Crawling, walking, self-feeding, and reading are just a few of the milestones parents look forward to and celebrate when their toddler accomplishes them. But if you were to ask any parent with an older child what task they liked checking off the list the most, chances are potty training would be at the top of the list. And who could blame them? Buying, changing, and disposing of diapers gets cumbersome after a few years.
As you prepare for toilet training, there are a few potential pitfalls to know about. After all, most kids will have some difficulties, but they will eventually figure out how to ditch the diapers and hop onto the potty. Here are a few of the more common problems that occur during potty training and some tips to get past them.
Training too early
As a toddler approaches two-and-a-half years old, most parents are eager to get started on potty training. And even though you may be ready for Baby to sit on the big potty, they may not be. A few signs you should look for before leaping into full-on potty training mode include:
- Showing interest in the potty
- Asking questions about the bathroom and toilet
- Longer stretches of dry time
- When they tell you before they start to go in their diaper or the bath
All are great signs of readiness on Baby’s part!
Uses the small potty, but not the toilet
Some kids have no problem using their little potty but panic once you ask them to hop onto the big toilet. If you encounter this problem, Baby may be concerned that they will be sucked into the toilet when it is flushed, or they may not understand how or why their waste is flushed away. Let them flush the toilet and explain to them where their urine and feces go. You can even make it a game, and wave “bye-bye,” to the poop or come up with a simple song to sing that helps them relax and go potty. Kids need to feel super comfortable, so try not to rush off the small potty if it’s working well.
Bowel movements only happen with a diaper on
It’s normal to discover that your toddler only wants to have a bowel movement with a diaper or training pants on, even if they have already transitioned to underwear for the majority of the day. Some kids will put a pair of training pants on and go to a special corner or place in the house to poop. If this is happening, avoid attaching any judgment to the situation and simply guide your child to the bathroom. Place them on the potty and ask them to go there. If they are not quite ready to take the diaper off, allow them to have a bowel movement in their diaper while sitting on the toilet. While this takes a lot of patience and consistency on your part, taking it one step at a time is sometimes the only way to make a complete change. Toddlers often master peeing in the potty before pooping. Try not to rush the pooping process – too much pressure can lead to constipation or setbacks with peeing. Anything you can do to make it fun to poop on the potty is a win!
Dry during the day, but wet at night
Staying dry at night often takes a toddler longer to get the hang of than daytime dryness. The brain needs time to develop nighttime bladder control. Some children take several extra years. Don’t wake your child for bathroom trips – it won’t help and will only make everyone more tired. Be patient and supportive, and speak to your pediatric provider about any concerns past age 5-6.
Fully potty trained, but wants back in diapers
Children may want to wear diapers again or have more accidents when they’re stressed. Some of these triggers include:
- A new baby in the house
- One adult leaving for an extended time
- Moving to a new house, illness
- Leaving their beloved crib for a toddler bed
It’s important not to overreact. Accept and talk about what is causing them to regress, and then give consistent, gentle support to use the bathroom during the day. Focus on motivation and positive statements, reminding them that they know how to do this.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources
- “Toilet Training.” Healthy Children. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved August 22, 2017. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/toilet-training/Pages/default.aspx.
- “Toilet Training.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved August 22, 2017. https://medlineplus.gov/toilettraining.html.
