Potty Training Motivators That Are Peanut Allergy Safe

Updated on July 30, 2008
K.M. asks from Concord, CA
34 answers

My younger daughter is beginning to express interest in potty-training. When my older daughter was at this stage, we used mini M & M's to reward potty success. But my younger daughter has a peanut allergy, and there's a strong chance of cross-contamination with M & M's. Any parents with peanut allergic little ones out there have suggestions for other potty motivators, preferably of the very small and quickly gone variety?

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C.M.

answers from Chico on

The pastel colored mini marshmallows or skittles.
Good luck with the potty training and the peanut allergy!

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I.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Sunspire SunDrops and EatFreely chocolate chips are nut free as well as free of soy and many other common allergens.

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A.M.

answers from San Francisco on

My son has egg, dairy and nut allergies (among others). We used a sticker chart...which worked until he found out his friend was getting candy. Then we had to switch to jelly beans. Good luck!

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R.M.

answers from Sacramento on

Jelly beans, skittles, CoCo puffs, fruit loops, cheeto balls

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S.S.

answers from Sacramento on

I did a sticker chart with my son and he LOVED it.

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S.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Seems to be pretty child dependent. One of my kids would potty train for stickers. Another one wanted marshmallows. I'm sure you will be able to find something that will work, there are a wide variety of peanut-free bribes available.

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M.M.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter was allergic to everything as an infant. I used chocolate chips from Whole Foods, Just chips with nothing in it except cocoa. I would give her a couple. When my 3rd was in trainging I would give him something sweet and of course give her the chocolate chips, it was her treat for whatever.

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B.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Skittles are safe. Both my girls have severe nut allergies.

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M.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Some chocolate chips are peanut-free (my son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts) -- Guittard and I think Nestle semi-sweet as well. Call the companies to make sure.

Also, there are some fruit drops called X-treme Fruit that are nut-free and easy to distribute (and less messy).

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a book called Potty Training in Less Than a Day if you want it let me know.
J. in San Jose

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A.G.

answers from Sacramento on

I'm no expert by any means. First time mom and my daughter is only 17 1/2 months. She is doing very well with going in the potty already though. The key for us, especially for going #2 is reading to her while she is on the potty. I don't reward with food just with excitement and praise and she gets very excited. I don't pressure her I just say "mommy is going potty do you want to go in your big girl toilet?", and sometimes after a "No" or two she will follow me in and ask to go. My husband also takes her first thing in the morning.

So for us I 1: lead by example 2: make it fun and prevent boredom of the event by reading books and 3:reward her through praise and an sense of accomplishment.

So far so good. We will see how it all turns out. Oh, and I've started using cloth diapers too. Good luck!

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M.K.

answers from Merced on

What about chocolate chips? Check Trader Joe's or maybe in your health food section at your grocery store for one that is peanut allergy-safe. Good luck.

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L.S.

answers from Sacramento on

We used stickers primarily. Little happy face stickers that could run up and down their arms. We also used yogo bits for success w/ poo poo. Good luck! :)

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M.G.

answers from Salinas on

HI K.,

Our doctors said it is not a good idea to reward your child with food. So, we created a sticker chart, and every time she went, she got to pick out a sticker and put it on the chart. We hung it right over the potty chair and it seemed to work great. Hope this helps you a bit.

M.

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A.S.

answers from San Francisco on

We used stickers, but my friend used those little fruit snacks. The ones that are like gummy bears, but are probably a little more healthy.

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D.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi K.,

I see you've gotten lots of suggestions already. I wanted to mention an on-line support group for parents of food allergic kids. www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

It's a great group that helped me a lot when our second child was diagnosed with allergies (including nuts).

-D.

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T.B.

answers from Sacramento on

You could try SMARTIES. My daughter loved them at that age.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I gave my first child yogurt raisins. She's peanut-allergic too and i didn't know any better (later found a yogurt peanut in the bunch which fortunately I got, so we have never given it to her since). But with my son we just gave him raisins which he loved. He was also very motivated just by reading books to him while on the potty. Good luck to you!

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S.G.

answers from San Francisco on

We used money for my daughter: a penny for pee and a nickel (I think) for poop. She loved it and would promptly put it in her piggy bank.

Good luck!

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C.U.

answers from Modesto on

Stickers or jelly beans

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V.R.

answers from Redding on

If my son went pee in the potty, we did the 'Pee Pee Dance' which was just my husband and I dancing around acting silly and cheering. It reaaly appealed to that slapstick side of him.

If he went poop, we gave him a gold chocolate coin. Then after he did that three times in a row, we threw him a 'Poo Poo party.' I saw it on Dr. Phil. We just made a little kitty litter cake and invited a couple of his little friends over.

Good luck.

C.C.

answers from Bakersfield on

Our day care provider used gummy bears (sweet - but not loaded with sugar, and allergy safe). We used all kinds of other motivators - dibbs (bite sized ice creams covered in chocolate), Oreos...all worked great!

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L.Y.

answers from Sacramento on

Smarties-they worked for me!

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J.E.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter would go for Cheetos. I would only give her a few, and I know sometimes she would hold back some pee so she could go again in a few minutes and get more. LOL. I thought it was funny, but also okay, because she was learning how to control her muscles and bladder. Now, at age six, her control is great! She can be out all day without using a public restroom.

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J.P.

answers from San Francisco on

We used Jelly beans:)

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

there are tons of small candies out there. Just go down the candy isle of any store and you will see tons like skittles, jelly beans, etc. Stickers are good too and wont cause cavities. :O)

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N.C.

answers from Sacramento on

My husband and I do not use food as a reward. What we do is celebrate every time he goes pee-pee in the potty. He loves doing a potty dance and all the jumping, screaming and dancing that goes along with it. He is definately motivated by recognition of a job well done. If that doesn't work, I would go to a party store and buy some party favors or little games or toys to reward her with. Good luck

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T.T.

answers from Sacramento on

I let my 2 1/2 year old put stickers on her chart that I made for her. Then I don't even need to introduce junk food or candy when not necessary. She even was the one to pick out the stickers for her chart.

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D.H.

answers from San Francisco on

My son loved Skittles. I'm not sure if they may be cross-contamination, though. I liked using Hersheys Kisses, too.

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N.M.

answers from San Francisco on

We used Pez candies. Each of my kids picked out their favorite dispenser (Bob the Builder and Piglet for us at the time), and so when they used the potty Bob or Piglet came out to cheer and give them a Pez. They loved it, and after potty training the empty dispensers became toys.

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T.G.

answers from San Francisco on

K.,
We are potty training now with our son and the m&m thing was worn our really fast. We started to give him dimes for pee pee and quarters for poo and gave him a new piggy bank just for the potty. It is working well and then he will be able to buy himself a little treat when his bank fills up. Hope you find a working solution!

J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

frozen blueberries or frozen grapes

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C.L.

answers from Fresno on

My cousin uses gummy bears with her 2 year old. What signs is your daughter showing that she is ready? I am curious because I have a 17 month old, so I will be closer to potty training soon.

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A.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Jelly beans work great for us. We use the jelly belly variety from Costco.

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