Potty Training Problems: What to Do when Your Child Wants to Stop Potty Training

So you and your toddler have been cruising right along with potty training. You haven't had too many potty training problems, and it seems like your little one is really getting the hang of it. Then, one day your little one decides that he doesn't want to use the potty anymore. In fact, he simply refuses.

One of the most important aspects of potty training, and being successful with potty training, is that your child wants to potty train. Their cooperation in this matter is important! Without their cooperation, it's almost impossible to successfully potty train your toddler.

Why would your child want to stop?

Well, there are many reasons. An illness - in the child or a close relative, a sudden change in living circumstances (remember, routine and familiarity are so important to toddlers), a new baby in the family, a change in routine. There are a ton of different reasons children want to stop potty training.

What do you do when your little potty trainer refuses to continue?

Perhaps no amount of bribery or encouragement will change his mind. Maybe you've promised Dairy Queen, maybe you've begged and pleaded. If nothing works - the only thing you can do is to agree to let him stop. What!? Yes, agree to the work stoppage.

How will agreeing to this help?

Well, first off it's going to give your little one a sense of empowerment. It's going to allow them to feel like they are in control of something important. Second, it's going to relieve some of the pressure that they are no doubt feeling. If there is something else going on that is causing them to want to stop - now is a good time to figure that out and deal with it. Potty training is a huge step, and a lot of work for your little one. Taking care of other problems in their lives while giving them a break is going to help them out, as well as keep you from pulling out too much hair.

But, and this is an important but, when you agree to let them stop - set a deadline for the child to resume potty training. Sit down with them and a calendar (they might not understand time, but that doesn't matter so much) and agree on a time. Pick a day on the calendar (a week or two out) for them to start again. Have the child agree to this by letting them feel like they are a part of the decision. Put a sticker on the day you pick out and put the calendar where the child can see it.

Over the next week or two, be sure to look at the calendar with them to remind them of the deadline so that they understand it is coming up. Use this time to help them feel like they are making this decision to continue potty training. Also, use this time to talk about using the potty and why it's important. By the time that day comes around - you are most likely not going to encounter any resistance to potty training. Your child is probably going to look forward to that day if you've planted the seed of the idea with the calendar and made them feel like they are in control of that decision.

Of all the different potty training problems - this stoppage in potty training can be a difficult one to deal with. Usually because as a parent you've probably felt like you were nearing the end of the process when this happened. But handled correctly, an extra week or two taking a break will do wonders for both you and your toddler. For more potty training info - please visit The Potty Training Resource.