Potty training is a stepwise process that requires a massive effort by parents and toddlers all the way. If you are a parent with a child at the age of potty training, do not get frustrated over prefatorial failures. If it’s not working for your kid, try another way or get help from somewhere.
There are no “bad” or “good” toddlers when it comes to potty training. Some children will have very easy potty training while others will have more difficulty with it. Parents need to understand that most toddlers who are not potty trained by the time will eventually understand the process later if trained appropriately.
Why do Parents Give Up on Potty Training?
For parents who are doing it for the first time, potty training could be a nerve-wracking task. This is the reason parents give up on potty training when their kid is not responding to the system or when they fail to understand the toddler’s needs.
There could be many reasons why parents give up on potty training:
Lack of Patience
Parents who give up on potty training usually have one thing in common: They are not patient enough. They don’t have enough time to teach their child how to use the potty. It’s understandable, though, that parents would want to get their children used to the idea of using the toilet before they even think about potty training. If your child is starting school or starting a new preschool, you probably don’t want them to be embarrassed or have an accident.
However, things will only get from bad to worse if parents rush through the process. It is important to give toddlers all the time they need to accept potty training.
Parenting Stress
It’s very common for new parents to feel overwhelmed by the new responsibilities of parenthood, which can lead to feeling anxious and stressed out. In a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, researchers found that parents who were not able to put their children in the bathroom when they needed to go had higher levels of parenting stress. So, it’s no wonder that some parents are choosing to give up on potty training because they don’t want to deal with the additional stress.
Not Knowing How to Teach their Child
Parents who have never taught their children to use a toilet often flunk firsthand. This lack of experience causes many parents to be confused about what they should do, and they often fail at potty training.
When it’s time to train the child to the potty, parents do not ask for help and therefore give up on the process. Many parents leave it for daycare training instructors or trained professionals.
However, for parents, lack of potty training knowledge is not an excuse. There are countless books, educational content, and thousands of YouTube videos on potty training that can help.
Also, asking for assistance from experienced parents will help you learn more about potty training. If you have any doubts or questions, ask your friends who have already trained their children.
Not Being Consistent Enough
If you want your child to be successful in potty training, you need to be consistent. It is very important to be consistent with your schedule and the routine you have set for them. Your child will learn what the right time is to go to the bathroom by watching you do it. If you are always on time, you are setting a good example for them.
If you are not consistent enough, you can find yourself in a situation where your child goes to the bathroom when they do not have to. This can lead to accidents that are hard to clean up. If you are not following the schedule, you will have a hard time getting your child to use the bathroom at the right times.
Stages of Potty Training
Potty training is a big commitment for any family, especially when you are starting it with a child who has never been taught how to use the toilet.
The first step in potty training is teaching your child to use the toilet. This involves learning to recognize when he needs to go.
It’s a good idea to start with one night a week when your child is old enough to learn. You’ll need to be patient, though, because children take time to learn. Once your child knows what he needs to do to go, he may be willing to go more often. It’s important to continue encouraging him to go.
Don’t force your child to go until he has learned the right way to use the toilet.
The next thing you’ll need to do is to teach your child how to hold his bladder. You start by letting him go to the bathroom whenever he wants, and then gradually decrease the number of times you let him go.
Finally, you teach him how to tell you when he needs to go. A wonderful way to do this is to teach your child to sign. If he signs “potty,” you can put him in the bathroom, and he will know that he needs to go. If he is very young, you should do this every time he goes to the bathroom. He may use the potty or pull down his pants, or he may be able to tell you by wetting his pants. Once your child knows how to signal you, there will be far lesser accidents during potty training.
If your child is very young, he may need a potty training chair that your child love to use. The potty chair will give your child a place to sit when he needs to go. It is not necessary, but it can be a great aid to potty training.
Once you have taught your child how to hold his bladder and signal you when he needs to go to the potty training chair or the toilet, it will be a great relief in the later stages of potty training.