Q&A for How to Potty Train Your Child

Yes, though I wouldn't recommend giving your child sugar every time she goes to the bathroom. That's a lot of sugar. Maybe switch up the rewards with crayons or small toys.

Put a sticker or a bobbing cork in the middle of the potty and ask him to aim at it. Expect mess, it is part of the training process.

Don't let your family members threaten your child again. This will only make the situation worse. Your child needs to feel relaxed to poop and he's not going to be relaxed if he's worried about getting spanked. Talk to him. Ask him why he is afraid and try to explain to him why there's nothing to fear. Then set up a reward system so that he gets something he wants when he uses the potty. Always speak calmly about this issue, no threats, no anger, etc.

Start offering candy or toys if they go poop on the toilet. Explain to them how it's no different than peeing in the toilet. You may need to let them watch you use the toilet before they fully understand.

Read some age-appropriate books about using the potty to try to encourage him. He may be afraid of using the potty, so avoid pressuring him.

Encourage your sister to tell your mom. Your mom will be able to help a lot. If she still won't, just tell your mom yourself. Always encourage your sister to use the bathroom when she needs to. Maybe even setting up a little reward system where every time she uses the bathroom you give her something would encourage her to try harder and to keep up her good habits.

Try buying a potty chair in her favorite color or character. Let her flush a pretend flusher on her potty chair or potty training book if they have one. Then let her listen to the flushing sound of the real toilet from another room, moving her closer and closer with each day. Let her plug her ears and talk to her about her fear in a kind way. If she is still afraid, skip the process of flushing until she needs to for school. Talk to her doctor if this fear becomes irrational.

Show your child or even make up a sign (or use ASL) to indicate when she/he/they have to go. You could even have separate signs for #1 or #2. Don't forget to use positive reinforcement!

You could buy a box and put surprises into it. For every 10 stickers he gets, he could choose something in the special Big Boy box. There is also in-between potty training disposable underwear he could wear. Tell him he can ask to go on the toilet anytime, but, try to have him make a trip to the potty every hour just in case. The next day, extend the in-between time... After 2-3 days, he should be tired of it (as will you!). Also, some toddlers consider the little go-to potty a toy, so having a special potty seat you put on the big toilet might be an incentive for him to use it.

You will have to stop buying diapers for her and let her have natural consequences. She is old enough to know better and to know that wearing a diaper at her age is wrong. It is possible that if she doesn't have access to diapers, she might realize that the toilet is better than wetting herself.

This is something that may not change without professional help. She may need to see a counselor. That said, she is an adult so you cannot force her. Just keep reiterating that she shouldn't be wearing a diaper and that it is not healthy, good for her or the environment.

No, don't use a catheter. Try to get the focus off of the diapers. Break down the process into small, manageable steps, and then reward him when he accomplishes one without pressuring him to do more. For instance, if he can sit relaxed on the toilet or training potty, reward him for that whether or not he lets anything out. After he masters this, begin to offer reward only if he sits without a diaper on. Continue this pace until he is using the toilet successfully.

If he's a typical 15-year-old and has no physical or physiological reason for wearing diapers, then you could just leave him to his preference. Perhaps he really does hate the toilet and can't bear to use it. If you think he can overcome his hatred of the toilet, you might like to suggest he purchase his own diapers to incentivize him to use the toilet instead. Make him use his allowance/wages and make him go to the store. If your son needs training on using a toilet, a pediatric occupational therapist would be a good option; it sounds like it's time for expert assistance.

Tell the teacher about it. If she knows, tell her to go the toilet every hour. If she doesn't inform her to tell her to go the toilet every hour. Meanwhile, tell her that she needs to take more care in going the loo!

No, most males do not need to wipe after peeing. There may be a small spot of pee on his underwear, but that's the maximum damage and for most males who do wipe, it has no effect.

Carefully guide them to the toilet if they are blind. After they are done, help them off the toilet.

Parents generally use smaller, simpler words like "pee and poop" or "#1 and #2" for their kids understanding rather than what they really are - "urine and bm". Select kids understand "urine and BM," but they will learn these words as they grow up and understand their bodies.