He Won’t Go Potty Before We Leave. What Do I Do?

Today’s potty training email exchange emphasizes the fact that a single potty training day or even 3 days is not especially reasonable. This mom is having difficult with getting her toddler to “go to potty” before leaving the house.

Read the text and absorb the tips. As always, the names are changed and copy cleaned to protect the innocent!

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Dear Sean,

Well, it’s going pretty well here in potty-training land.  Yesterday, we had many more successes than accidents. Today remains to be seen. :)  I am wondering, though, how do you move from the “I think I’m starting to go, so I run to the potty” to “I can sit down and go potty before we leave for the store.”

So far, we can’t really leave the house, because he can’t just “go to potty” before we leave.  Is that just a learning thing that he’ll pick up as he gets better?  Or is there a way to teach it?  I do have him sit down and try to go potty regularly, but so far, he’s never done it during those times.

Thanks for your help!

Karen

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Good morning Karen,

I’m glad things are going well. It sounds like you are already through the worst of it. That’s a really great “go to potty” question. Here are our best suggestions:

You’re changing the rules, so there is naturally going to be an adjustment period between the two of you. This is great, so long it’s handled well. If he feels like you’re in it together, he’ll be fairly willing to do anything you ask. If he feels like he’s having to do whatever you say, and he doesn’t really understand why, he WILL be more resistant to your methods.

Here are a few “go to potty” strategies in step:

Clear his bladder first thing in the morning. This is really important. If you start with an empty bladder in the AM, the rest of the day will be far easier to monitor. The last thing you want is to feel hostage to the house. Also, you don’t want to give him the ultimate power of your schedule.

Measure his liquids. Know exactly how much your toddler is drinking. This isn’t something you want to do forever, but by measuring his liquids throughout the day you can begin to manipulate his body’s schedule.

Time the “go to potty” intervals between his potty breaks and take note of the changes. It may take a couple of days, but as long you’re consistent, simple math will make a pattern emerge. Once you can articulate the trends, your GOLD.

By this point, it’s just about getting him to comply. Simple bribery might be the trick. “As soon as you go potty, we can go on our (insert special adventure). Just be careful about giving him too much power. Even if he has control over your schedule, don’t let him know it.

It sounds like the hardest part is over, but if it isn’t we’re still just an email away.

Best, and good luck getting him to go potty!

Sean

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I hope these quick potty training techniques were useful.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!