Why a child stopped going to the potty and what to do?

When a child who has mastered potty training abruptly quits using the potty, it can be quite frustrating. Parents may feel perplexed and uncertain about what went wrong as a result of this behavior shift. On the other hand, accidents during the potty training process happen frequently and for a variety of reasons.

Changes in emotions, disruptions in routine, or even physical discomfort can cause children to stop using the potty. Stress or a change in surroundings can occasionally lead a child to return to previous routines. The first step in assisting them in getting back on track is to comprehend the potential causes of this change.

This post will discuss common reasons for potty training failures and offer helpful advice on how to get your child back on the potty with assurance. The secret to conquering this obstacle is to have patience and an encouraging attitude.

Setbacks in potty training are common and can occur for a variety of reasons, including routine changes, stress, and even minor medical conditions. When your child stops using the potty, it’s crucial to maintain your composure. Parents can support their child by not punishing them, praising them for little accomplishments, and providing gentle encouragement. Regaining confidence and getting back on track can be achieved by helping the child identify the cause and treating it with positive reinforcement.

Reasons

• The main reason is the so-called crisis age. Little children, like adults, also have it, such periods occur at 2, 3 and 4 years. In each of these periods, the child begins a sharp development of the nervous system. He quickly grows psychologically, begins to understand some things and think differently. There are many theories about what this age is caused by, but the conclusion always remains the same – a crisis stage occurs in almost every child, and it must be experienced correctly.

• Stressful situation. If at an older age children will be attracted to something new, then being small, they emotionally perceive any change of environment, moving, addition to the family or, conversely, the departure of one of the family members, the appearance of a pet and even the acquisition of new equipment. Of all the above factors, the most stressful are parental conflicts and moving.

• In addition to quarrels between parents, the child can also be affected by his own conflicts with them. Difficult relationships between young children and their parents are a separate topic. A young child can be angry with his parents, jealous, and demand attention, which will indirectly be the reason that he changes his habits.

• One of the main reasons can be teething. In addition to the fact that the child stops going to the potty, he can be very sick.
• Developmental leaps. Children are characterized by intellectual leaps both in the direction of development and "backwards". There is nothing terrible in the latter, the child will eventually learn to cope with all the difficulties and responsibilities that he gets used to. The reason for such changes can be a strong fright or a traumatic situation.
• The child simply does not want to do anything. He knows that mom or another family member will fix everything, you just need to call them.
• Kindergarten. It happens that after starting to attend kindergarten, the child develops a persistent hostile attitude towards the potty. The reason may be the wrong attitude of the teachers, and the associations caused by this.

What to do?

First, let’s acknowledge that the conventional method of giving a child criticism is incorrect and ineffectual.

It’s not appropriate to use every bathroom break as an opportunity for punishment.

Naturally, the best course of action is to identify the issue that is causing the potty to become objectionable once more and begin taming it. Potty breaks should be offered discreetly but frequently. Certain pediatricians and child psychologists advise using plasticine to mold the child’s waste products and placing them in the potty. The child will eventually ask to use the potty again, so it’s crucial to do this with him.

It is advised to only employ the "reward" strategy when it comes to using the restroom. In essence, using such a tactic will only make the issue worse and possibly lead to additional challenges. The child will not only become erratic and agitated, but he will also insist on toys and sweets after every bathroom break.

Swapping clothes with each other is another successful strategy. Since the child is two years old, he already fully comprehends what is being said to him, so you should have a conversation with him, explain that walking around in wet clothes is uncomfortable, and assist him in changing clothes. It is crucial to work with the child instead of doing everything by yourself. Since there is little chance that this will work the first time, consistency and perseverance are crucial in this situation. The baby will eventually grow tired of being distracted from games for extended periods of time, which is another factor that plays a significant part in this process and necessitates changing clothes.

Put simply, the child should be motivated by their fear of being uncomfortable rather than by punishment or their parents. The infant learns that he will freeze if he sits in wet clothes.

Over the age of three, this approach can have an impact on a relatively large child’s habits; younger children will find it more difficult to understand. At the same time, since damp clothes can lead to health issues later on, it’s critical to keep the child in a warm room with adequate ventilation.

Retraining your child to use the potty may require some tolerance, understanding, and adaptability. Since every child is unique, obstacles are a normal part of learning.

Investigate any possible reasons your child may be quitting using the potty, such as stress, schedule adjustments, or other factors. Once you know why, you can modify your strategy and provide the appropriate assistance.

Recall that constructive criticism is very effective. Remain composed when facing setbacks and acknowledge minor victories. Your child will eventually recover confidence and get back on track.

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