We have now officially started Potty Training. Although I've been potty trained for about 30 years now, it's not as inherent as one would think to teach someone else how to use a potty. Saturday I got her out of bed and we pulled out the potty, put it right in front of the TV (to keep her sitting there) and off came the diaper. She went!!! We made a big to-do calling grandparents and such. The process was repeated by my lovely wife (she was the trainer, not the pottier) this morning.
I'm still not sure that she understands that she went in the potty and that what was in the potty came out of her.
Any thoughts on the best way to train a child to potty correctly??
candy is a great reward. I think we used something like 1 smartie or 1 nerd. Some use m&m's.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as she is not even two yet, don't get discouraged if she's not consistant. For the nine of us, it was usually our decision where we didn't want to sit in a wet diaper anymore and decided the toilet was a great alternative. I do understand this approach does not work for everyone.
ReplyDeletepotty time is a great story time. Let her choose a book, and you read to her while she sits. Just an alternative to the TV.
ReplyDeleteI read a book when I was taking anthropology in college. The anthropologist asked the natives she was studying how they taught their children how to use the bathroom (or actually the ground), (whatever the custom for them was, squat a certain way, what ever it was). The natives asked a couple of times to understand the question then just laughed. Like: why would you have to teach someone that? They just learned by observing.
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess if we had enough patience, and liked to change diapers, and did not mind buying diapers and was willing to tell people why your child was not potty-trained at 2 ½ years old, and …, there would not be need for training at all, they would pick it up. Might just need tips on wiping.
Alternately, we could just tell them they are not allowed to use the potty.
ReplyDeleteIt was my experience that I had to potty train myself first. Meaning that I had to be absolutely fully committed to teaching them to use the potty. I set a timer for every 15 minutes and asked the child if they had to go potty, or actually sat them on the potty when it dinged. The child knows this is a special season for them when they are the top of their parents agenda and they respond to it. Most of my kids were potty trained at around 2 years old.
ReplyDeleteRewards (candy) help too, and attention while on the potty.
But first commit yourself!
They say if you let them run around naked for a day, it helps them identify when they need to go. I can see that have cleaning repercussions, though.
ReplyDeletere: Jon G.'s comment: I think its hard for Western kids to learn it by observation because of our taboos about relieving ourselves when we're not behind closed doors. I suppose you could just bring the kid into the loo with you, but I'm seeing dark potential for Social Services to intervene. . .
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I have only further anthropological comments and no helpful suggestions. I hear boys like target practice, so if she had a male member it might be easier to get her to urine-bomb some cereal bits. Marshmallows melt apparently. No suggestions for girls, though. So um, good luck!
Patience! That is the key to potty training. She may do it for awhile then go right back to not wanting to. She will let you know when she is ready!
ReplyDeleteoops I didnt mean to make myself anonymous on the previous post!
ReplyDelete:)
I just got your title. Niiiiice. Also, this is the 4th morning with a potty break and she's doing fabulous! Of course I have had to give her lollipops every day... I'm going out to buy sugar free ones today.
ReplyDeleteCoincedentally, in accordance with your snazzy title, I just watched Bill and Ted's excellent adventure last night for the first time! Then we looked on your blog and the title took new meaning. But either way, Potty time would still be excellent.
ReplyDelete