How to Potty Train With a Withholding Problem

If a child has a negative experience while being potty trained, it can cause the child to resist the training and start to hold her bowels. By making sure that your child is mentally, emotionally and physically ready to be potty trained, you can begin to take specific steps to deal with the resistance or bowel holding. To begin, remember to make potty training a positive experience for your child in order to avoid or eliminate stress.

Instructions

1. Observe whether your child is urinating regularly. Check to see if your child is remaining dry for two hours at a time. Take note of facial expressions that indicate your child needs to pass her bowels. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics states that most children are ready to be potty trained if they are between the ages of 18 and 24 months, but that some children may not be ready until they are three years old. Avoid rushing your child to become potty trained as this could create stress in your child which is a great deterrent to the process.

2. Help your child to relax and see the training as fun by letting your child wear potty training underwear like Gerber's waterproof pants (see Resources). Make sure your child can reach and easily sit on the potty without your assistance. Ask your child if he is in pain if you notice him frowning while he sits on the toilet. This might indicate that the bowel movement is painful.

3. Give your child plenty of water to drink throughout the day, about two to three 8-ounce glasses. Allow the water to stimulate your child's kidneys and bowels to encourage the need to go to the potty. Ask her if she has to relieve herself fifteen to twenty minutes after she drinks or eats. Continue to ask if she has to use the bathroom every two to three minutes until she goes to the potty.

4. Employ the use of your child's favorite action figure in the training by putting a pair of makeshift training underwear on the toy. Carry the toy to the potty about fifteen minutes after your child eats or drinks. Ask the child if he has to potty, then turn and ask your child if he thinks the toy has to potty. Make a game of the experience. Pour water into the doll and celebrate as the water flows through the doll into the potty. Then turn and again ask your child if he has to use the potty.

5. Stick with a consistent training process. Talk with daycare providers or your child's babysitter. Insure that they are aware of the training process you are using at home. Ask them to use the same method while your child is in their care.

6. Celebrate each occasion when your child approaches you and lets you know that he has to use the potty. Hug your child, sing a song or give your child a hearty hand clap. Tell your child's other parent about potty training successes. Make sure your child over hears you praising his success. Speak with your child in comforting tones, even during times when he has an accident. Encourage and praise your child for new accomplishments he makes as he begins to go to the bathroom on his own more. Keep in mind that this can eliminate a need in your child to regress in order to get the attention from you that he got when he was learning to go to the potty.

7. Seek professional advice. Contact your child's pediatrician if your child continues to resist potty training. Keep in mind that on rare occasions a child could have an infection or other physical condition that makes going to the bathroom painful or difficult.

Resources

• Gerber Water Proof Training Pants