In the morning, I'll be speaking on an interesting topic at a local Mothers group....interesting because I feel like a LOSER when it comes to this topic......PottyTraining! You can read my post at "Laced in Grace" to find out more... Thought I'd post my outline;) Dirty Jobs: Mom Edition
Fresh Air…. For the Not so Fresh Season of Potty Training
Tracey Solomon, MOPS Intl. Council Coordinator
soltrcy@aol.com
website: http://nottinbutknittin.blogspot.com/
Potty relay race- timed fill and dump- Chocolate prize
Pride and the Potty:
Potty training is not a competition. We lose- when we compare and compete.
Potty Readiness:
Stand, sit and otherwise reach the potty un-aided.
Shows interest in using the potty
Dry during naps or over night
Recognize when wet- or messy
Recognizing the urge
Who’s Training whom?
Cooperative effort…learning each child.
Watching and taking the cues
Motivating with what works, may vary from child to child
Modeling: “Mommy, can I watch?”
Potty Training Supplies:
Pull ups
training pants/ plastic pants
Underwear-
Potty Seat- or stool- (assure fit, comfort and ease of cleaning)
Urine Gone, paper towels or other cleaning supplies
Newspaper ;) (kidding)
The Preliminaries:
Check for readiness
“Modeling and Discussion”- Books videos etc.
“Catching them going” (quick wins)
The switch… potty pants
The Dirty Job:
Potty Placement- access access access
Private poopers vs Audience performers
Practice, practice, practice- cleaning up is half the fun.
The re-do
Wait a week or two- and try again.
Common Regression Causes:
New baby regression, moving, death, divorce, job status, care giver change…etc.
Special Problems:
See the primary care giver, if:
A child suddenly stops using the potty without major changes to environment
Constipation or pain upon defecating
Pain during urination-
Night time wetness-
Discipline:
Whether verbal or physical, is entirely counter productive, and can be very damaging. Positive reinforcement, is both healthier and more effective.
Tips and tricks:
Ready Aim shoot: The Cheerio method for boys.
Underwear AKA: Creative use of favorite character guilt;)
The timer: set it, so you won’t forget it;)
Bribery- (short term goals and long term ones) The bucket, M & M’s
Books and movies
“bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father” Colossians 1:10b-12 a
Resources:
Toddler Urinal: Target.com and amazon.com
Parenting books:
Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro (Paperback) by Teri Crane
Potty Training 1-2-3: What Works, How it Works, Why it Works by Gary Ezzo, Anne Marie Ezzo
Pottywise for Toddlers: A Developmental Readiness Approach to Potty Training by Gary Ezzo, Robert Bucknam
Toilet Training: A Practical Guide to Daytime and Nighttime Training by Vicki Lansky
Keys to Toilet Training (Barron's Parenting Keys) by Meg Zweiback
Kid friendly books/ DVDS:
I Gotta Go!: A Must-Have for Every Stage of Potty Training (2003)
Koko Bear's New Potty: A Practical Parenting Read-Together Book (Lansky, Vicki. Practical Parenting Read-Together Book.) (Paperback)
Once Upon a Potty Gift Bundle- (anatomically correct- be warned)
Potty Elmo
Potty Training Readiness Quiz: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/pottytraining/l/bl_potty_rdy.htm
Is your child...
at least 18 months old?
in a stable and fairly predictable routine, and not experiencing a big change in his life or usual routine, like the arrival of a new baby, change in daycare, or family move?
staying dry for at least two hours at a time during the day?
staying dry after naps?
having regular bowel movements at about the same time each day?
able to follow simple instructions?
generally cooperative and not in a very negative phase where he says 'no' to everything?
able to say (or sign) simple one-word expressions, like 'poop' and 'potty'?
uncomfortable in dirty diapers?
asking to use the potty?
able to sit down quitely for 4-5 minutes at a time?
telling you when he is about to urinate or have a bowel movement?
showing you, either with his facial expressions or his posture, that he is about to urinate or have a bowel movement?
able to walk to the bathroom?
able to help take off his diaper and undress himself?
asking to wear underwear instead of diapers?
happy to please his parents?
proud when he does something that pleases you?
trying to imitate what other children or family members are doing, especially using the potty?
