Potty Training 1001

So we started the big P word a few weeks back! I read a couple of books, searched the internet and persevered! We did the treat thing, tried not to get mad thing, rewards, cold water, making her clean up her own mess and a bunch of other things! Some worked, some not so much. The hardest part was #2! For some reason children just don't want to do this. I finally told her that if she went #2 (poo poo) I would take her into town and buy her a helicopter ( her favorite toys)! After that announcement, every time she went on the potty she would come out and declare it was time to get a helicopter so I would have to reaffirm the whole #2 thing and that it was really good that she was going on the potty and I was proud of her. Well after one mess after the helicopter promise, we had success! I guess bribing works if you can find the right bribe! She got her helicopter and the next day she repeated her success! Oh how nice! I must admit that during the mess time I was wondering if it was really worth it! Diapers are so much easier! No poopy, wet pants in stores. No stinky clothes building on the laundry pile. You just clean the diaper and put a new one on! But being potty trained is well worth it! She feels such pride knowing she can do something like that all by herself!

So my tips! Well while searching the net I came across an e-book by Joanne Cesar. She talks of how when you start out to set a timer for every 20 min. When it goes off take the child to the bathroom and set them on the toilet. Sometimes they will go, sometimes not. This timer method helps to get them in the habit. It worked for my little girl.
A lot of sites say not to use pull ups. We did occasionally. But just like diapers they are expensive. It's a lot cheaper to buy packs of underwear and just throw those away if you're not into cleaning them up. I cleaned them. Hey it's my first child and we are not living the high life, every penny counts!

I highly recommend keeping your cool! Showing disappointment and that messing their pants is gross, disgusting and not something they want to do, is all right. But getting mad at your child and punishing them because they mess their pants time and again will only add to your stress and theirs. Think about it, you've been potty trained how long and sometimes even we have accidents! Imagine if someone yelled at us, spanked us and gave us a time out every time we messed up and not just potty trained wise! We would come to resent that person and hide our actions from them. You definitely do not want your little one hiding their actions from you, do you? Soiled pants stashed under the bed, flushed down the toilet, hidden in the toy box or who knows where is not a pleasant thing to come across!

Treats are a good thing! Marshmallows worked the best for my two year old. Just find their favorite treat and reward them! Especially if they have stayed dry for a long time! Have them check if they are dry or not and let them tell you. Let them have their favorite drink as much as they want the whole day you start potty training. This will allow them to get use to the feeling of needing to go. Oh and yes you should dedicate, if you can at least one whole day from sun up to sun down to potty training. That is your childs day to have your attention and learn something new. It seriously helps! Start with the timer method.

Excitement! This is an amazing tool! When your little one sees your smile and hears words of praise and joy come from you directed at them, it will fill them with the same joy and they will want to please you more! All kids want to please their parents especially the younger ones! So when they go, every time, get excited! After all you really are! No more stinky diapers to clean so let that excitement come through! Clap your hands, shout yay! Grab them into a hug and kisses if needed! Tell people! Call grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, whoever so they can tell the little acheiver how wonderful they are and the excitement can spread! Excitement works a lot better than punishment.
It took us a good 3 weeks, probably to get to where we are at. She now goes on her own, will tell us in stores and restaraunts when she needs to go and has stayed dry for at least 2 days, maybe more! Yes!

Next step is naptime and nighttime potty training. We still put her in a diaper for these but soon we will cross this bridge and be fully potty trained! Yeah!