How to Handle Resistance to Potty Training
- 1). Talk to your child about potty training and what might be interfering with the process. Keep the conversation positive without making the child feel belittled for not being potty trained.
- 2). Let your child watch you go to the bathroom if you feel comfortable with it. Talk about going to the bathroom on the toilet. Mention the other people your child knows who use the toilet, such as relatives and older friends.
- 3). Buy a potty chair with a removable seat that converts to a ring that fits on the regular toilet. Let your child try out both methods to see if one is more comfortable than the other. Some children prefer using the regular toilet like their parents, while others are scared to sit on it even with a ring.
- 4). Set a routine for using the toilet that includes regular visits based around your child's normal bowel movements and urination to increase his chances of success. If your child resists during the visits, don't push him, but stick with the schedule. Ask him to try again at the next scheduled potty break.
- 5). Use commercial potty-training incentives, such as flushable targets or tablets that turn the water colors when mixed with urine. Some children enjoy the entertainment aspect of these items and are more willing to try to use the toilet.
- 6). Experiment with different rewards for using the toilet to find the thing that makes your child excited. Charts work well for many families to keep track of toilet usage. Ideas for rewards include a new toy, candy, painting toenails or a trip to somewhere special like a movie or ice cream shop.
- 7). Praise small accomplishments and progress your child makes to get over the resistance. Avoid punishing or pointing out the negative behaviors or refusals to potty train.
- 8). Create a positive and entertaining tone around potty training. Sing silly songs or make a game out of using the potty. This reduces the pressure on the child and makes potty training more appealing.
- 9). Stop all mention of potty training for a few weeks to give your child a break if none of the methods work. Suggest she try again after the break without forcing her. If she still resists, take a longer break to give her more time to prepare.
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