Works for Me Wednesday (Potty Training Tips)

My two older kids (a boy then a girl) potty trained painlessly at 26 and 27 months. I used ideas I heard and read here, there, and pretty much everywhere. You've probably heard it all before, but this is what worked for us:

1. Introduce the potty chair around 15-18 months. Put one in your bathroom, and encourage your toddler to sit on it whenever she wants. Eventually, make it part of your routine. (Sit on it after bath, or before brushing teeth, or before getting dressed, whatever.)

2. Make a HUGE deal when something-- anything-- ends up in the potty. Have a party. Jump up and down. Call (or pretend to call) a special person in front of your child so he hears your gush about how proud you are. Give him a special sticker to put on his potty lid.

3. When you're ready to actually potty train, pick a weekend when you don't have plans, and when your husband will be home to help. Talk it up with your child for at least a week prior. Take her to the store with you and let her pick out all candy that she wants as "potty treats". I know a lot of people use M&Ms, but Buddy has a peanut allergy, so we use jelly beans, Skittles, Pez, and Smarties. Put all the treats in a visible yet unreachable place for a few days leading up to The Big Weekend.

4. When Saturday morning arrives, explain to your child what's going on. Make sure the diapers are gone, and put some underpants on him or just let him go naked. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Tell him to stay dry until then. When the timer goes off, it's potty time! Sit him on the potty. Sing songs. Read books. Look at photo albums. Do anything to pass the time until something happens. If he doesn't go, it's "Good job! You tried your best! You stayed dry!!! We'll try again in a few minutes!" If he does go, it's a party. (See Tip #2) Set the timer again. . . .Repeat all weekend. Eventually, you'll end up setting the timer for 20 and then 30 minutes, and then not at all.

5. Reward with candy. I know, it's so bad to reward with food, but this is a huge thing in their lives, and I promise not to do it again. Give one piece for staying dry, two pieces (total) for tinkles, and three pieces (total) for poopies. That way you're rewarding not just for going in the potty, but for not going on your floor, which is the real goal. If there's a big brother in the house, he gets candy, too, for being such a big helper and for cheering on his little sis. I found this helps minimize the jealousy that might come from Miss Trainee getting so much attention, and emphasizes the overall coolness of being the big kid and longtime Master of the Potty.

6. NO pullups or diapers on when you go out. Wrong message. Just don't go out. OR bring the potty with you if you absolutely must leave the house. We toted Sister's potty around in the wagon on her Big Weekend.

Anyway, these ideas really worked for us. Hopefully they'll work for you, too!