Potty Training Help

It seems like I have been trying to get Madalyn potty trained for a couple months now. She get excited about it then loses interest after a couple of days, even with the rewards. Between daycare, mom's house and here it is hard for me to make any progress. We are all trying to be on the same page but the ex and I don't talk much and daycare is pretty busy to keep on top of it.

My latest idea has to do with getting a gum ball machine and filling it with some sugar free candy and each time she uses the potty she gets a penny to put in and get a reward. I hope this works because I am not sure what to try next and as I am told girls are supposed to be easy to potty train.

Anyhow, suggestions and prayer would be appreciated. Thanks

Comments

Karen S. said…
I know you said you tried rewards but, I came across a website called www.pottytrainingrewards.com. We hung it in the kitchen and named the little boy on the front of the package, Bobby. My son could not wait to go to the potty so he could push the button, hear the praising message, and get his chocolate reward from, Bobby. Maybe by hanging this product in the kitchen or where your daughter spends a lot of time will help. When she sees it a lot it will motivate her and remind her to go to the potty so she can find out what is behind the next door. It could be enough of a motivator to kick start her again on the right track. It really got my son excited about using the potty himself and it was fun for him. He was using the potty the very first day. Best of luck!
October 4, 2007 at 8:15 PM
Jason said…
Thank you for the information. I will definately check it out. It actually sounds cool and something she will like. I think that being single and sharing the custody 50/50 also plays a role. The ex and I don't have the greatest relationship so that makes it difficult to communicate and be consistant. However, that may be simply an excuse that I use to avoid conversing with her. I hope soon that I will be able to get beyond some of my pettiness and overcome.

Thanks again...
October 5, 2007 at 4:48 PM
Anonymous said…
I know exactly how you feel. I am a single Mom of a two and a half year old as well, I had serious problems with training. I tried doing the reward system, but my son (Matthew) was not interested. I ended up taking Matty to Target and together we picked out "big boy" underwear and new P.J.'s for when he used the potty. He got so excited about his Lightning McQueen underwear that he used the potty as soon as we got home. Even though his Father is not on the same page with the training as me, this has been working well at my house.
October 12, 2007 at 1:56 PM
Jason said…
Kim I have heard the technique as well. The reward system seems to only work when she wants to be rewarded. So it is when Madalyn chooses. I have also be critisized for "bribing" but I am doing the best I can...

All the ideas I have received I like and I will keep trying.

God Bless you and your son and thanks for the post.
October 13, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Ame said…
I'm not sure my advice would be what you would want to hear ... I didn't potty train my girls, now 7 1/2 and 10 ... I let them potty train themselves ;) Of course, it took a lot longer, but I didn't stress over it! I did have to use rewards a little bit with my oldest to give her a boost of encouragement ... but only one or two ... and she was almost four ;)

However ... I loved the bandaids story! My youngest still loves bandaids!

I think my blog www.amexpression.com will show up with this comment. I post now at www.amesheart.blogspot.com b/c of some lurkers who live close to me. You may also want to check out The Covering at www.thecoveringforsingleparents.com
Oh, and I butchered my first bang trim with my oldest! Thankfully, she was very young, too ;) My youngest decided about a year ago now, I think, that she didn't want bangs anymore ... so she just cut them off! Yep! It broke her heart when she learned they would grow back ... but it's still cute ;)
October 15, 2007 at 12:42 AM
Jason said…
Ame, your comment is not that far off what I have been considering. I feel that Madalyn will go when she is ready. Yes, I can encourage her, remind her, and jump up and down when she goes in the potty but I can't make her do it. I just hope she decides to get it done soon because I feel it is holding her back.

Thanks
October 15, 2007 at 7:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Jason ... holding her back from what? In a few years, no one is going to ask or care when she learned to use the potty! When my friend had her forth child she said, "He can walk down the isle in diapers if he wants to!!!" Madalyn will use the potty when she's good and ready. If you make it a battle ground, she will win ... because how can you make any other person use the potty!!!

Yet, encouragement is good ... praise is good. And bribery is a MUST if you're gonna be a parent!!!

BUT, the VERY best parenting advice I ever received is from one of my life-long forever friends who now has four children: "Sanity at all costs!!!"

Truly ... these milestones will pass so quickly ... don't let it get you stressed. That she honors and respects you is MUCH more important than when she learns to use the potty or when she learns a sport or when she learns to read or when . . . . .

Ame
www.amexpression.com
October 16, 2007 at 4:59 PM
Jason said…
What I mean when I say being held back is that she is bored with the age group she is in at daycare. If she were potty trained then she would move up to the next class with her age group.

She will do it when she is ready...
October 18, 2007 at 4:06 PM
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