Toilet Training the Reluctant Child 1 Contents A Poo-Torial: Everything You Need To Know About Poop ............................................................. 5 The Lingo (For All Ages) ............................................................................................................. 5 The Biology ................................................................................................................................. 5 Keys To Success ............................................................................................................................. 6 Readiness ........................................................................................................................................ 7 What Age Is The Right Age? ....................................................................................................... 7 Signs That Your Child Is Ready .................................................................................................. 8 Physical Readiness ................................................................................................................. 8 Your Child’s Brain ................................................................................................................... 9 Are You Ready? A Questionnaire To Help You Decide............................................................ 10 When Not To Start ..................................................................................................................... 10 Tips ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Q&A ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Preparing To Start ......................................................................................................................... 12 Potty Or Toilet? ......................................................................................................................... 12 Tips For The Potty ................................................................................................................ 12 Attachable Toilet Seats ............................................................................................................. 13 Tips For Attachable Toilet Seats ........................................................................................... 13 Clothing ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Toilet Talk .................................................................................................................................. 14 Toilet Steps ............................................................................................................................... 14 Ensuring Success .......................................................................................................................... 15 Fun ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Praise ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Rewards .................................................................................................................................... 16 Good Rewards ...................................................................................................................... 17 Bad Rewards ........................................................................................................................ 18 Accepting Accidents And Avoiding Punishment ....................................................................... 19 Why Accidents Happen ......................................................................................................... 20 Starting .......................................................................................................................................... 21 A Menu Of Choices ................................................................................................................... 22 Introducing The Idea ................................................................................................................. 22 The Basic Idea .......................................................................................................................... 22 Diapers Off ................................................................................................................................ 23 Putting It Together ..................................................................................................................... 25 Awareness Of Having To Go And Communicating It ................................................................ 25 Toilet Sits ................................................................................................................................... 26 How To Keep Going .................................................................................................................. 29 When To Stop ........................................................................................................................... 30 Tips ............................................................................................................................................ 30 Real Life ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Time Saving Tips ....................................................................................................................... 32 Multiple Caregivers ............................................................................................................... 32 Different Homes .................................................................................................................... 32 Travel .................................................................................................................................... 34 Toilet Training The Older Child ...................................................................................................... 34 Preschool/Kindergarten ............................................................................................................. 35 Toilet Training Problems ................................................................................................................ 36 Reluctance And Resistance ...................................................................................................... 38 Reasons For Resistance....................................................................................................... 38 Power Struggles .................................................................................................................... 40 The Resistant Child Who Says “No” To Absolutely Everything. ........................................... 41 Independence Issues And Backing Off ................................................................................. 41 More Tips For The Extremely Independent Child ................................................................. 42 Personality Type ................................................................................................................... 43 2 Change In The Routine ......................................................................................................... 43 Reactions To Emotional Situations ....................................................................................... 43 Things Parents Would Do In Retrospect ................................................................................... 45 Difficult Behavior Vs. Behavioral Disorder ................................................................................ 46 Signs That A Temper Tantrum Is More Than A Typical Stage: ............................................ 46 Issues With Children With Behavioral Disorders: ................................................................. 46 Constipation And Holding Back ..................................................................................................... 48 Signs And Symptoms Of Constipation ...................................................................................... 49 Causes Of Constipation ............................................................................................................ 49 Here Are Some Common Causes Of Painful Poops: ........................................................... 50 Treatment For Constipation ...................................................................................................... 52 Tips ................................................................................................................................................ 53 Problems, When To Go To The Doctor ......................................................................................... 54 3 Dear parent, Chances are that you are reading this pamphlet because no matter what you do, your special little someone just can’t be toilet trained. It may seem like everyone has advice to give but nothing seems to work. You may also feel like people are judging your parenting skills as well as your child. Maybe a friend has bragged about how her child was toilet