Potty training

Hi Vidya! Kids are sometimes reluctant to share they want to do potty for following reasons: 1. they are constipated n feel pain while passing stools. 2. They find it boring to sit in washroom. 3. they want to hold on till they can. 4. they are still not ready for it. It is advisable to first and foremost be patient with the child. Don't loose tempers when it comes to this. YOU cud try following steps to train u r child: 1. take cues when it is potty time for u r child n take the child to washroom everyday during that time. generally morning time before going to school is preferred as child would feel fresh during the day. 2. start narrating a story n make the child believe how his favorite cartoon characters also used to use washroom and it is a heroic act indeed. they r happy too with him if he does so. 3. bring his favorite cartoon characters undergarments which he will feel bad for after soiling. 4. u cud also get a toilet seat with cartoon characters on it. 5. u cud give him stars or smileys for successful attempt which will motivate him. 6. u cud sing rhymes to keep him occupied. 7. be a role model yourself. wash hands and brush your teeth along with the child. To help him take bath u cud put toys in water n play with him. 8. u cud also request older sibling or cousin to help him brush n wash hands. this will be an example for him to follow. 9. u cud make videos while he is brushing teeth so as to arouse curoisity. What u should avoid doing are: 1. it is advisable not to physically hurt the child for failing to do so 2. never humiliate or scold the child. 3. please don't nag the child to do so again n again. 4. it is advisable not to discuss this in front of others. Preserverance, motivation, praise, rewards, being a role model yourself n patience will help u r child learn eventually. simple, innovative, creative steps could make u r child practice hygiene. hope this helps! -

hi vidya. i can understand your pain. i was in that situation. i can tell the way i practiced. Remove the diapers and put him on cartoon inners when he is at home. Let him pie/poo anywhere at home. dont loose your temper. you involve him in cleaning the area. Later i told that all the insects would come to us because it cannot be flushed there. then he started going into the washroom with a small toilet seat on top of western style. I take a stool and sit before him saying that it is still in his stomach and explains him. (honestly i keep on talking something until he finish that)all these will take sometime. dont worry be patient. also i bought small toys(tortoise and elephant shaped toys to water the plants by kids) to clean the area after he is done with potty. he was more exited for that.

Thanks Shikha and Yamini for your inputs. Let me try with your suggestions.

Hi Viday, possibly the fact that the house has become a war zone is the precise reason why your son has become defiant. Get another elder--maybe a doctor, or a cousin he is really fond of--to talk to him casually about it. Be a role model yourself of good hygiene habits and take him through it. Make him sit on the potty while chatting with him about something interesting, rather than asking him to poop and getting irritated. Have patience and handle the situation lovingly. hoep this helps.

vidya ramamoorthy, Shikha Batra , Yamini, Ravina - a big thumbs up on the tried and tested solutions you have shared here with each other. Hope Vidya can get some great outcomes from this.