Is it embarassing that I almost cried when my son went poop on the potty? I came this close! I was soo proud.
We've been potty training for about a week now. He's doing a good job, only a few accidents. My son is 2 yrs 8 months. I have a new baby and wanted to wait until he was past the regression stage (he is, but he's still in the jealosy phase!). We bought him new spiderman and cars undies and went full speed ahead.
I heard boys are harder than girls. I also heard 2 is harder than #1. I was worried about cleaning up a nasty 2 accident.. ugh! It's bad enough in diapers with his man poop.
Anyway, he held it until his nighttime diaper the first few days. But, then last night I caught him thinking about it. We ran to the potty! Then, we talked for about 20 minutes! Finally, he did the deed. Yeah! I hope it continues.
Okay, I know this is kinda gross, but moms understand!
The biggest problem I'm having is the potty = reward thing. I'm doing that method, but I hate to give treats. I'm trying to use sugar free ice breakers or sugar free gum. I already use stickers for brushing teeth. Anyway, let me know if you have any ideas!
Thanks!
Destry Jetton
Host, Arizona Midday
Weekdays 1:00pm on Channel 12
I don't have any ideas, but
I don't have any ideas, but want to let you know I'm going through the same thing, with my girls. Just imagine there are other Mom's cleaning up poopy diapers too, and I think it becomes less annoying and more communal somehow.
One of mine is interested and one isn't so much, but I'll take half as many diapers any day! We are giving M&Ms, and talk about how many and what colors, so it's an educational reward, sort of :)
Keep up the good work. Enthusiasm, enthusiasm, enthusiasm!!!
Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.
We did stickers and
We did stickers and nailpolish for rewards for my daughters. (Fingernails for #1, and toenails for #2.) Lots of layers of polish on those little fingers!! LOL
So exciting! My son was full
So exciting! My son was full potty trained 1 month before his 3rd birthday. My daughter is 2 years 8 months now and we just finished potty training her about 3 weeks ago. We started much earlier with her because she was interested since my son was using the potty, she was right there through the whole training and she wants to be big like he is, so it was much easier.
We tried lots of methods, M&M's for going, etc. BUT I think the best thing we did was online I found a free printable Potty Train chart where you could put stickers on each part of the train. Every time they pottied they received a sticker to put on the train. It was such a big deal to finish up and run and select their sticker. With each new train we decided what the reward at the completion would be - each time was different. Sometimes it would a surprise - I would pick up a small toy at Target, a new DVD or something at the Disney store OR we would go to the Dairy Queen for a treat or dinner at Peter Piper Pizza. Stuff that is no big deal really, but to them it's a fun trip for ice cream or PPP where we never go. They both viewed it as a goal to work towards and it worked! The train was pretty long so it wasn't like we had to reward every few days.
Good luck - and I literally screamed with joy the first time my daughter tinkled in the potty - she was just 18 months and she told me she had to go, I was so proud! I had a few women over at my house for tea right after Christmas and they laughed so hard at me that I was so excited she had gone in the potty, but it was a big deal to me! :-)
JenM
Destry, I can understand
Destry, I can understand your mixed feelings about the treat motivation for toileting. Actualy there is a built-in motivation and reward system that comes with the "right of passage" of just doing it.
At school, we have multi-aged children who role model and invite the toilet transitioning children into the bathroom when they go. 90 % of the time the little one who is ready will want to sit on the toilet and go. When there are no older siblings around, parents work just as well.
You are doing all the right things. Making it positive - not making bodily functions yukky, etc. Something else that makes it fun for the child is to point out and listen to the different noises echoing from the toilet bowl when urinating or having a bowel movement.
Congratulations.
Jan Katzen-Luchenta
Author - Nutrition for Learning:Feeding the Starving Brain - Foresight nutritional counselor- Montessori educator - www.nutritionforlearning.com
I am new to this site but I
I am new to this site but I have found it very knowledgeable as well as interesting. I have never thought of rewarding my girls for going on the potty. I just give them praise, hugs and kisses and that seems to do the trick. Although my youngest, who is going the be 3 in June, seems to have taken a step back with the potty-training thingy. Maybe I will start rewarding her with things when she goes potty, on the potty. It's been a bit of a struggle with my 2nd one, but it gets real exciting when she does go on the potty instead of her pull-ups. We all clap and tell her what a big girl she is. That seems to pick her spirits up and want to go on the potty more than in her diaper, though we still have our set-backs. We just pick up and keep going. Thanks for all the great tips and information.
~C~
Destry, Congratulations to
Destry,
Congratulations to Hayden!
Good Luck with the Training!
Dee