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My 3 year old is scared of the toilet?!


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  • For my son we decided to skip the potty and went straight to using the toilet with a step and toddler seat. We also prepared ourselves to be home for 4days straight to completely dedicate to his training. I also bought ALOT of jocks in case of accidents. By 9am the first day we went through a few and I was regretting trying then something changed and by day 4 he had no accidents. Goodluck and be patient, it is worth it. Oh and only start with the day, takes the pressure off and use a pull up for bed.


  • I learnt that if they’re not ready, nothing will work. My daughter was 3.5 years before she was interested in potty training. And that’s because she started daycare and saw the other kids going. We had tried many times before then but she just wasn’t there yet. When they’re ready something just clicks.


  • Maybe just wait a little longer?
    But you could try ‘decorate’ it a little – have something fun/distracting in there?


  • Did you try potty or Kmart has “mini” toilets.


  • We used a reward system for using the toilet when toilet training. The boys got to choice from a couple of “rewards” when they sat on the toilet, and once comfortable with that using it, etc. I remember buying a lot of chocolate and hot wheels cars for a period but it worked.


  • Not sure whether for a boy or girl, but toilet training is something to make into a fun experience. For a little boy, try a step stool, and a coloured ping pong ball, let them try to “drown the ball” – it’s works for some.
    A little girl, well, from experience, my daughter was a “book worm” and so we’d get the training potty chair, get a book and a drink and I’d sit on a stool with her, and talk and wait and hear her read. She was SO relaxed, and having a drink and reading, encouraged her to “do a wee” and then was so excited to hear it in the potty.
    For toilet training for the “poo”, it was a longer story. She would happily go for a wee, but always wanted to go poo in her nappy. I decided one day, todays the day, and every time she brought me a nappy, I put it away, she came back with another and time passed and more and more nappies, till – I knew she had to go, so the little seat on the “big” toilet came out, and I sat on the stool with her, until she was finished being cranky with me, cause she really needed to go, but eventually nature took its course, and she was happy and we even rang Dad to tell him about the wonderful news! So years later, tying her shoe laces and brushing her teeth, all included “phoning Dad to tell him the great news”. Keep calm, it will happen, don’t get exhausted with it, just let it happen, nature will help. X


  • Persevere! Some kids are easy to toilet train, others struggle for whatever reason. It can be tough, but don’t give up. Keep trying til you succeed, even when you’re tearing your hair out with frustration


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