As a parent it can be frustrating to find yourself in the
middle of potty training only to run in the same problem over and over!
By reading what is common and what is not you may soon
realize how normal your potty training toddler may be.
- A bowel movement is most likely to make its way out and your child asks for a diaper. Soon after you agreed to put that diaper on you noticed your child is hiding or standing in a special place to let go. Surprise! Your child is physically; yet not emotionally ready to be potty trained. Instead of considering this a failure or abnormal, encourage your child to walk to the bathroom and dump the stool where it should go in the first place. Soon your child will understand that it's ok to let the poop go in its proper place. If you would like to take it one step further ask your child to have the bowel movement in the bathroom while wearing a diaper and soon, say good-bye to the diaper and sit your child on the potty.
- Your child poops or pees right after he gets off the toilet. What an experience right? Well again... this is normal especially in the early stages of potty training due to the muscle control and relaxation which takes time to control them. If this happens often be prepared with extra towels and wipes, practice makes best, don't give up!
- Regressing, the word most parents don't want to know about! Stress can send anyone to a comfort zone; just think of that box of chocolate you may have hidden in your show closet. Children going trough any levels of stress tend to reboot back to an earlier level of development or milestone crossed, and especially if the stress is recent. Give it time and it will pass. Since stressor can come from just about anything new I suggest you don't go back to diapers, but instead take a more relaxed approach and if possible identify what is going on in your child's life. Reduce the stress and help your child have more successes, it will all pass and before you know it you crossed one more stressor off your list.
Adriana Vermillion is the Founder and CEO of P.O.T.T."Y" Generation®, The Potty Whisperer™, a Lead Trainer and Parenting Coach with over sixteen years of experience in potty training special needs children and coaching parents. Adriana is a freelance writer, author and a frequent motivational speaker available for your event at www.adrianavermillion.com
