Blogging Baby Size Six: things that did not work

by Melissa Summers (Subscribe to Melissa Summers's posts) Feb 14th 2006 10:34AM

I previously shared with you some of the things that worked when I was potty training my kids. I thought today I'd share some of the things which did not work. I've left off the gallons of liquor for me, because the ineffectiveness of that is debatable.

Waiting for my children to be "ready". I'd hoped they'd wake up one day and say, "I'm tired of diapers. Let's use the potty!" It happened for several of my friends and I dreamed of it happening for me. It never did. When we started, I wasn't sure they were 'ready' but felt like after a week of trying I'd know if they were not ready.

Expressing my own personal excitement over the potty. This meant exclaiming excitedly whenever I went to the bathroom, "Oh boy! I get to use the potty now." This mainly made my child think I'd lost my mind...I sort of had.

Attempting to get those around us to express their excitement about using the potty. "Hey Logan, isn't the potty fun?" This made both my child and my husband think I'd lost my mind. I really had.

Depression medication. Well I guess technically it helped since I wasn't emotionally crippled by the process but I don't think my medication really helped my kids give up diapers.

Crying and begging. My son was numb to my suffering at the hands of his dirty diapers.

Pretending I didn't care if he wore diapers until he was 30. Because I did and he knew it.

Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Missy 2-14-2006 @ 4:10PM

Thanks for the advice. We're not to the potty-training phase with our little guy but I'm glad to hear that we don't need to wait until he's "ready".

Who says your kids can't wear diapers until they're 30? :)

Jen 2-14-2006 @ 7:17PM

I've tried all of the stuff that didn't work for you, and lord has it not worked for us. I don't know if I'm brave enough for the accidents yet, but it's nice to know that it's not my unconvincing nonchalance that's impeding the training :)

chris 2-14-2006 @ 8:00PM

I'd gladly let my kids wear diapers to 30 if they'd change the diapers themselves ;-)

The only things that worked for my kids was candy... and LOTS of it.

Meredith 2-14-2006 @ 8:07PM

We are right on the cusp of potty training and I am trying my best to incorporate a little of both parent lead and child lead. At 2.5 yrs old, I don't hold much hope of her deciding that sitting in her own filth is worse than stopping her Dora addiction to go potty.

Lisa 2-14-2006 @ 10:51PM

Day care worked wonders for my daughter. She saw all of her friends going, and wanted to go too. Now that is lazy parenting, is it not? I am waiting for the comments about my being a bad parent for having a job. Lay it on me.

Kate 2-15-2006 @ 8:17AM

Oh Lisa, I can't tell you the number of times I've wished I had a job and could put Morgan in daycare just so they could potty train her. :-) Her old babysitter used to brag about how good she was a potty training the kids.

One thing that really has not worked for us (related to the 2nd & 3rd items above) was enthusiasticly celebrating potty successes. All the jumping around and cheering seemed to make Morgan embarassed. She started shrieking and hid in the corner. It probably depends on the kid's personality, but Morgan responded much better to a low-key "good job" and a hug. (And a jelly bean, of course!)

CJ 3-07-2006 @ 5:03PM

OMG!! I have a 3 year old and just found this site! I'm having a witch of a time getting him potty trained! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me laugh sooooo very hard at the whole process!!!

Michelle 3-14-2006 @ 10:10AM

When do you guys suggest seriously training a 24 month-old boy? I'm due with child #2 in June and not sure when an ideal time would be. My son goes to daycare and occassionally he will use the potty, but not often or predictably. Any advice would be helpful.

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