5.3.13

Bathroom Procedures

Children’s Bathroom Policy

The Board of Directors, Policy Council, Executive Director and staff of Shasta Head Start Child Development, Inc., have determined that supervision of children in the bathrooms must be conducted by Shasta Head Start staff only.

Parents or community volunteers are not allowed to oversee bathroom supervision, even if they have been fingerprinted.

Exception: The only exception to this rule is that a parent may accompany his/her own child to the bathroom when other children are not present.

Reasons: The reasons for Shasta Head Start’s Children’s Bathroom Policy, are as follows:

1. To assure staff’s ability to supervise children at all times
2. Safety for children and parents
3. To keep children from playing in bathroom
4. Sanitation issues
5. Hygiene issues
6. Children feel more safe – can see and know where adult is in case they need help, and
7. Title 22 licensing requires that children must be in visual view of supervising staff.

The Children’s Bathroom Policy is shared with the family at the first home visit. The Home Visitor should print a copy of the policy (available in English & Spanish) and take it to the visit.

For general information about bathroom procedures, refer to the Resources section of this document. Bathroom procedure resources include:

• The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos
• Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-R)
• Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS-R)

Toilet Learning

Twos are about to accomplish a special task – toilet learning – and you have an important role to play. Here are some of the ways that children show that they are becoming more aware of their bodily functions and that they will soon be ready for toilet training.

1. Staying dry for long periods of time
2. Wanting to sit on the toilet with their clothes on
3. Telling you that they are wet, had a bowel movement, or are going to (although usually too late to get them to the bathroom in time)
4. Saying that they want to use the toilet and talking about their urine and bowel movements, using whatever words are used at home

To help a child learn to use the toilet, follow these steps:

1. Watch for the signs that children are ready. Remember that 2-year-olds do not automatically become ready for toilet learning on their second birthday. While some twos show signs of readiness, many children are not ready to undertake this big step until they are at least 30 months old.
2. When they seem ready, encourage children to use the toilet. Talk with them consistently and calmly, but without undue pressure or shaming them.
3. Frequently remind children to go to the toilet. That way, they might not get so involved in what they are doing that they forget and have an accident. Take advantage of group potty time so children can see and learn from one another.
4. Acknowledge children’s successes.
5. Allow children to see their urine and bowel movements and invite them to help flush them away if they choose.

Also see “Working in Partnership with Families” found in The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos – Chapter 7: Diapering and Toileting (Page 26)

Guidelines for Toilet Learning

Typically, sometime in the last half of their second year, children reach the point when they are ready physically, cognitively, and psychologically to begin using the toilet. As caregivers and parents follow children’s lead, are supportive, work together and avoid getting into power struggles with toddlers, they can master the skill of toilet learning through a pleasant and educational experience.

• Watch for signs that children are ready (body language, e.g., “the potty dance”)
• Encourage children calmly, but without shame or undue pressure to use the toilet
• Remind children to go to the toilet frequently
• Applaud children’s success without overdoing it
• Allow children to see what they have produced and invite them to help flush it away if they choose to
• Treat accidents matter-of-factly
• Provide steps so children can reach the sink, turn on the water, and wash their hands when they are through
• Make the bathroom a pleasant place to be
• Provide books about children using the toilet
• Ask parents how they are helping their child learn to use the toilet at home

See Guidelines for Toilet Learning under the Resources section of this document for English and Spanish version of this information.

References

• Children’s Bathroom Policy (Printable version) – English | Spanish 
• Head Start Bathroom Procedures Resources
  • Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-r) – Item 12: Toileting/Diapering
  • All About the ECERS-R – Item 12: Toileting/Diapering – page 111
• Early Head Start Bathroom Procedures Resources
  • The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos – Volume 2
    • Chapter 7: Diapering and Toileting – pages 15-27
  • ITERS – Item 9: Diapering/Toileting
  • All About the ITERS – Item 9: Diapering/Toileting – page 107
• Guidelines for Toilet Learning – English | Spanish 
• Universal Precautions
• Related SOPs:
  • Child Supervision
  • Handwashing Procedures
  • Diapering
  • Cleaning & Laundry