Nitty gritty potty training

Feb 24, 2012

Grace based parenting, Motherhood, potty training

I think one of the best ways to achieve successful potty training is for mom to ‘play the role’ of a mother who walks around with a smile on her face, no matter what is going on around her, never raises her voice, and effortlessly finds words of affirmation rolling off her tongue. I mean academy award role playing!! Those attributes might come easily for you, but it is role playing for me. Potty training does not happen automatically for our children, like crawling or walking. It must be taught, and it involves physiological functions and feelings that are new for our children.
So, I do not reprimand my child during this training time, and I show no frustration or disappointment. I may feel it, but my smile doesn’t fade. I keep pumping out words of encouragement and affirmation. Potty training can easily become a battle of the wills, and I do NOT want to enter into that battle with my toddler!

At nap time and bedtime, I use a diaper or a pull-up.

For three days I keep this up. By the fourth day, 4 of mine were potty trained. Four of them took about a week. But, I still HAD to take them to the bathroom every hour or so during the day, for the first week or two. I DID NOT ASK THEM IF THEY HAD TO GO, I smiled and took their hand and chatted away as I led them to the potty. I don’t consider this process to be democratic. Call me any name that you’d like to, but we’re talking survival here!!
Bed wetting at night is common. Three of mine wet their bed for years!!! I have been told it can be hereditary, and that seems to be true. They had no problems at nap time or during the day, so I just purchased a lot of pull-ups.

I’ve already received lots of emails with questions, like ideas for rewards, and how about working moms. I’ll answer them on Monday. I LOVE your emails and comments!

It’s time for my Friday’s Finds. Her are some sites thai I LOVED this week!

This is a thought provoking post. What should we talk to our tween and teen daughters about their future mates?

http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Family/Stages/Tween%20Ages/2012/defining-prince-charming.aspx

I enjoy making crafts that turn out as well as this did!! I did cheat on the painting part!

http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/02/faux-zinc-candy-jar-top-made-with-a-tuna-can.html/
- Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

5 Comments

Heather Apgar February 24, 2012 at 7:05 pm

Bonni, I LOVE your blog! Even though my kiddos are way past the potty training stage I remember those days!! my technique was much like yours, and worked well... until my 3rd child broke her leg about 2 weeks into the process...it was back to pull-ups because accidents and casts do NOT go together!! Thanks so much too for praying for my friends Kara and Drew. They are doing well... I'm seeing much of Kara's usual sparkle again! Heather
- Bonni February 24, 2012 at 9:16 pm
  
  Thanks for commenting, and the kind words! SO HAPPY to hear your friends are doing well! Prayer is a powerful tool! CAN NOT imagine having a 2 or 3 year old in a cast.....much less interrupting potty training! Ahhhh, motherhood. Now I'm dealing with 3 girls in the dating...courting 'thing'. Potty training seemed easier. :) Have a joyful weekend! Bonni
Kathy March 5, 2012 at 4:31 pm

Need help with this potty training thing. Today was day #1 of the 3 day challenge. My son is 26 months old. For a few months now he has been telling me when he has to poop, not pee. We successfully go to the potty, sit, poop, put the diaper back on, and so on. So today I decided to start naked (which he usually does fine with). He insisted on underwear when I said no diapers this morning. I agreed. After the second pair got wet, I said no underwear until tomorrow. Maybe a mistake. It feels to me like this is a strong-will thing on his part, but today has been really weird. He usually goes to potty no problem for me, but today he'll say NO and cry and fall on floor. Eventually he'll go. Then after his nap this afternoon he told me PEE, so we ran to potty and then he just cried and screamed. I left him alone and he sat there screaming until I came back. I didn't even tell him to stay sitting. Anyway, I was trying to put him on every 30 minutes but it seems like it is really frustrating hhim when he can't go then. Then this afternoon he went to get a diaper and I said no. He cried and I said, no more diapers. He looked at me and wailed and through the bag of diapers down the stairs crying and yelling "bye bye diapers" at the same time. It's like its an emotional thing for him. Do I just keep sticking out the 3 days? I feel like I should be doing something differently. I was giving rewards when he was dry after each 30 minute interval. Advice? I'm sure there is a lot I'm doing wrong and you'll notice it right away, but because I"m so tired (rough night with my 3 month old), I'm just not thinking straight and coming up with a solution. Eager to hear from you!
- Bonni March 19, 2012 at 7:14 pm
  
  Kathy, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!! I JUST RECEIVED YOUR COMMENT!!!!!!!! I had someone work on my computer this weekend, and he retrieved lots of comments and emails that were sent to some file somewhere!!! Yikes, what happened with your potty training? It's amazing that he told you that he needed to poop first. I do have some ideas, and I hope that your 3 month old is allowing you to have more uninterrupted sleep!!!!! If you let me know what's going on, I'll give you my thoughts. By the way, I think that you've done everything right so far! Bonni
Heather March 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm

Bonni, I have a 31 month old and a 17 month old boy. I am also due with my third on May 1. Should I start potty training this close to the baby? Should I do both at the same time? Did you use pull ups when you went away during the day? Thanks so much for your advice!