Problems Can Arise When Potty Training Boys
Potty training boys is not always an easy thing. They aren't routinely more strong-willed than girls, yet they can dig in their heels when they aren't interested or they have some other reason for resisting. Remember that starting to toilet train a boy before he's physically and emotionally mature enough to handle the experience can cause problems that might not otherwise have occurred. Because boys tend to lag behind girls in readiness, they may take longer to learn to use the potty.
One exertion of the child's strong will may involve a reluctance to allow a bowel movement into a child potty or the toilet, rather than in the boy's diaper. Some psychologists suggest this stems from some innate fear of losing control, but whatever the underlying cause, the result can sometimes wind up being constipation. At this point, if you can't remedy the problem with a little extra fiber in the diet, then a visit to a doctor may be in order. Potty training for boys shouldn't have to result in such physical problems.
Another problem might involve what is known as potty training regression, which is where the child appears to have been trained for a while, but starts having accidents again. This is a frequent occurrence, sometimes stemming from a stressor like the birth of a new sibling or moving to a new house.
Or occasionally, learning to use the potty is such a major skill that once it's accomplished and the child begins learning the next skill, this one lapses a little bit, and needs reinforcement. Only on very rare occasions does this type of regression indicate a genuine medical problem.
The large, noisy toilet itself might also be a problem in potty training boys. It's very big, from the vantage point of a toddler, and now that the loud flushing is somehow connected to him, it can be frightening. Potty training children can also develop fears of toilets in public restrooms because of the size, the echoes, and the enclosed space with the high walls. Parents need to keep watch for all these potential problems, because if they aren't addressed, the child's progress can be affected. The ultimate goal is for the boy to achieve his potty training successfully and comfortably.
One exertion of the child's strong will may involve a reluctance to allow a bowel movement into a child potty or the toilet, rather than in the boy's diaper. Some psychologists suggest this stems from some innate fear of losing control, but whatever the underlying cause, the result can sometimes wind up being constipation. At this point, if you can't remedy the problem with a little extra fiber in the diet, then a visit to a doctor may be in order. Potty training for boys shouldn't have to result in such physical problems.
Another problem might involve what is known as potty training regression, which is where the child appears to have been trained for a while, but starts having accidents again. This is a frequent occurrence, sometimes stemming from a stressor like the birth of a new sibling or moving to a new house.
Or occasionally, learning to use the potty is such a major skill that once it's accomplished and the child begins learning the next skill, this one lapses a little bit, and needs reinforcement. Only on very rare occasions does this type of regression indicate a genuine medical problem.
The large, noisy toilet itself might also be a problem in potty training boys. It's very big, from the vantage point of a toddler, and now that the loud flushing is somehow connected to him, it can be frightening. Potty training children can also develop fears of toilets in public restrooms because of the size, the echoes, and the enclosed space with the high walls. Parents need to keep watch for all these potential problems, because if they aren't addressed, the child's progress can be affected. The ultimate goal is for the boy to achieve his potty training successfully and comfortably.
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