The Trials of Toilet Training

View Transcript

A recent poll shows that 1 in 5 parents report struggles with toilet training their kids, highlighting many of the challenges and anxieties families face during this major developmental milestone. Read the full story on Health Lab.

All Health Lab content including health news, best practices and research insights are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always seek the advice of a health care provider for questions about your health and treatment options.

Transcript

Host:

Welcome to Health Lab, your destination for news and stories about the future of healthcare. 

Today, we’re talking about the trials of toilet training; potty pressure, the difficulties of ditching diapers. A recent poll shows that 1 in 5 parents report struggles with toilet training their kids, highlighting many of the challenges and anxieties families face during this major developmental milestone.

Transitioning from using diapers to using the toilet is a major step for both young children and their parents.

And a new report shines a light on just how bumpy that journey can be.

According to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, one in five parents say their child had potty anxiety during toilet training, and another one in five say the process was harder than they expected.

Mott Poll Co-Director and Mott pediatrician Dr. Susan Woolford says, “Learning to use the toilet is a major step in a young child’s development and requires time, patience, and consistency.” She goes on, “Our report demonstrates that parents are approaching potty training thoughtfully, but for many families and their kids, the process often includes setbacks, frustrations, and moments of uncertainty.”

The nationally representative report – based on 820 responses from parents of children ages one to six – found that more than half of parents started potty training their children around age two. However, 21% began earlier, and another 22% waited until age three.

Most parents polled felt they chose the right time, though a small number said they may have started too early or too late.

But timing isn’t everything, and parents factored in a variety of considerations before starting potty training.

Some needed their child to be out of diapers to enter daycare or preschool. Others were motivated by the cost of diapers, with one in five saying that the financial burden of purchasing diapers played a role in their decision of when to start.

Dr. Woolford says, “Waiting until a child is truly ready can make the process smoother for everyone. Pushing it too soon often leads to frustration and delays.” But she acknowledges that some families don’t have the flexibility to wait.

So, what are some signs that a child is ready to start potty training?

Readiness signs can include: staying dry for longer periods, showing interest in the bathroom, following simple instructions, and being able to help dress or undress themselves.

Some children may also hide when they need to go, or start mimicking adult bathroom behavior.

But there are also common struggles, from regression to resistance.

Among parents who reported difficulty when potty training their child, the most common challenges included a child’s refusal to cooperate, busy family schedules, coordination between home and daycare, and household disruptions.

Children may resist for a number of reasons, Dr. Woolford notes, from the fear of flushing noises to discomfort with adult-sized toilets, and some may struggle with this type of change.

Even once progress is made, regression is common: about a third of parents polled said their child seemed potty trained, but then took a step back, and eight percent reported issues with bowel movements from constipation or encopresis - essentially a clinical term for having an accident.

“Potty training isn’t always a straight path,” Dr. Woolford says. “Understanding that it’s a gradual process can help parents stay patient. Setbacks are normal, particularly when there are stressful events in the child’s life such as a new sibling or a move to a new home.”

For parents looking for guidance on how to approach potty training their children, routines and a calm approach work best.

Parents reported using a variety of strategies to support their child during potty training, the most common of which included taking their child to the toilet regularly, offering small rewards for using the potty, letting their child go diaper-free during the day, or turning the process into a game or something fun.

Another 16% tried the “three-day potty training” method, which can work well when time is short, but may feel too intense or stressful for some families, Dr. Woolford says.

For children with high potty anxiety, Dr. Woolford recommends turning the bathroom into a pressure-free space where they can read books, or play songs that help them feel more relaxed.

Simple tools like sticker charts, potty-only toys, and consistent routines can also go a long way, as well as using a child-sized potty to help kids feel more secure.

“Regardless of the method, the most important things are consistency, encouragement, and keeping the experience as low-pressure and supportive as possible,” Dr. Woolford says.

She goes on, “If a child continues to struggle, especially if there’s pain, withholding, or ongoing anxiety, parents should talk to their pediatrician for guidance and support.”

A reminder that all Health Lab content including health news, best practices and research insights are for informational purposes only, and are not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always seek the advice of a health care provider for questions about your health and treatment options.

For more on this story and for others like it, visit michiganmedicine.org/health-lab where you can also subscribe to our Health Lab newsletters to receive the latest in health, wellness and medical research information to your inbox each week. Health Lab is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Health Lab wherever you listen to podcasts.