About the Episode:
Potty training can feel like one of the most stressful milestones in early parenting. There’s pressure from preschool deadlines, advice from every corner of the internet, and the nagging feeling that your child is the only one who hasn’t figured it out yet. But what if potty training struggles aren’t really about behavior at all?
In this episode, Dr. Whitney talks with Dr. Quiara Smith, a pediatric pelvic health occupational therapist and founder of Aloha Integrative Therapy, about the many biological, sensory, and developmental factors that influence toileting.
They discuss why constipation, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and muscle coordination all play a role in toileting success (and why the “three-day potty training method” often misses the bigger picture).
If potty training has been a source of stress in your family, this episode offers a compassionate, evidence-based perspective on what might actually be going on inside your child’s body.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Quiara Smith, OTD, OTR/L is a pediatric pelvic health occupational therapist and the founder of Aloha Integrative Therapy.
She specializes in helping children with toileting challenges including constipation, bedwetting, toileting anxiety, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Her work focuses on understanding how children’s sensory systems, neuromuscular development, and environments interact to support healthy bladder and bowel function.
Dr. Smith works with families to create individualized plans that support children’s confidence and independence with toileting.
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