Helpful Potty Training Tips

Potty training is a long process. But there are so many ways to make it pass with ease and success. First, bribe the heck out of your child. Parents.com includes parent testimonials, one of which was, “I wholeheartedly recommend bribery as potty training motivation: We kept a small plastic piggy bank in the bathroom and rewarded every success (one penny for pee, two for poop). Our daughter was entranced -- she would shake the piggy with a gleam in her eye and remark how heavy it was getting”.

For the boys out there, you can get them underwear that is just like their dads’ underwear. Parents.com shares, ”We covered the couch and chairs with plastic and bought "manly-man" underwear -- just like Dad's. We spent the weekend in underwear and T-shirts, making a game every hour or so to see who could go to the restroom.” You can do the same thing with girls. Buy them cute girly underwear and play with them without stressing too much about the potty so much.

This is a big step in a child’s life, so try to give them rewards for their hard work. A parent on parents.com explains, “I've heard all the tricks -- stickers, bribing with toys, special underpants. But you have to pick something that's consistent with your parenting style. I didn't use rewards elsewhere, so I didn't want to start here. What did work: Lots of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection and pride when my kids were successful. Making a big deal about small steps of progress is key”.

Sometimes, a little white lie or two may be needed, “My middle son was stubborn when it came to #2 on the potty -- absolutely refused, no matter the reward. So I finally told him that when we flush, the poop goes out to the sea to feed the fish -- so if he didn't go, then the poor little fish wouldn't have anything to eat. My son, being the compassionate, sensitive little do-gooder he is, felt it was his mission to poop to "save" the fish. (After all, Nemo and Dory were counting on him!)”

The next thing to keep in mind is the frequency of going to the restroom. How often does your little one need to go? I found this really cool piece of advice on parents.com, “We found that our son simply was not interested in remembering to go on his own, so we found the Potty Watch, which he loved. You program this wrist watch to play songs and light up at 30-, 60-, or 90-minute intervals; then it resets itself and starts the countdown all over again”.

Good luck!


Painless Potty Training

You've heard horror stories- maybe even seen the battle of wills between children and parents- and worried how you would handle it when your turn came.

 And now, it's here. It seems that everyone, from your mother-in-law to your neighbor has a theory- and feels compelled to share it with you. You so badly want to be a good parent that you listen politely- while on the inside you're wondering how in the world you are going to get through this.

 Learn more by Clicking Here!