The Potty Boot Camp

This is a question I received from a mother whose “potty trained” child decided to stop using the potty. Below is the question and my response:

Question:
Everything was great, she loved the potty and was even able to go #2 in the potty. BUT … after about a month she decided she doesn’t like going to the potty anymore. It has become a kicking screaming tantrom to even get her IN the bathroom, much less to get her pants off and sit on the potty. I refuse to put diapers/pull ups on her except for bedtime … but she still goes (pee and poo) in her panties. I feel that I’ve tried all the tips that people have told me about. I’ve done a sticker chart, given her stickers, prasied, danced, watched Elmo’s potty time a million times, bribery of all sorts, and have even offered suckers for successful bowel movements. I need some serious help. Suggestions?

Response:
You can try the “currency” concept. Find something that she likes that you can give her when she’s successful and take away when she has an accident. You can even use coins! Make it very clear WHY she’s getting the “present” when she’s successful and make it very clear why you are taking it away when she has an accident. My daughter loves those little princess figurines you can get at the toy store.

Here’s an example:”OK…you are a big girl now. You know how to use the potty and I am not going to make you use it anymore - you have to decide on your own to use it like a big girl. Every time you use the potty, I”m going to give you one of these “thing-a-ma-jigs” that you love. BUT, understand that if you have an accident in your panties, I’m going to have to take it away and you won’t get to play with it. Then we’ll all be very sad.”

Set the “bribes” out where she can see them but not get to them - to use as temptation! Then, try to step back and stay hands off. Hopefully the desire for the toys/coins/etc. will outweigh the stubbornness and the power struggle she’s trying to have with you.

Hope that helps,Suzanne Riffel, Author of “The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers”

Symptoms and Remedies for Toddler Constipation
By Kathy Gupton

From late infancy to about age three, our twins had bowel movement problems and experienced constipation off and on. Since I had never heard of toddler constipation and our friends and family were only too quick to point out how they had never had any problems with this, we automatically jumped to the conclusion that we were doing something wrong or that there was something wrong with our children’s digestive tracts. After consulting with our pediatrician and doing our own research, we discovered that toddler constipation is a relatively normal phenomenon.

In fact, it is estimated that about half of all toddlers will experience toddler constipation at one point or another. Symptoms of toddler constipation include infrequent bowel movements (going 2-3 days between bowel movements), hard stools, straining during bowel movements, and trying to stop a bowel movement from happening. Toddler constipation actually becomes a vicious cycle: the bowel movements hurt, so they try to hold them back, which makes the stools harder, which makes them hurt more. Fortunately there are some simple things that you can do to help alleviate toddler constipation that just involve a few lifestyle changes.

The first thing you need to do is to give your child high fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, breakfast bars that are high in fiber, fiber cereals and even peanut butter all are good foods to give your child to help toddler constipation go away and help keep it away. Make sure your child has a good fluid intake. Sneak in a glass of water or fruit juice during the morning or afternoon playtime. You might have to cut out the milk and cheese for a few days until the bowel movements become regular again. Start implementing a 5-10 minute potty time after meals, which seems to be the best time to get them to go.

You should not give your child an over-the-counter laxative. In fact, you shouldn’t give your child any medicine for constipation without consulting the doctor. Fortunately, there are a lot of natural remedies for toddler constipation so that you don’t have to rely on medications.

For information on over 70 natural remedies for constipation, visit http://www.stopconstipation.info/

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