Potty
Training Problems
Problems
Might You Encounter During Training
You
may encounter several problems when potty training your toddler.
Some may occur right up front while others may not present
themselves until potty training is well under way.
One of the most common potty training problems really has
more to do with the parent than it does the child. Many
parents are so eager to have their little ones begin potty
training that they begin the process too early. They may
mistake certain signs as signals of readiness. Most
children go through potty training somewhere between eighteen
and thirty-six months. The average age that a child will
be potty trained is around two and a half years, and girls
generally potty train easier than boys.
Here are some common issues:
Child
doesn't want to use the potty at all If you find that your child doesn't want
to go to the potty at all, make sure that your child
is ready. If your child is ready, check to see
if other factors might be causing a problem, for
example:
* Is there a lot of pressure or stress being
put on her to use the potty?
* Is she constipated?
* Is she afraid of the flushing sound?
* Is she afraid of falling into the potty?
* Can her feet easily touch the floor or a
stool while she's sitting on the potty?
* Can she easily turn the light on in the
bathroom?
Identify and eliminate any fear factors and try
training again. Parents need to understand
that using the potty and all that this might entail
can be a scary process for a little one.
Child
was using potty well, and is now having accidents
again
Sometimes outside factors can affect potty training
progress, such as:
* Illness,
* Constipation, diarrhea or urinary tract
infections,
* A new child coming into the family,
* Change in caregivers at daycare,
* A divorce or any other event that changes
the daily routine can cause a child to regress.
Try to keep things as close to normal as you
possibly can, and offer your child added reassurance
during these stressful times. Keep training
and resist the temptation to go back to diapers.
Regression isn't uncommon, you need to show extra
patience and understanding.
Child
is defiant about sitting on potty, often saying
"NO!"
This is your typical power struggle. Your
child wants to be independent and so she is
asserting herself. She wants sitting on the
potty to be her idea, and will resist when she feels
otherwise. There are a couple of ways to
address this.
First
You can just give up and let her lead the way.
Don't ask or tell her when to go potty, just let her
go as she needs to.
Second
You can make her think it's her idea. Offer
her a special book and give it to her saying, 'I
thought you might like this book in case you need to
potty sometime soon.' Or you could tell her
you need to go potty yourself, that you'll be busy
in the bathroom for a few minutes but will let her
know when you're done in case she needs to go, too.
look for positive ways to encourage potty use.
You can try a reward system using stickers or other
items. Once your child has earned so many
stickers, she may be given a small gift, treat, or
privilege, such as bubbles, ice cream cone, or a
trip to the amusement park.
Don't punish her when she refuses to use the potty,
and don't make a big deal out of it. Instead,
praise her when she does, and point out how other
children that she knows are using the potty, too.
Emphasize all of the fun things she'll be able to do
because she is potty trained. Just remember to
handle it calmly.
Some of these problems are easily addressed and solved, while
others may take a little more ingenuity and time.
Eventually, most if not all problems should be solved
You
may encounter several problems when potty training your toddler.
Some may occur right up front while others may not present
themselves until potty training is well under way.
The
