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Potty training is an important milestone in the toddler years. And while some children may sail through potty training without any issues, other children may find potty training difficult, scary, or unnecessary. However, with a little patience and education, parents and toddlers can overcome the obstacles and successfully graduate from potty training.
There are two things that are essential to successfully potty train a child. First the child must dislike the feeling of being wet. If your child can play for hours in wet pants, he may be more difficult to convince that potty training is important. Secondly, the child must be able to communicate on their own to an adult that they need to use the bathroom. If the child is too young to convey this message, potty training will be very difficult.
There are several obstacles which may present themselves while potty training your child. A common problems deals with the issue of control. However, it is not necessarily bladder control, it is control of the situation. Some toddlers are very independent and will only agree to potty training if they think it is their idea. Or they know they can cause frustration in their parent by avoiding the training, and use this as a way to assert themselves. There are two ways to deal with training problems that stem from a power struggle. The first is to continue with potty training, but with the intention the child will believe the training is their idea. This can be achieved through suggestions such as “I bought a new potty chair if anyone wants to use it,” or “Wouldn’t this be a neat book for someone to read if they were on the potty?” The other way to deal with a power struggle is to back off from potty training and try again at a later time. Your child might surprise you with independence and train themselves…just for spite!
Some children simply aren’t interested in potty training at the time you are ready to start training them, which can cause problems. A child might not be interested because they are too young, aren’t physically or socially ready, or haven’t yet grown uncomfortable with the feeling of wet clothes against their skin. It is generally most productive to start potty training at a time when both the parent and child are ready to try. Trying to potty train a child who seems to have no interest can turn into a power struggle, which makes potty training difficult.
Another issue that often arises in potty training is fear of the toilet. Some toddlers are afraid of an adult’s toilet because it is so large, or are afraid to flush because of the noise it makes. Other children are afraid they will fall in the toilet and disappear with all the water. If you find that your child is (or becomes) fearful of using your toilet, use a potty chair. Many different styles are available, which makes finding one your child is comfortable with quite easy. When your child has overcome their fear, which usually comes with time, you can transition them to the adult toilet.
Children who once appeared to be potty trained but suddenly regress could be dealing with one of several issues. Toddlers can be very sensitive to changes in their social environment. A divorce, new baby, death, or other stressful events in a family can lead children to regress in their potty training. Children can also appear to be regressing in their training, when they may in fact be ill. Potty training usually becomes difficult if the child is suffering from the flu, a urinary tract infection, constipation, diarrhea, a severe diaper rash, or many other medical factors. If you find your toddler has suddenly lost interest in potty training, make sure that a temporary medical condition, or stressful family event, is not the cause of their regression.
To some parents, potty training can seem to be a never ending task. However, by recognizing the possible cause of your child’s issues, you can determine the right way to approach the problem.
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