Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a potentially debilitating mental illness characterized by irrational thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors. According to Mayo Clinic, this serious disorder can only be accurately diagnosed after an extensive psychiatric evaluation. OCD is rarely diagnosed in toddlers because OCD-like interests are a normal phase of early childhood development. Toddlers undergoing normal development will often have fixated interests, or schemas, that dominate the child's mindset for several weeks or months. These behaviors can complicate potty-training even for mentally healthy children, and they can pose a significant challenge to toddlers with OCD. Consider using the following guidelines to potty-train your obsessive-compulsive toddler.
Step 1
Observe your child for signs of readiness. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should avoid trying to potty-train a child with a mental disorder until he has regular bowel movements and is able to stay dry for an hour at a time. These developments may occur at any time during the second, third or fourth year of a child's life.
Step 2
Consult your child's therapist or primary health care provider for guidance. A medical expert who knows your child may provide helpful insight into your toddler's emotional and physical challenges. Request personalized advice that is relevant to your child's behavioral struggles.
Step 3
Observe your child carefully when he is in the presence of a potty-chair, toilet or public restroom. The AAP reports that children with mental disorders may feel troubled by common sounds and smells in a bathroom. If your toddler who has OCD despises the smell of deodorizer or insists on wearing socks in the bathroom, it is best to acknowledge his discomforts. Adapt his environment to make the experience less emotionally troubling for him.
Step 4
Lead your toddler to the potty at regular but flexible intervals. If your child frequently defecates after a meal, offer her an opportunity to use the toilet after each meal is complete. Encourage her to go every morning and every evening. Toddlers with OCD require predictable structure to a greater degree than average.
Step 5
Mention the toilet in everyday conversation, adapting to his individual interests. If your toddler compulsively stacks blocks, make up an absurd game in which you help him build a make-believe potty for his toy animals to use. If he has an unusual fixation on a specific fictional character, tell him a bedtime story involving the character learning to use the toilet.
Step 6
Give your child control over potty-training attire. If she has an obsessive interest in tropical fish, buy her several pairs of panties decorated with clownfish. Let her wear underwear as often as she will allow, and praise her when she begins requesting them instead of diapers.
Step 7
Reprimand your child gently when he has accidents in his underwear. Do not yell, humiliate or punish him, but do inform him that it is not appropriate to defecate or urinate outside of the potty. Politely observe, "You went pee-pee on the floor instead of your potty. Help me clean it up."
Step 8
Praise your toddler when she uses the potty appropriately, and encourage her to take pride in her own accomplishment. Brag openly to friends and family about your toddler's step toward independence. Although she may experience some setbacks, she will associate toilet-training with personal pride and maturity.
Things You'll Need
- Child-sized potty
- Cloth or disposable underpants
