Some of you are probably thinking, “potty training was easy for us!”
Let me begin by saying, my first was a cakewalk. He was interested, loved the reward system, and although number two took a little bit to grasp, he had very few accidents. Even night time seemed a breeze. He tends to be a perfectionist, as well, so that may have something to do with it.
My daughter, on the other hand, stands as a force to be reckoned with in this department. “I fine. I just want a diaper.” None of the rewards have worked, praise only goes so far, BUT she has been poo trained for about a year now. She does not like having that sitting anywhere but the toilet, but pee she doesn’t mind. Although during swim lessons we will potty on the potty.
Riddle me this:
Why does potty training land smack dab in the middle of terrible twos and threenager stages? I realize she is asserting some sense of control and boundary-pushing, but I even tried the take her every 20 minutes method to no avail. She simply holds it until she gets off the potty.
Alas, yesterday she told me twice that she needed to go. I know she can because she was dry all of Christmas day. So, here’s hoping we’re turning a bit of a corner and my eve- so-independent lady decided she wants to tackle this milestone. Cross your fingers for me.
My tips for this delightful potty training stage:
- First and foremost, have patience. It’s not always easy, but sometimes they say they need to go and do nothing. That’s okay. It’s a step. Sometimes they’ll tell you directly following the action itself. That shows you they’re starting to recognize the sensation.
- Wait until they’re ready. This one can also be tough. Not every child is instantly ready at 1 or 2. When they show interest, you can start, but keep in mind you don’t want to extend the life of the training part. Forcing them to start will likely just cause frustration on both ends.
- Feel free to try rewards. My son loved getting an m&m for going potty. Some love stickers or a special prize at the end of the week if they successfully potty train. I advocate doing what works (so long as it’s safe).
- Celebrate and use praise! No action is too small and no success should be overlooked. Both of my kiddos (and I assume the third coming soon!) thrive off of and enjoy being told they did a good job and having a mini party over their accomplishments. Keep encouraging and hopefully, progression and regression happen — no matter how slowly.
Until next time… you can find me silently anticipating the next “I need to go potty, mommy.” Make it a great day!
