Potty Training Tips: Overcoming a Fear of the Potty

When potty training, one of the more common potty training problems that many parents have to deal with is a fear of the potty. What do you do when your little one refuses to potty train with the potty because they are scared of it?

Fear of most things, the potty included, is basically a fear of the unknown. Potty training is a big step for toddlers - and to be expected to not only give up diapers, but use a potty as well can be a little much for some kids.

Luckily - this potty training problem is one of the simpler ones to overcome. The best way to deal with this fear is to make the potty just another piece of furniture for your toddler. You need to get them accustomed to the potty.

If you're reading this before you've started potty training - you can deal with this problem before you even start. That way by the time you are ready to potty train, your little one won't be scared of the potty at all.

First thing: keep the potty in the room where you child spends the most time playing. Don't keep it in the bathroom out of sight - keep it someplace where they'll always be able to see it. Keep it in the living room so that when your child is playing, it's right there. Don't worry - you'll eventually be able to move it to the bathroom (guests will understand why the potty is sitting in the living room, especially if they have kids) - but the important thing is to make the potty just another piece of furniture.

If your child wants to use the potty as a place to keep his toys, let him. If he wants to climb on it while he's playing, let him. This is the easiest way to get him familiar with it. By the time you're ready to actually use it for potty training, he won't be scared one bit of the potty because to him it will be just like the couch, the kitchen table, the basket where you keep his toys.

This might seem a little silly - but when you go out, take the potty along in the car. Set it on the car's floor so the child can see it. The more exposure the child has to the potty, the less fear he'll have when it comes time to use it.