Potty Training - Rosemount, MN

I have always used the reward system. I use stickers on a sheet of paper and when they get five in a row we go to the store and pick out a toy for going potty five times in a row in the toilet. They must actually go in the potty in order to get the stickers. If they try I give them a high-five and tell them we'll try again later. I don't let them have a sticker because that defeats the reward system. I have done this with my daycare group for 10 years and have had great success. It always takes longer for them to go poop on the potty but I would switch to training pants (not pull-ups) and they really don't like the poop in their pants and start to get the idea. Also watch to see if there is a set time they usually go and have them try around that time. Sometimes I use a chalk board with chalk so they will sit there longer or a magnetic board with magnets as well. One last thing I have the boys sit backwards on the toilet to they don't feel like they are going to fall in. Good luck!

I used bribery. He was 3.5 yrs when we did this. He would pee in the potty chair but it was hell to get him to poop. So I told him that we would get him and extra special present if he pooped in the potty chair. My little guy is huge into trains, so he had picked out a toy from a brochure (it was a geo trax piece) and when he pooped in the chair for a week we gave him the toy that he had picked out.

Good luck.

Hi CT,

I am in the midst of potty training my little girl too. She started around 18 mo and actually pooped 3 days in a row. Surprisingly she poops ok but won't pee. We started with the reward system too but now she won't even go near the potty. She seems to be in a stage right now that if it is something we want her to do she will say no. So my husband and I are now trying reverse psychology. Last night my husband started to put the potty chair away (in front of her) saying that "I guess we need to put this away since we don't use it anymore". Immediately she threw a fit and demanded to sit on the potty :) She didn't go but at least she sat down. I am not sure if this will work and if it does for how long but it is just another thought.

Every child is on their own schedule, I found with the boys they did not like to be bothered by sitting,
Let him look at books while on the toilet, or read to him, more of a distraction. ALWAYS reward good behavior, everyone responds better to that then any negative reaction, good words, praise, etc. whatever works.

Rewards are great for potty training. I made a little treat bowl with little toys or fruit snacks and kept it on a shelf in the bathroom, within his sight. And everytime he pooped he got to pick a treat or toy. And making the bowl or box or whatever can be a fun project with stickers and ribbon! Hope it helps!