Let's get started...the first TIP OFF topic is POTTY TRAINING. Everyone has a tip for this, so spread the news to friends and family and get those tips typed up. We will announce the winner on SATURDAY so you have until Friday at midnight to enter your tip (leave your tip on this post).
The prize is a pair of super cute potty training undies. The winner will get to choose one pair; the rocket, dragonfly or robot. Good luck!
10 comments:
Well since my baby is only 4 months old I don't have any potty training suggestions except for what I've heard. One idea that I know of is to read your child a book about what it means to be "a big boy/girl who is no longer in diapers." One book that I'd suggest is "Once Upon a Potty."
We're just starting out, but so far we've found success by introducing a potty seat for the real potty. I didn't want to haev to transition from and clean out a little potty seat, so we bought one that goes on top of your regular toilet seat. Every day we show him the toilet seat, explain it, and let him flush. Now he loves sitting on it and flushing. One step conquered - no fear of the toilet! He's not ready for teh rest, but I think this is a very good, helpful beginning.
My boys have enjoyed having a potty buddy when we're starting the process of training them. I found a somewhat boyish baby doll that has a bottle and sippy cup that you can fill with water and that can go potty too. "Baby" goes tinkle in the potty after drinking water, and then the potty trainee would try. This made the process fun, and helped them understand the connection between having a lot to drink and then needing to go.
My other tip is, don't believe the books that say you can do it in a day. I think that is pretty rare.
Two Tips
1. Along with Kelly's suggestion for a potty seat that goes on top, I say take it one step further and get one that screws onto your toilet hinges. Then you don't have to take it off and set it on the floor. Gross!
2. If you try and your kid is just not seeming ready, it's OKAY to give up and try again later. (Can you tell I'm speaking from experience?) No one is going to be happy if potty training is super forced and power struggles take place.
Every kid is different but for Garret the thing that worked was introducing it, talking about it and then having an underwear party. It sounds weird but for a couple weeks we just kept saying after your party you will be a big boy and use the potty everytime. We practiced a lot. Then the day game and we had hot dogs blew whistles and said "You are a big boy now" worked like a charm, he has only had a handful of accidents since and has been in underwear full time.
You kind of KNOW when you're kids ready to potty train. Some people say I kept waiting for "the signs" but they sometimes don't ever really show the typical signs. With Annika, I just waited until she seemed capable and got the toilet seat that was hers only (one that stays on the regular toilet seat and flips up), I got a potty doll that pees on the potty, and did the dr. phil method (on his website). she only really took 1 1/2 days, and she was good. She was just over 2 1/2. At first I'd give her a small candy reward (couple of m&ms) then tapered it off. I didn't use pull-ups (except at night), but got her awesome princess big girl underwear. I also used her older friends as inspiration "ella and alissa wear big underwear and go pee on the potty".
well, I've heard they just go "bare bums" in europe when they are potty training. and that cloth diapered babies p-train easier.
really I have no idea... my little one is 16mo.
I know my mom used skittles or m&ms to reward us... and I imagine it's important to know if the KID or the MAMA is the one who is actually potty trained!
We rented potty training movies from the library..oh yes they have them and they work great..lots of great songs about 'using your potty when you have to poop' and all that. I would put my child on the potty seat in front of the tv and let them watch other children talking about it. They'd run around naked and watch the movie. When they finally sat down I had a basket full of books..including potty training ones and I would read to them.
I also would wake them up a half hour earlier then they normally get up and set them on the potty..that helped for overnights.
I waited until my boys were super-ready (I rather change diapers, than clean up messes on the floor) and then we have a special day when Dad takes the other kids out and Mommy and potty-trainer stay home near the bathroom. We teach Elmo how to go potty(teaching is the best way to learn) and drink LOTS of soda and juice and go potty ourselves! The underwear goes on that day and we NEVER look back-no pull-ups or diapers for us(even at night)- that would be confusing, don't you think? It has worked great!
I wish I had something more to add but we did the m&m and skittles thing too! They only other tip I have is pray! pray! pray for patience!
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