Tips To Overcome Potty Training Challenges

One of the most challenges experiences that your toddler will have to tackle is potty training. Some days will be better than others, but it can take time and patience before you can officially consider your child potty-trained. To help you and your child tackle this challenge, here are some of the most common issues you can face and what you can do. 

Your Child Refuses to Sit on the Toilet

A common issue that parents face is a child who simply refuses to even sit on the toilet. Although it might seem your little one is being stubborn, he or she could actually be scared of the toilet. If you consider it from your child's perspective, it can appear to be scary. 

Until your child is ready to use the toilet, let him or her use a potty chair. When it is time to empty the potty, ask your child to help. By watching and helping, your child can become more familiar with the toilet and will not be as frightened of it. 

Your Child Is Not Having Bowel Movements in the Potty

Whether your child is using the potty chair or has progressed to the toilet, there is a possibility that he or she might refuse to have bowel movements in either place. If your child is willing to urinate in the potty or toilet, but refused to use either for a bowel movement, there are a couple of reasons this could occur. 

It is possible that your child's stools are too hard, which is causing him or her to be anxious about using the potty or toilet for a bowel movement. To resolve the issue, consider giving your child mineral oil. It has no flavor, so you can easily blend it with your child's food or beverages. 

Another possible reason is that your child has performance anxiety about using the toilet for bowel movements. To help him or her overcome it, you might have to ease your child into the process. 

You can try placing a diaper on your child when he or she needs to have a bowel movement and instructing him or her to do it in the bathroom. You need to get him or her used to the idea of having a movement in the bathroom. 

After that, you can have him or her sit on the potty with the diaper on while having a bowel movement. Once your child is used to that experience, talk to him or her about removing the diaper while on the potty or toilet. It can take time to reach the point at which your child is comfortable enough to do this, so be patient. 

If your child continues to have problems, talk to your pediatrician. He or she can provide you invaluable tips and help determine if there is a medical reason your child is refusing to potty train.