere, even in a vehicle (although emptying it may be problematic). Reviewers at Bestcovery give highest marks to potty chairs with removable seats, for use on portable potties or normal-sized toilets.
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References
- Photo Credit toilet image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
