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Recently I attended a teleconference about potty training with Dr.Cotton and Jeannette. There was so much great information shared along with useful tips and debunking those myths about potty training. Including one very important piece advice, Make potty training a Family Affair: Get friends and family members involved in the process, asking others for support is a great way to go.

Dr.Cotton Bio
Dr. Alberto Andres Cotton is a well-respected Miami based pediatrician with 17 years of experience. He began his career in medicine in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, and then started his own private practice. Dr. Cotton continued to work in different capacities in the medical field while in Argentina. Some of his notable achievements are working with the Miami Children’s Hospital Haiti Medical Relief Tea where he was voluntarily deployed to provide assistance, and being featured on Univision’s top morning show Despierta América to share his expertise on health related topics.

Jeannette Kaplun Bio
An award-winning journalist and internationally recognized parenting expert, Jeannette Kaplun has over 17 years of experience on TV, radio, online media and as a published author and conference speaker. Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Chile, Jeannette is truly bilingual and bicultural.

Here are a few questions and answers from the teleconference.

• At what age should I start to worry that my child is not yet potty trained?

Dr. Cotton: It is a very interesting question. There is no age to worry in particular. There is no adult that wets the bed. What does it mean that potty training deals with maturity? Because it has to do with maturity. For example, we cannot ask a 5-month-old babe to walk or talk because they are not mentally prepared. Well, this is similar to potty training. If the child is not mentally ready, they will not be able to go to the restroom even if you persist or if the daycare tells you they should be ready. They will not have control over it. You cannot force it upon your child either his mind, nervous system, and/or bladder is not ready. More or less around the age of 3 and a half, the American Pediatric Association does not worry yet. If there is a sign that the child began potty training but is still not successful, we give them time. There is no age or limit. By the age of 5, he/she should be able to control his/her urine at least.

• If a child is not truly verbal (a few words only) but understands direction and communicates with gestures, grunts, etc is it ok to begin the potty training?

Dr. Cotton: To be able to talk is not necessarily needed as long as they use some type of communication to show that they are ready. You have to pay attention to your child because every child is unique; therefore, if you see that your child cannot speak yet they go to the restroom, then they are ready.

• In regards to potty training boys, do you introduce the potty to them standing up or sitting down?

Dr. Cotton: Every family is different. A lot of the stuff in training comes from watching the dad or their mom. Therefore, if the boy watches their dad standing up they will usually learn standing up. Also, there are some children that need to be more relaxed like if they go do number two they are usually relaxed and pee right after. Every family is different;  therefore, every child is taught differently. There is no correct way so either way is fine.

• How normal is regression after potty training?

Dr. Cotton: It is very normal. Like I said before, you shouldn’t get mad at your child. It can happen that your child reverts at a moment of stress. If at that time he cannot control his urine, he will most likely revert so he/she can advance later on.

Jeannette Kaplun: Also, if a sibling is on their way, it is very normal to see regression. Whenever there is stress or change in the child’s life you can expect some kind of regression. Sometimes it’s an accident.

Dr. Cotton: Potty Training is a stress for the child. The family has to take it as a game so that the child becomes calm. If it is already a stress on their shoulders and we apply more pressure on them, they will get worse. At times, children begin to stutter due to the stress. Stuttering from being nervous is totally normal.