title: Toilet training of healthy young toddlers: a randomized trial between a daytime wetting alarm and timed potty training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toilet training (TT) is important for every child, but there is no agreement on what is the best training method. We evaluated in a randomized way the comprehensive use of a daytime wetting alarm at home for 5 days in healthy children and compared it with timed potty training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine children, between 20 and 36 months of age, were randomized to wetting alarm diaper training (WAD-T; n = 20) or timed potty training (TP-T; n = 19). Toilet behavior was observed by parents and independent observers before, at the end, and after 2 weeks of training. Late evaluation at 1 month was done by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The WAD-T group did significantly better than the TP-T group at the end training (p = .041), at 14 days (p = .027), and 1 month after training (p = .027). Independent bladder control was achieved in 88.9% of the WAD-T group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WAD-T method is a structured, child-friendly, highly effective option for TT young healthy children. It offers the parents clear guidelines, a limited time needed to complete TT, a high success rate, and minor emotional conflicts. Results must now be confirmed in a larger sample size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vermandel
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weyler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Wachter
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wyndaele
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D041381:Diapers, Infant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014039:Toilet Training