Potty training can be a trying process for both parents and children; however, when you are potty training a difficult child, the process can be a nightmare. On average, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, children will start showing signs of being ready to potty train as early as 18 months old, but some may remain in diapers until they are 3 years old. Allowing a difficult child to feel in control of the process will make potty training easier.
Step 1
Watch for cues that your child is ready to potty train. These include showing interest in the potty, knowing when she has a wet or dirty diaper, being able to express a desire to use the bathroom, or being able to follow simple instructions. Your child should also be able to pull down her pants and walk to the potty chair. When potty training a difficult child, wait until she is showing most, if not all, of these signs.
Step 2
Make your child feel in control; this is especially important if you have a difficult child. Have him pick out the underwear and/or potty he wants at the store. Let him throw away any extra diapers that are in the house. Take him with you when you pick out rewards for his potty training success.
Step 3
Allow your child to become familiar with the potty chair prior to potty training. Let your child sit on the chair fully clothed and let the child explore the chair. When the time comes to potty train, the chair won't be as scary as it would be if the child had never seen it before.
Step 4
Stay close to home during potty training so your child can use the potty she feels comfortable with. Often, a child who is difficult to potty train will avoid using toilets outside of the house, making potty training even harder. As an alternative, bring the child's potty chair with you when you leave the house so she can use her potty.
Step 5
Avoid using disposable training pants during the day. Most of these have liners that keep the child dry, which means the child won't feel wet. Although using cloth training pants may mean cleaning up a few accidents, it will speed up the time it takes to train a difficult child.
Step 6
Let your child lead the process. Making potty training a stressful experience will teach your child to stay away from the potty. Show your child how to use the potty and encourage him to use it, but don't force him to use it.
Step 7
Set up a reward system for using the potty. Give your child a treat each time she uses the potty. Alternatively, you can reward the child with stickers on a poster board. When she gets a certain number of stars, let her select a small toy when you go to the store.
Step 8
Be persistent. Potty training is a scary process for some children. Push your child hard enough to learn but not hard enough to discourage. Realize that your child will have accidents, especially at night. Asking your child often if he needs to use the bathroom, especially after meals or drinking, is one way to minimize the number of accidents.
Tips and Warnings
- Some children learn to use the potty by watching other people use the bathroom. If this is the case with your child, let her watch you use the restroom.
- If you notice that your child hasn't had a bowel movement in three days or more, contact his pediatrician. Some children withhold bowel movements and become constipated during potty training.
