Many parents of toddlers encounter obstacles on their path towards being diaper-free. Regardless of the setbacks you might endure, it is often helpful to view potty training as a process—not an event. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests it can take 6 to 8 months to complete daytime potty training and even months or years to achieve nighttime dryness. A serene, no-pressure attitude about the process can help your toddler navigate potential potty-training problems without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Step 1
Take your child to the doctor for a medical evaluation to ensure a medical condition is not behind the potty training problems. Since children are often reluctant to do things that hurt, pediatrician and child development expert Dr. William Sears recommends checking with the doctor to make sure your child is not constipated or suffering from a urinary tract infection, which can cause pain and burning during urination.
Step 2
Address his fear of the toilet. If the flushing sound of the toilet scares him or he hates flushing away his own bowel movements, he might feel more comfortable using a small potty chair. You might also turn flushing into a game by letting him tear up small bits of paper and flushing them down the toilet.
Step 3
Help her recognize the connection between feeling and going. While your child might willingly use the potty when you take her there, she might not yet recognize the physical signs that she needs to go to the bathroom. Take off your child’s clothing from the waist down when at home or outdoors so she can begin to connect feelings of pressure with the need to urinate or have a bowel movement.
Step 4
Lighten the stress and pressure on your child. Clean up accidents in a matter-of-fact way without yelling or berating your child. The Babycenter Medical Advisory board suggests that overreacting to accidents can make children fearful and anxious about having them, which can then lead to more further potty training delays.
Step 5
Reward correct behaviors with incentives that appeal to your child. While some children need only praise to learn to use the toilet, others might require more tangible incentives to spur their interest in the process. Sears recommends using a sticker chart with a special reward each time your child collects a set number of stickers.
Tips and Warnings
- Most boys sit when they first start to urinate in the potty. If your son resists standing, it might be helpful to ask his father or another male relative to model the process for him. If your child resists using the potty in places other than at home, you might want to invest in a small travel potty to bring with you.
Things You'll Need
- Potty chair
- Stickers
