Potty Training Resistance- What should you do?

What should you do if your child resists potty training?

If you sense your child is resisting your potty training efforts, your first response should be:

BACK OFF

and let him/her set the pace for a couple of days, thus breaking the cycle of resistance. During this time, play detective and observe you child's bathroom behavior to try and determine why your child is resisting.

• Is this the right time to be potty training your child?
• Have you selected a potty training technique that suits your child's personality?

Next, consider your own behavior.

• Is your behavior helping or hindering your child?

If you have a rather independent child and are directing him/her to use the potty, you may want to consider changing the words you use i.e. use more suggestive words instead of more directive words.

If you have a child that loves routine, you may want to set a reliable, predictable and easy to remember potty schedule such as potty right after waking up, after breakfast, after nap time, after lunch etc.

You can also try to decrease your child's resistance by being more accepting of your child's needs and wants even if they are standard or normal practices.If your child wants to run the water while sitting on the toilet or wants to take off all his/her clothes before sitting on the potty, let him/her do it.

When your child sees that you are accepting of his/her needs, s/he may be more responsive to your efforts.

Last, but not least, consider the possibility that despite the initial appearances, your child is not ready to be potty trained at this point and time. Wait a few weeks or a few months and try again.