For many parents, the months seem to come and go while their toddler struggles with potty training and their peers’ or classmates’ parents keep announcing their successes. Having been in this situation, I can tell you it’s not fun. For starters, successful potty training is often the key to progressing to more advanced classrooms in many curriculum-focused child care centers. Not to mention, as parents we quickly tire of changing diapers and lugging supplies everywhere we go.

But what causes some toddlers to begin potty training later than others and what can you do about it? First off, don’t stress. All children become potty trained eventually and once your child picks it up, it’s likely to happen in a matter of a few days. And starting potty training late can actually have some advantages, such as increased verbal communication with your child during the process.

Causes of Late Potty Training

The factors that influence delayed toilet training are generally broken down into two categories: behavioral and biological.

For all biological causes, such as urinary tract infections, incontinence, and urethritis, it is important to consult with your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible to treat these conditions. Since these conditions are generally easy to remedy with proper medical care, treating them as soon as you recognize them is critical in preventing them from leading to behavioral issues. Many children who begin with a biological condition which is left untreated develop fear and discomfort with urinating and having bowel movements that make potty training much more difficult.

Behavioral factors that lead to delayed potty training can manifest in many different forms, however, are often the result of a single cause: power struggles between parent and child. Many toddlers develop resistance to a parent’s consistent urging to participate in the process of potty training. The best way to handle this as a parent is to take a few steps back, relieve the demands on your child, and create an environment that allows them to discover the process on their own and shift the responsibilities to them. Try leaving your toddler unclothed from the waist down and place their potty chair in an accessible area. In addition, you can gently introduce some potty training incentives to your child.

If your toddler is delayed in potty training, don’t worry. By visiting with your pediatrician to rule out any biological issues, and then moving on to addressing behavioral issues in a patient and consistent manner, your little one will be on the road to successful potty training.

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