WHY DOESN’T MY CHILD WANT TO SIT ON POTTY?

There’s a very common problem that you may encounter when your toddler is potty training: you may get to the point where your child won’t poop on the potty. I know. You thought the worst of the diaper dilemmas were over, but often, potty training brings about new and challenging issues.

WHY?

First of all, you need to know that it is not unusual for a child to refuse to poop on the potty when toilet training. Just like everything, this is likely a phase that your child is going through. As long as the possibility of a medical issue (signs of a blockage, irregular bowel movements, etc.) has been eliminated, you can safely assume that this stage will pass.

Even if your child is developmentally ready to begin using the potty, he’ll probably need lots of support and encouragement from you before he’s willing to give up diapers.

If you’ve been trying to get your child to use the potty for a while and he’s been saying no most of the time, put the potty away for a few weeks and take a break. As you know, toddlers often say no even when they want to say yes – and they’re even more likely to say no when they sense that their parents want them to say yes. Give your child a little while to get out of the refusal pattern. Then both of you can have a fresh start.

REMEMBER

• Before you try again, wait for a time when your child’s daily life is fairly routine and stable. Since training requires your child to learn new patterns, it’s best if he doesn’t have to adapt his learning to a variety of settings, irregular hours, or the company of many different people.
• When you begin training again, make sure you’ve chosen a potty your child is comfortable with. If it’s a small potty chair, let him personalize it; he could paste stickers or write his name on it. If he’s using an adapter seat with your regular toilet, make sure he has a stool so he can get on and off it easily. Toddlers hate to feel insecure or precarious. He could also use the stool to stabilize himself with his feet when he has a bowel movement.
• Remember to acknowledge your child’s fear of pooping on the potty, and proceed with patience and empathy. If you force your child when it comes to potty training issues, it can stress your child out to the point that they become seriously constipated or impacted, which will have extremely uncomfortable and upsetting, and sometimes, long-lasting results.

You will want to see more other related articles:

At what age you should start potty training?

How to clean baby bottom without wipes?