TY - JOUR
T1 - Assisted Infant Toilet Training and Bladder and Bowel Health
T2 - A Global Integrative Review
AU - Hindmarsh, Celia
AU - Davis, Deborah
AU - Atchan, Marjorie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Crown 2025.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - BACKGROUND: Toilet training practices vary across cultures and time. Assisted Infant Toilet Training (AITT) is commonly used in low- and middle-income countries.OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the literature on AITT, including timing of initiation and completion, infant elimination signalling, and associations with bladder and bowel dysfunction.METHODS: An integrative review methodology was employed. Comprehensive searches of Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar identified relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened and appraised studies using GRADE and JBI tools.RESULTS: Of 2,069 studies identified, 21 met inclusion criteria. Six observational studies reported reduced rates of bladder and bowel dysfunction when AITT was practised.DISCUSSION: AITT is widely practised in low-income, non-English speaking countries. While observational studies suggest a potential protective effect on bladder and bowel health, the evidence is at serious risk of bias. Further prospective research in high-income contexts is warranted.
AB - BACKGROUND: Toilet training practices vary across cultures and time. Assisted Infant Toilet Training (AITT) is commonly used in low- and middle-income countries.OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the literature on AITT, including timing of initiation and completion, infant elimination signalling, and associations with bladder and bowel dysfunction.METHODS: An integrative review methodology was employed. Comprehensive searches of Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar identified relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened and appraised studies using GRADE and JBI tools.RESULTS: Of 2,069 studies identified, 21 met inclusion criteria. Six observational studies reported reduced rates of bladder and bowel dysfunction when AITT was practised.DISCUSSION: AITT is widely practised in low-income, non-English speaking countries. While observational studies suggest a potential protective effect on bladder and bowel health, the evidence is at serious risk of bias. Further prospective research in high-income contexts is warranted.
KW - Assisted infant toilet training
KW - Bladder and bowel dysfunction
KW - Early toilet training
KW - Elimination communication
KW - Infant development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105015967046&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10995-025-04160-0
DO - 10.1007/s10995-025-04160-0
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40911121
SN - 1092-7875
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Maternal and Child Health Journal
JF - Maternal and Child Health Journal
ER -
