What do I do for potty training? I simply wait until they’re ready. I never use potty chairs and I don’t read potty books. That is way too mainstream. The potty chairs, the crying, the accidents, who needs the stress? When I see that they are ready, sometimes it takes a little prodding, and when they ask…we try it out. I have bribed one of my sons before because he would go in his pants. It was a horrible span of about 6 months! After I bribed him with a bike if he went in the toilet, he took the bait; only to go right in his pants no sooner than we got home with bike in hand.
Un-schooling has made me think, re-think and ask myself why I do what I do. Bribing doesn’t work, rewards are merely incentives that don’t work for the long haul (more on this topic later), and honestly, when I’ve waited until their timing–everyone’s happy! 3 years-old has been about the time when all of mine (give or take a couple months) have ended up being potty trained. My advice from a mom who’s potty trained quite a few? Relax! There is enough stress raising little ones, they don’t need the stress and either do you. Let them tell you when they’re ready.
My little guy is kind of a stubborn kid and he likes to make his own choices… First I just got one of those potty seats that you put on top of the toilet seat, but later got a potty chair which was easier for him, something more at his level(and he was kind of afraid to go #2 in the big toilet). And for the stubbornness issue- great because he got to make his own choice between potty seat on the toilet or potty chair on the floor. Once he got the hang of going potty (and I was quite sick of cleaning out the potty chair) I put the potty chair away and he did fine. I liked having a couple of options for him to choose from so that it's not just Mommy trying to make him do something 🙂
Baby Potty Chairs
Definitely agree. I have 3 older children who are now teenagers and potty training was no fun. with my last two we waited until they were ready. We had purchased undies and they sat in the bag in my one daughter's drawer. One day she woke up from nap and said she wanted to wear underwear. First few days there were accidents, little puddles on the floor. But she didn't like the feeling and learned quickly to go to the potty. About the same thing happened with the next one. She was so upset with the wet the first day that on the second day she was completely dry. We have had some accidents here or there, but for the most part, except for bedtime my 4 year old and 2 1/2 year old daughters are in undies.
Thanks, Stephanie…its nice to meet you
I totally agree with you on this one. I have also potty-trained quite a few (I have 6 children, and I have babysat 6 others in the past). The easiest one was my last boy; he basically trained himself. I just had to wait until he was ready (around 2 3/4).