potty training tips | amotherworld

parenting

Get Your Toddler Excited for Potty Training

October 5, 2016

If you’re a parent going through potty-training right now, I feel for you! Teaching your active, rambunctious toddler to use the potty for #1 and #2 is no easy feat!

When both of my boys were toddlers, I tried the whole potty-training routine; I read the books, researched online, and was ready to go!

But they weren’t.

When my eldest was two years old, I was pregnant with my second son. I was a little stressed about having two boys in diapers, so I decided to start potty training. I tried letting my son run around naked, which was comical in itself, and the perfect photo opp! But eventually, he would end up peeing on the floor.

After trying the brand spanking-new shiny potty, and later the soft “big-boy” toilet seat, I soon realized that their bodies weren’t ready. There was major resistance.

The potty-training books really did nothing for my boys… they stared blankly at the pages. I’m sure they were thinking, “now why would I go on the toilet when I can squat in the corner and go in my pants?!”

I also tried to bribe them with toys. That failed miserably. My eldest would just run away and scream, “I don’t want to go on the potty!” To his wild imagination, it was as if the toilet was a scary giant shark mouth with sharp teeth, ready to clamp onto his bum and never let go.

So the boys spent a lot of time running around in training pants. Oh sure, they enjoyed pulling them up, and tearing them off!

I attended an event recently to learn more about the new and improved Pampers Easy Ups Training Underwear which are designed to help little ones and their families during potty training.

Pampers Easy Ups training pants are made to look, fit and feel more like underwear, while providing leak protection. The new Easy Ups have a 360 degree stretchy waistband for an underwear-like fit, that’s easy for toddlers to pull up and down. They’re also super soft, like cotton underwear, to keep your active toddler feeling comfortably. They also tear easily at the sides, which your toddler will definitely find amusing.

Easy Ups are the only training underwear with Pampers exclusive Extra Absorb Channels, which provide outstanding protection against leaks during the day AND night. Dual Leak-Guard barriers around the legs help prevent leaks that can happen when toddlers are on the move.

Easy Ups have cute Thomas the Engine, Dora the Explorer, and new Hello Kitty designs, which is great for kids to pick out on their own, and get excited about wearing “big kid” underwear.

Share your potty training tip!

Little Kids

Potty Training with Pull-Ups® Big Kid Academy

November 17, 2014

When my eldest was two years old, I was pregnant with my second son. I was a little stressed about having two boys in diapers so I decided to start potty training. I tried letting my son run around naked—eventually, he ended up peeing on the floor.

Next, I bribed him with a toy. It failed. He would just run away and scream, “I don’t want to go on the potty!”

I bought him a soft seat for the toilet, tried reading to him while on the potty. Nothing.

Yes, there was major resistance. But was he physically ready for potty training?

The Pull-Ups® Big Kid Academy is a wonderful tool to get started on potty training your children and answering many of your questions.

Before you even begin, ask yourself: is your child even ready? Take the Signs of Readiness Quiz and if the answer points to potty-readiness, you can begin to prepare for the next step. Next, find the right supplies and tools on the Big Kid Prep List, discover fun activities for your routine, and then customize a Potty Progress Chart.

The Pull-Ups® Time to Potty App has creative customized tools to help engage your child and give him or her positive reinforcement, which can help with potty success.

You can customize a printable, personalized weekly progress chart to help keep your efforts in check and to help reward your child, who needs that positive reinforcement. I remember doing the Potty Dance when my boys went on the potty! Sometimes they’d look at me like I was a crazy mama but it worked!

Create your own Potty Dance which helps get your Big Kid excited about potty training. Choose the music—from classical to rock—and choose a character. Learn the steps with your child and then download your song! I find the charts and potty dances help your child feel a sense of real accomplishment—they’re a Big Kid now!

We tried the Pull-Ups® Learning Designs & Cool Alert ® after downloading the Pull-Ups® Time to Potty App. My boy can stay dry for more than 2 hours and sometime he shows interest in running to the potty, when he isn’t distracted by other things! The Pull-Ups® Training Pants made it easy for my son to quickly run to the bathroom and pull them down all by himself which made him super proud. We created our own Potty Dance together on the website. The timer comes in handy, too. The Pull-Ups® Big Kid Academy is really helpful as we go through this challenging milestone.

Kendra, mom of 2.5 year old boy

The best part of the Big Kid Academy program is the Pull-Ups® Time to Potty App which can be downloaded for free. The app is a smart new take on the classic potty timer that helps you and your child learn the importance of taking regular potty breaks. Just set up a profile for your child and let the app know when your child uses the bathroom and the timer automatically adjusts the time between breaks.

Pull-Ups® Learning Designs & Cool Alert ® can also help make potty training a little more enticing for toddlers too. The Learning Designs® entice toddlers to wear the Pull-Ups® and the Cool Alert® helps your child realize when he or she is wet. Pair these with a consistent routine and The Pull-Ups® Big Kid Academy, along with The Pull-Ups® Time to Potty App, and you’ll be on your way to potty training victory.

Pull-Ups® Training Pants are all about getting toddlers interested in becoming a Big Kid which is why they have Disney character designs and stretchy sides that let kids put them on and take off all by themselves! Visit Pull-Ups® Big Kid Academy to enroll your kid today!

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Pull-Ups® Training Pants via Glam Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Kimberly-Clark Inc.

Motherhood

Potty Training Time! 10 Potty Training Tips

December 13, 2009

by Maria Lianos-Carbone

When the Boss was 2, I was pregnant with the Destroyer. I was concerned about having two kids in diapers. So I tried the potty training routine, read the books, researched online and tried it all.

First, I let the Boss run around naked. Funny but slightly disturbing to see my kid fondling his penis freely. Eventually he ended up peeing on the floor.

Next I bribed him with a toy. The Boss is smarter than that. It failed. Even Diego couldn’t entice him to go on the potty. He’d look at me like I was stupid – ‘this is my body and I’ll go pee when I want to.’ He ran away and screamed, “I don’t want to go on the potty!”

Then Daddy showed him how to use the potty. His older cousin taught him the whole bathroom routine. I bought him a new Diego soft seat and underwear.

I even consulted his pediatrician. The Boss was in the office with me so I quietly asked the doctor, “Any tips on helping him go on the p-o-t-t-y?” He replied, “Don’t p-u-s-h it.”

Yes, there was major resistance. Wasn’t he physically ready? Did he really enjoy the feeling of wetness? Did he not mind walking around with a diaper full of poop?

I gave up. He just isn’t ready, I thought. Drop it, let it go, he won’t be 8 years old and still in diapers.

Then one day, miraculously, he simply said, “Mommy I want to go on the potty.”

I nonchalantly replied “sure” even though I was jumping for joy on the inside. He sat himself down, his little hands grasping onto the toilet seat to hold himself up so he wouldn’t fall in. And lo and behold, he started to pee! I praised him and kissed him and told Daddy and called Yiayia and gave him high fives.

The next morning, we started the routine again. The first time on the potty was a success. After than, I asked him if he needed to go every hour. Finally when he agreed, he sat down on his soft potty seat. I read to him, distracted him with a song, turned on the faucet so that maybe the sound of water would help… but nothing happened. Not even a tinkle.

And then, just as soon as he walked away, his pants were soaked. I calmly changed his clothes and told him it was okay and reminded him to call me if he felt he had to go.

Later that day, I had just returned from putting a load of laundry in the washing machine when I caught a whiff… a stench…uh oh, he had done a number two.

Noooooo! And oh what a big, messy one.

I swiftly carried him to the bathtub and cleaned him up matter-of-factly. I reassured him that is was okay, it was an accident, but he had to use the potty next time.

The accident freaked him out so much that he did not want to go on that potty ever again. Not even the little one. Couldn’t care less about the Diego underwear. He asked to wear a Pull-up.

I felt so disappointed in myself. What did I do wrong? Did I pressure him too much? I was too busy doing laundry, I missed my chance to help him do a number two on the potty.
At my wits end, I gave up. The power struggle, that is.

When I stopped beating myself up, I realized that when he is ready, he will try again.

And he did. In his own time. With a little help to soften his stool as he had constipation issues, he finally faced his fear of pooping on the toilet. And when he overcame that fear, he was on his way. Without any pressure from me.

With my second son, the Destroyer, there was a window of opportunity around 2 years of age. But he would trickle every ½ hour so his body was not able to stay dry very long.

At around 2 ¾, he started showing interest again. He could do #1 on the potty but forget about #2. Just like the boss, he too had some issues with constipation.

Two weeks ago, I decided to go for it. He showed the signs of readiness so I didn’t want to waste anymore time. I stopped putting him in training pants. Every ½ hour I asked him if he needed to go. I reminded him that if he wanted to go to school, like his big brother, he’d have to do pee and poo on the potty. I had the Boss get involved too by showing him how do go potty, wash his hands, etc.

I’m happy to report that within 2 days, the Destroyer was fully potty trained. The lessons I learned with the Boss really prepared me for the Destroyer.

So here are my potty training tips:

1. Don’t push it! The more you push, the more they resist.

2. Wait until they can be dry for more than an hour. If they can’t hold it for longer periods, then their bodies are just not physiologically ready.

3. Ask your doctor. If your kid has constipation, it may be more difficult for them to sit on the potty long enough to have a bowel movement. Ask about natural stool softeners, ie. prunes or even Lactulose.

4. Go shopping and let your child pick out the underwear. They will get excited about superhero or princess underwear, believe me!

5. Set aside a few days to focus fully on potty training so you can be home most of the day.

6. Ditch the diapers and training pants. Let them wear underwear. Even if they have accidents, they’ll start to realize the concept of wet and dry. Training pants are so absorbent, they can’t even tell sometimes.

7. Try a rewards program; give a sticker for every time they use the potty.

8. At night, use a night-time pant but first thing in the morning, take it off and replace with underwear as soon as your child wakes up.

9. If you have to go out, have your child empty his/her bladder before leaving and bring a change of pants and underwear. Don’t be afraid of an accident and opt for a training pant to go out as this confuses them. Once you ditch training pants, don’t go back.

10. Celebrate your child’s potty success. He/she deserves it!