🚽 Potty Training Challenges

😣 Overview

Potty training rarely goes perfectly from start to finish. Challenges and setbacks are normal — not a sign of failure. Understanding why these issues happen can help parents stay calm, patient, and supportive.

Progress isn't always linear — and neither is potty training.

🚫 Common Potty Training Challenges

1. Refusing to Sit on the Potty

  • May stem from fear, pressure, or control struggles
  • Try making potty time playful and low-pressure
  • Let your child sit fully clothed at first, then progress to bare-bottom
  • Read books or sing songs while seated to build comfort

2. Only Pooping in Diaper

  • Very common and often rooted in fear or control
  • Allow child to poop in diaper while sitting on potty as a transitional step
  • Never shame — praise any effort to use the toilet
  • Watch for constipation, which can cause withholding

3. Frequent Accidents

  • May happen when:
    • Training started too soon
    • Child is distracted or overwhelmed
    • They’re holding it until too late
  • Go back to basics: remind, offer regular potty breaks, and keep it relaxed
  • Clean up calmly and avoid punishment

4. Regression After Progress

  • Can happen after illness, travel, starting daycare, or family changes
  • Often short-term — stay consistent with routines and praise
  • Avoid putting pressure on the child to “get back on track” quickly
  • Offer extra comfort and encouragement

5. Power Struggles

  • Toddlers crave control — potty use is something they can control
  • Avoid battles. Say: “You don’t have to go — just try.”
  • Give choices when possible: “Do you want to try the big potty or little one?”
  • Avoid punishment, threats, or bribes — they backfire long-term

6. Fear of Flushing or Falling In

  • Loud noises, swirling water, or large toilets can be scary
  • Use a toddler-sized potty or a seat insert with a step stool
  • Let them flush when they’re ready — not before
  • Watch and validate emotions: “It makes a loud sound — you’re not alone”

🧩 General Troubleshooting Tips

  • Stay calm, even if you're frustrated
  • Praise effort over outcome
  • Avoid comparisons to siblings or peers
  • If progress stalls, take a short break and try again in a few weeks
  • Celebrate small wins: sitting, trying, wiping, washing hands

⚠️ When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

  • Chronic withholding or constipation
  • Ongoing regressions tied to emotional changes
  • Potty use is causing major distress or anxiety
  • No progress after several months of consistent effort

📚 Sources

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. “Handling Potty Training Problems”
  2. HealthyChildren.org. “When Potty Training Doesn’t Go as Planned”
  3. Zero to Three. “What to Do About Potty Training Challenges”