clothing and even giving chocolates for rewards when a child wipes well. Another modern method uses a diaper alarm that sends data to an app when a child urinates or defecates. With all these toileting methods, how should a parent potty train their child? Considering the individual child, the parenting desires and expert potty-training advice can all aid in eventually being diaper-free. For expert advice, educators at Rainbow Schools have partnered with parents to train thousands of students to use the potty. Rainbow Schools began in 1972 and has locations in Honolulu, Mililani, Wahiawa, Kaneohe and Kahuku. Rainbow School Honolulu center director Sarah Paragoso and Rainbow Schools program director Jayne Arasaki offered to share some of their time-tested toilet training tips with Hawaii parents. “It’s important to have a mindset that potty training will happen; we will get there,” starts Paragoso. “Almost everyone can be potty trained, even children with special needs.” 116 HAWAII PARENT September/October 2024 Going to the bathroom is a rudimentary activity that most older children and adults take for granted. But, for parents of young children, me included, potty training can be a consistent thought that is met with angst and anxiety – as well as high anticipation to ditch the diapers. Diverse theories, books and guidelines direct parents to potty train a certain way. However, researchers have not yet come to a conclusive consensus about which potty training method is best. Infant toilet training – with some researchers suggesting starting as early as four weeks old – often entails putting a baby over a toilet and making a specific noise to signal for them to go (typically called “elimination communication”). Child-oriented potty training includes multi-month approaches that gradually introduce the potty and what to do until the child sits on the potty themselves; these approaches typically are recommended when a child is at least two years old. Some fast-track potty methods, including training in less than a day, also exist. Other methods use multiple mini potties, drinking lots of fluids, staying at home for a few days, the absence of any by Stephanie Lopes
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