Problem
|
Reason Why It Happens
|
Solutions
|
Your child shows readiness but
won’t try |
- She doesn’t understand
- The process is not interesting enough
- She is going through a negative phase.
|
- Re-evaluate your approach, and try something new.
- Have a few step-by-step lessons and make it fun.
- Put up a sticker poster or put a bowl of small prizes in the
bathroom and award one for each use.
|
| Your child has lots of accidents |
- He is distracted
- He is not noticing his body’s warning signs.
|
- Set a timer to ring every two hours. Take him to the potty when
it rings.
- Help him identify his need to go (“You’re wriggling;.let’s
go on the potty.”)
|
| Your child is constipated |
- There are problems with her diet.
- She does not have the patience to sit on the potty.
- She is feeling pressure about training.
- She is holding it too long.
|
- Increase fruit, vegetables, whole grains and water. Avoid refined
sugar, sweets, fizzy drinks, cheese,rice and junk food.
- Realx the potty training a bit.
- Teach her to go as soon as she needs to go.
|
| Your child won’t poo on the potty |
- It feels wrong for him to use the toilet after going in a nappy
for so long.
- He is fearful about the process.
- He’s not yet ready to read his body’s warning signals.
|
- Reassure him that he’s learning and soon he’ll have his bowel
movements in the potty.
- Have him poo in the toilet even if it’s in his nappy.
- Clean him in the bathroom, wipe hime on the potty and have him
flush.
|
| Your child won’t poo on the potty |
- He had a bad experience, such as constipation or a fall off
the toilet
|
- Get a soft, padded toilet seat.
- Line the potty bowl with a nappy or cut the crotch out of a
nappy and have him sit and have a go.
- Read, sing or tell him stories when is on the potty. Play soft
music to help him relax.
|
Your child won’t use the potty
at nursery |
- She relies on parent prompts at home.
- Different routines are confusing to her
- She is not comfortable with the bathrom
- She gets too busy playing.
|
- Practise each morning when you drop her off at nursery.
- Have routine potty times.
- Set a plan with your daycare provider.
- Ask your child what would help.
|
Your child uses the potty at the
childminder’s or nursery but not at home |
- The nursery schedule or method creates success.
- Peer pressure motivates him to go.
|
- Ask the nursry staff for tips.
- Use the nursery schedule at home.
- Duplicate the childminder’s method at home.
- Create a sticker chart for your child to use.
|
Your child won’t go
when away from home |
- She has stage fright.
- She doesn’t understand that she’s supposed to.
- She can’t relax when away from home.
- She’s not used to a big toilet.
|
- Bring along a book to read.
- Visit the potty everywhere you go.
- Teach her a private signal or word to tell you when she wants
to go.
- Tell her that everyone uses the toilets everywhere you go.
|
Your child won’t go when away from
home |
- She doesn’t understand why you cover or clean the seat or she
is scared of the germs
|
- Bring a portable, folding toilet seat cover.
- Don’t dwell on germs. Tell her that you cover or clean the seat
because it’s not your own toilet.
|
Your child was trained but has
regressed |
- A life change is causing stress
- He has lost interest
- You stopped reminding him
- He has a medical problem
|
- Give extra love and praise.
- Take him to the potty at routine times.
- Introduce a sticker chart or potty prizes.
- Talk to your doctor.
|
| You are getting impatient or angry |
- Things are not pregressing accroding to plan
- You have unreasonable expectations
|
- Read books and articles on potty training.
- Talk to other, experienced parents.
- Talk to your doctor.
- Stop training for a month or so and regroup.
|
