Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Do you have any advice?

I am attempting to potty train Megan this week. I have had a child in diapers (and sometimes 2) for nearly nine years now so I am rather excited about the idea of being done! Unfortunately I don't seem to be very good at this potty training business, you would think that Megan being my 4th child to potty train that I would know exactly how to do it and we would get the job done quickly and efficiently like many other mothers that I hear about. Sad to say it is not working that way. I have been thinking that Potty training schools would probably be a good business opportunity for someone that was skilled at the business. As for me, I am pretty well acquainted with the washing machine this week!

I thought she was seeming fairly ready, for months whenever I have taken off her diaper she has wanted to "go potty" and then she would go sit on the toilet. She rarely actually did anything but she loved the idea. Also she loved to go at any public places we would visit (you know, the thrill of seeing the bathrooms!) There was a time (right around 1 year) when she actually did go on the toilet a lot (#1 & 2) but then she got afraid of the toilet for a while and that was that. So much for my dreams of having a child like myself who trained at one year old.

This week we have started using underwear, I have tried to push liquids and watch the clock (The last two I do have trouble with forgetting about at times which doesn't help the situation!) Our success has been pretty much not at all but we have had lots of wet clothes! I have also told her that she would get a treat when she goes. The older children are trying to encourage her as well (as they want to share in the treat) but so far to no success. (But she is pretty willing to try.)

Anyway...Does anybody have any suggestions? Those of you who find potty training a little easier than I, I would love to hear from you!

12 comments:

All in a Day said...

I'm not one to ask, but I've heard of lots of people having success with just having a long t-shirt on the child. They don't like the feel of the urine running down their legs plus it stings a little (and cold water "washes it better.")

shell said...

I am eager to see what kind tips you get. I too am potty training or attempting to and have not have much success.

Anna @ Feminine Adventures said...

Hmmm.... look forward to the tips too. So far the potty training hasn't been going very well.

Anonymous said...

Well I don't like Shelly's idea:), unless you are spending your days exclusively outside! I think the most important part of potting training is having kids who are ready and willing. Gregory wasn't so willing but he was very capable so he did receive a few spankings to help him remember. I have read in an Amish book about cleaning older kids outside with the hose if they do make a mess in their pants but if it is warm out it may be more of a blessing than a punishment. That was when they were much older than Megan so it was embarrassing. Anna

miranda said...

Well, all I can say is what finally seemed to work for me was setting a "potty clock" (kitchen timer) for ever 20 minutes and we called it POTTY TIME!...The more the timer would ring and the more excited that my voice would sound it seemed to help us. Also every time we made a trip to the potty I would explain to Kadence that a mommy's job was to play and take care of her kids and a 3 year old's job is to go potty in the big potty. She liked being able to cal it "her job" and liked that she had a "job" just like daddy and mommy do. We also tried skittles and M&M's also bubble gum, and stickers. But all in all, it wasn't until that first week of every 20 min that things really took over. By the end of the week she was taking herself and telling me from the bathroom as she yelled down the hall..."MOMMY...I did my job"...so far she is doing great. and I am still counting my blessings that it really only took 1 entire week to make her ready.She is now even staying dry at night, and I have heard that it usually takes much longer for that part. I hope this helps. I have used many of your posts to help my every day so I hope I can help someone else through my struggles.

Carrie said...

We had great luck with Cate using the Dr. Phil method. It only took 24 hours to train her and she rarely had accidents after. We put the potty chair in the living room for the day and used a doll to show her how and why she needed to urinate. We picked a favorite character (her's was Nemo) and she got to call that character when she finally went (I had a friend waiting for the call to pretend to be Nemo) we also had party hats and had a party when she went. She wore a dress with no undies for that day and we had lots of juice on hand. It worked well for her. She had just turned two. We had a much more difficult time with Joel and that method did not work with him- he taught me patience and perseverance.

Andrew said...

two letters - m&m. bribery worked like a charm for adele

Angie said...

With 4 kids we have used different things with each. We are trying to get into the swing of things with Ethan now so we will see what works for him. Anywho... We did the reward thing (treats when they go) then with Hannah what finally got her was a sticker chart. We just took a big piece of poster board and had stickers laying in a spot. She got to go pick a sticker and put it on the chart and when the chart got full she got to go buy something from the store. It wasn't any organized chart at all just an empty poster board. She loved teh stickers! We have also put the potty in an area so they weren't secluded when doing their "job"! I liked that idea about telling them their job is to be a big kid and go on the potty! Anyway that is my 2 cents worth.

jessicalolene said...

So glad this phase of my life is over. Grayden was fully potty trained until Ben arrived. Apparently the new baby threw him off. He was terrified of showers then and ONE time "washing off" in the shower cured him. Ben, on the other hand just watched Grayden go and he was trained right away really early. No one thing works for ever one kid, I guess. Good luck.

Sarah said...

I have been lucky so far with my boys- the first 2 took it on themselves at about 19 months, and the 3rd at 22 mo (I had 2 in diapers for 2 mo). So far my method has been naked. Once they show interest and some control (we had naked time after bath for 30-40 min and once they are aware, can stop the flow and maybe even ask/gesture to go potty I just leave them naked from the waist down. For about a week, we'd stay home and not go anywhere so we didn't have to deal with diaper confusion. Then after about a week we transitioned to underwear. Mine were young so I kept a potty seat in the car for emergencies and made them go before any change- outside, meals, errands, etc...and when we got home. We hardly ever got accidents and even if they weren't completely independent with the whole process but it was better than diapers.

In The Potter's Hands said...

I am currently training McKayla, thanks to my mom for starting the process, and it's taking awhile but she's only in pull-ups at nap time and bed time and for the most part, wakes up dry. I'm not sure what the process is with lots of fluids, I never heard of that before, instead I have cut back on the fluids. I no longer give her a sippy cup, except in the morning with her milk (so she'll drink a lot of milk), instead I put her drink in a big girl cup, that way she doesn't drink near as much. I also don't give her another drink until she's gone potty. I do the sticker chart with the prize when she reaches the end of a row and she really enjoys that. She never does tell me she needs to go potty though, unless it's too late, I take her at the top of every hour. I joke that it's not training her, rather it's training me. Anyway I also put the plastic panties over her big girl panties so if she does have an accident it doesn't go everywhere. It's been four weeks now and I think we're finally getting the hang of it. She does all her dirty jobs in the toilet and has only had a couple of wet accidents in the last week. I'm not sure this is the best method since it's taking so long but we're used to it now and we have our routine down. Kelsey was so easy that I was rather impatient with this at first. When Kayla was born Kelsey decided she wasn't wearing diapers anymore and that was it. Never had an accident! Anyway, good luck with Megan!

Abbi said...

Thanks to all of you for your helpful comments!!
I have decided (after basically no success) to put it off for a few weeks and then plan on giving her my undivided attention for a few days. Hopefully it works. I will report later.

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