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Potty training is a significant milestone in a child’s life. Usually, children aren’t fully trained for bowel movements until the age of three. However, it is normal for potty-trained children to experience potty training regression due to various reasons.
Read this post to learn more about the signs that a child is ready for potty training, causes of potty training regression, and how to deal with it.
What Is Potty Training Regression?
A seemingly potty-trained child’s sudden neglect of potty habits, accidents, or renewed need for diapers is called potty training regression. Accidents can happen while a child is learning potty practices. However, a thoroughly potty-trained child can have accidents due to regression. You may look for the causes of potty training regression and fix them.
Becoming potty-trained is a developmental milestone. Most children are potty-trained between the ages of 18 and 24 months. However, some children may not be ready until three years old (1).
There is no need to rush for potty training. Keep an eye out for signs that indicate your child is ready for potty training. Children are usually considered ready for potty training when they (1):
- Are able to walk and sit on a toilet
- Are able to pull down and pull up the pants
- Can stay dry up to two hours
- Understand basic directions
- Communicate when they need to visit the bathroom
- Refuse to wear diapers or pull-up pants
- Show regular bowel movements
You may look for your child’s overall development to know if they are ready for potty training. Some children may not be prepared or find it difficult to become potty trained, even if they show all the above-listed signs. You can take a pediatrician’s opinion in such cases.
Common Causes Of Potty Training Regression
Potty training regression is temporary and normal in children. Although some children may become fully toilet trained by age three, a few may not. Potty training regression may occur for the following reasons (2).
- Distraction from surroundings could interfere with bowel movement in children.
- Changes in dietary habits may lead to changes in the potty schedule.
- Unwillingness to discontinue play may make the child wait, and often accidents occur before they reach the potty seat.
- Constipation could cause hard stools, which are painful to pass. It may cause a child to resist going to the toilet.
- Intestinal bugs (intestinal infections) may interfere with the potty schedule or cause discomfort or pain and lead to potty training regression.
- Urinary tract infections may also be associated with bowel movement issues, which may cause potty training regression.
- Stress and other emotional issues may cause potty training regression in some children. Problems in the family and school are some common reasons behind these issues.
- Change of surroundings may increase the risk of accidents. For instance, a child might hesitate to communicate their need to visit the bathroom to their caretakers at a new daycare center.
Always identify the exact cause of potty training regression or refusal. Sometimes, health issues can be the reason, and the child may require medications. You may also ensure your child is fed with an age-appropriate diet to meet their nutritional needs and have regular bowel movements.
Tips For Dealing With Potty Training Regression
The following tips may help deal with the potty training regression in children (2).
- Follow a regular schedule: Make a potty schedule for your child based on their potty habits. You may ask them to sit on a potty seat after meals, every two to three hours, or after they wake up from sleep in the morning or after naps. These are the times when a child is most likely to have bowel movements.
- Make your expectations clear: You may explain to your child that they need to be potty trained. Let them know that it is time to say bye to diapers or pull-ups and wear clean underwear. This may help your child understand why they need to visit the bathroom on time and avoid accidents.
- Do not overreact to accidents: Do not lose your cool when accidents happen. It is usual for children to have accidents even after the initial months of potty training. Never punish, tease, or scold them for accidents since the fear of accidents may cause regression.
- No diapers again: Do not go back to diapers or pull-ups if your child had an accident. It may cause the child to become dependent on diapers again, leading to regression eventually.
- Treat medical problems: If your child has a medical issue, seek a pediatrician’s advice. Children with digestive disorders may require special care or treatment to resolve potty training regression.
- Avoid distractions: Keep away distractions during potty time. Set rules for potty time so that your child does not bring along toys or other items that are bound to distract them.
- Offer positive reinforcement: If your child follows their schedule and does not have accidents, you may reward them. This may encourage them to follow the same schedule the next day. You may also shower the child with verbal praises.
- Reinforce training: If the regression is recent, you may repeat the timings or techniques that initially worked for your child. Remember, consistent potty training for a few weeks or months is required to ensure that the child does not revert to old toilet habits.
If your child is still potty training, make it a part of your child’s daily routine. However, if your child is not yet ready to be potty trained, do not force them for it. You may wait and, if required, seek advice from their pediatrician.
Potty training is one of the most vital milestones in a child’s development. Children can be influenced by the way parents or caregivers deal with accidents and potty train. Teaching the child the right potty training techniques can help avoid any regression. Do not scold the child if they have accidents due to regression. Check for any underlying issues and deal with them promptly. If you are unable to identify any discernible cause, speak to your child’s doctor.