When should I take my child's diaper off? How do I have to do it? Should I take advantage to do it in summer? Surely all these questions, and many more, will come to mind when your child approaches two years. There are several ways to remove the diaper, but in this space we want to give you some tips to do it respectfully taking into account the needs of your little one at all times. In the same way, we will explain what aspects to take into account in everything related to the hygiene of the child and the bathroom.
Sphincter control: is my child ready?
The ability to control when peeing or pooping, that is, sphincter control, is a ability that children acquire over time. When? Well, like walking or talking, it depends on the maturity of each child. That is why, if you are at that stage, you must respect the rhythm of each little and not force diaper removal. Some children are prepared at 2 years old and others go beyond 3 years old, but in any case, it is important to remove the diaper in a respectful way.
If we know that there is no specific and established age to remove the diaper, you must not be overwhelmed when summer comes, time that is considered the only one suitable for removing the diaper. Nor do you rush if there is little to start school and there they tell you that you cannot wear a diaper. Although many children around the age of 3 are already able to control the sphincters, not everyone does it and in school they are obliged to attend to their needs and change their diaper.
Before removing the diaper, the little one must go through different phases. First, you will warn you have a wet diaper or dirty and will ask you to change it. Later, you will begin to notice that it is done on top and will be anticipated to inform you. Most likely, at that stage he still does not fully control his sphincters and, despite notifying you, has some escape. In a third stage it will be completely able to tell you that it has poop or pee and put up with the desire. In all phases, good communication and dialogue with the child is very important, since at these ages they already understand what we tell them and they are also able to explain how they feel and how they live the process.
How to remove the diaper respectfully
When your baby has gone through all these phases it is time to offer to sit in the toilet or in the potty to pee or poop. Like everything unknown, some children are afraid to sit in one place or another. If this happens, you can show them how dad and mom sit in the toilet or sit their dolls in the potty and explain that they pee and poop there.
The novelty and the usual fear of change They can cause you to be asked to wear the diaper again. Respect the small setback and put it back on. In a few days they will surely ask you to remove it again, since they will feel dirty and wet again and they don't like that either.
It is very important that you congratulate on every little advance you make in everything related to the withdrawal of diaper, to reinforce their self-esteem and their desire to move forward in the process. So, when they notify you that they have pee (even if they do it on top) you must tell them how well they have done it and that next time they have to notify you a little earlier.
Aspects to avoid
For the diaper operation to be a success it is important to have a positive attitude and convey confidence to the child. To do this, you should avoid comparing their process with that of other children, as well as making fun of them. Comments such as "Juanito no longer has a diaper" or "you are too old for that" do not favor the removal of the diaper and can slow down the process, in addition to making the little one feel bad.
In line with what we mentioned at the beginning, it is important to sit the child in the potty or toilet when really able to control the sphincters. Sometimes it is advisable to sit the child soon so that he becomes familiar and pees there. Sitting the little ones regularly and waiting for them to do their needs is counterproductive, since this does not help control the sphincters, but what they do is force them to pee and poop when mom or dad ask.
Hygiene and disinfection
Although the diaper removal is respectful and the child is prepared, it is normal and understandable that there is an occasional escape. That is why during the learning phases it is very important that you be neat with the hygiene of the little one. Every time you pee or poop, teach him to wash his hands well. If you have leaks, clean it well the area of the genitals and legs, with a wipe or a damp sponge.
You should also clean the wet clothes very well. For light colored washings, you can add bleach for deeper cleaning and disinfection, treating difficult spots, such as poop, previously.
Do not forget clean the floor very well if you pee and the area of the toilet and the potty, especially when I go to the bathroom alone. Children have no problem touching everything and even enter the bathroom while they eat, so if they leave a piece of bread on top of the bite then they may put it back in their mouths. This is the reason why it is advisable to perform a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the toilet, its urinal and everything that may have touched, such as the cistern button, the door knobs, cabinets, the itch ...
In addition, the humidity of this room makes microorganisms proliferate more easily. To remove them and keep the area disinfected, use specific products as Estrella, a 2in1 with bleach and detergent that cleans and eliminates fungi, viruses and bacteria that are not visible to the naked eye.
As you can see, diaper removal is a simpler process than it seems. To carry it out successfully you have to respect the rhythm of your son and follow the simple advice we have given you: not force to pee and poop when you don't feel like it, encourage to the little one in each achievement and ensure proper hygiene and disinfection, both of the child and his clothes and the bathroom.
Photos | iStock: 3sbworld / deucee_ / matka_Wariatka
