Toilet Training

Are you ready to start potty training or do you know if your child is ready for potty training? There are physical, behavioral and thinking skills that you may want to assess for readiness before tackling toilet training. Here are a few to consider.

Physical: can walk and run: can urinate a fair amount at one time: has regular formed stools at somewhat predictable times: and has 3-4 hours of being dry

Behavioral: can sit quietly for a few minutes: can pull their own pants up and down with little help: doesn't like a wet diaper: shows physical or verbal signs he is having a bowel movement: takes pride in doing well: isn't in a resistant stage and generally cooperative

Thinking Skills: can follow simple instructions: has words for urine and stool: recognizes the physical signals that mean they have to go the bathroom

Consumer Product Safety Commission

I am adding a link for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This link advises parents of recalls on toys or products used by children that have been recalled due to safety issues. A parent can subscribe to this link and receive email notification of any safety issues concerning childrens products. This link will help guide you as you are shopping for gifts this season.

Hi,

Welcome to the Parenting Blog at Renaissancepeds.com. I am Jennifer McMurray a Neonatal and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and author of this blog. As a parent and grandparent, I realize that parenting can be a challenge. This blog is designed to help and support our new parents and our parents and grandparents of our older patients with their parenting issues. Starting in January 2009 we will be offering "The Happiest Baby on the Block." This is a new way for parents of newborns and infants to calm crying and help your baby sleep longer. It is a method developed by Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D. who is noted pediatrician and child development expert. For the past 25 years, he has been instructing parents in calming techniques.
I will be checking the blog regularly for questions and concerns from parents and will try to find support measures to help you with your concerns. We our also interested to see if there is a need for parenting classes for our parents. Please let us know topics you would like to see discussed and good times to get together to discuss you concerns and issues.
We look forward to hearing from you.