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Assisted infant toilet training in a Western family setting
1Section of Pediatrics, Mother and Child Department, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.
Insights
Caregiver-assisted infant toilet training, starting at 33 days old, was successful in a Western setting. This method involves observing infant cues and using vocal signals for elimination, completing training by five months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Independent toilet training in Western cultures typically begins around 18 months.
- Assisted toilet training in Asian and African cultures traditionally starts within the first three months of life.
Observation:
- A male infant in a Western family began caregiver-assisted toilet training at 33 days old.
- Caregivers observed the infant's bowel schedule and cues to time elimination assistance.
- The infant was held in an "in-arms" position with vocal cues during elimination.
Findings:
- Successful caregiver-assisted toilet training was achieved by five months of age.
- This case demonstrates the feasibility of early infant toilet training in Western environments.
- Learning infant's natural elimination timing and signals is key to success.
Implications:
- Early infant toilet training is a viable option in Western settings.
- This approach may offer cultural alternatives to standard Western practices.
- Further research into early toilet training methods is warranted.
Abstract:
In the Western world, independent toilet training usually starts at age 18 months or later. In Asia and Africa, assisted toilet training traditionally starts between one and three months and is completed within approximately one year. This article reports a male infant who started caregiver-assisted toilet training at age 33 days in a Western family setting. During the first days, the caregiver made observations of the infant's bowel movement schedule and the cues he provided, from which she learned when to assist him to eliminate in the bathroom. During the elimination process, the infant was held in an "in-arms" position, with close contact between the infant's back and the caregiver's chest. Meanwhile, the caregiver gave vocal signals to prompt the infant to eliminate. Successful bowel training was completed at five months. This case report shows that early infant toilet training is possible in a Western family setting if the caregiver properly learns the infant's natural elimination timing and signals.
