Posts Tagged ‘potty training’

Transition Time

Friday, August 28th, 2015

From Friday Mom – Erin:
Rory is finishing up a week of transition at daycare.  He’s been ready for a change for a good two to three months now, having outgrown his younger twos classroom quite a while ago.  It had become fairly routine for me to have to wrangle him out of one of the two preschool classrooms and back into his own room each morning.  I don’t know if it was the draw of the “big kids” or just the better toys, but Rory was clearly longing for the new space.  Luckily, the time has finally arrived.

I’ve loved listening to Rory’s stories about his new classroom each evening.  So far, he has sung the praises of the toy bulldozer and toy dump truck, as well as the cars and ramps and parking garage.  He’s also told us about the new loft, and talked about the new stories.

From my perspective, I’m more excited about the structure of his new classroom.  The potty, for example, is now a regular part of their routine, increasing the chances that we’ll get over the final potty training hurdles sometime soon (or so we hope).  He’s been somewhat consistent this week, and has even started to vocalize his need to use the potty.  He has a little ways to go, but it is a welcome transition, for certain.

In addition, they apparently have a reward system under which he gets stamps for good behavior or being a particularly good helper in the classroom.  On his daily report from Thursday, he was lauded for being a very good helper during clean-up time, earning two stamps.  I was not surprised, but pleased nevertheless that he was doing so well so soon.

But perhaps the most welcome change this week is the sweet exhaustion that comes with all the new experiences.  Bedtime has been pretty seamless, and more importantly, Rory has been sleeping later than usual.  Here’s hoping that lasts through the weekend.

Potty Time?

Friday, May 8th, 2015

From Friday Mom – Erin:
Rory has finally started to express an interest in the potty. It’s not consistent, and it’s certainly not always effective, but he will occasionally ask to use the potty and we will willingly oblige. The only time we have been remotely consistent is in offering him an opportunity to use the potty before getting into his bath each night. We’re also trying to work it into the morning routine.

So far, he’s succeeded once. Ever since, he has simply asked to flush immediately upon sitting down.

We’re taking Rory’s lead when it comes to potty training. As much as I would love to only have one kid in diapers, we’ve been managing for four months now, so we aren’t in any great rush. He’ll move up to a new classroom at his daycare in September, at which point potty training will become a much greater focus. We’d actually been hoping to simply wait until his classroom is potty training together, because he spends much more time there than at home. But his new-found interest suggests that we may be venturing into these uncharted waters sooner than expected.

At one point, I’d thought that perhaps I could tackle potty training while I was home on maternity leave. But I returned to work this week without coming anywhere close to accomplishing that task.

As with all milestones, I’m sure I will look back in a few years and chuckle at my concerns as being over blown and comical. For now, I’m just trying to get him to realize that flushing is not entertainment. Something tells me that may take a while.

“Try Outs”

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
We signed Jack up for soccer again this year.  He’s really enjoyed playing soccer over the last two years.  In the past, each player was assigned a team upon sign-up. The team coach organized the practice schedules based on player needs and games were held every Saturday morning.  The soccer season was a few weeks during fall and a few weeks during spring.  It was really about the kids learning the basics of how to kick the ball and aim it anywhere near the goal.  The players usually grouped around the ball and tripped over each other, even scoring goals for the opposing team. It was very comical to watch and cute to see them in their little uniforms and gear. They did learn some basic skills as well as teamwork. Most of all, it was great to watch them have fun.

This year Jack has moved up an age group. Players are now a little more experienced and “try outs” are mandatory. Jack had three practices working with coaches from the United Kingdom.  It is great to see these talented men share their expertise with these young children in our little town in Mississippi.  The kids are practicing the same skills they learned over the last few years as well as learning new techniques.  The try outs aren’t the usual “ make it or not.”  It’s more like a way of grouping the kids onto fair teams.  Every child registered for soccer will play, however, teams are grouped by skill level.  Jack is learning that hard work pays off in the end and will get you where you want to go.

Jack has been doing a great job at all three practices.  He enjoys the drills and we love the exercise he’s getting.  It’s still extremely hot down here so just being outside is a workout on its own.  The “competitive” environment is definitely pushing these kids to work harder.  We are still waiting to hear which group Jack selected and which team he’ll be assigned to.

No matter which group Jack ends up on, we’re proud he did the best he could do at his practices.  He has really improved over the last few years of play and that makes us proud.  Of course, we’d be delighted if he made the top skilled group, but we’re more concerned whether or not he has a good time.  Fun is the most important element of the game. In our minds, Jack will always be a star.

Another Curveball

Monday, August 5th, 2013

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Until last week, Haley had not wet the bed since she was a small infant. All of a sudden, she began doing it again! The first night, I thought it was a fluke, as she had drunk a lot of water before bed. But then she leaked through her diaper for her nap, and the next night and the next!

I was confused. I wondered if I got a faulty pack of diapers, or I wasn’t securing them properly. I figured perhaps she was going through something developmentally that could be causing this. I did a little research and discovered that my theory actually has some validity. But wasn’t this a setback? I thought being able to “hold it in” while sleeping was a sign of potty training readiness—surely this is a step back, right?

It turns out that at Haley’s age—2 years and some months—often children do get better at holding it in. Often the result is not a dry bed, but a wet one. The child holds it in for a long time, until she finally falls asleep, gets into a deep sleep and “lets it go,” so to speak. Some suggest that this behavior signals potty training time.

So my husband and I decided to go for it! We purchased a potty training book online that promises to have your kid trained in three days. I don’t know much about it other than it requires you to stay home—and perhaps involves some toddler nudity. We intend to put the plan into action this weekend. Wish us luck!

Diaper-free!

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
I spent the last several months trying to get Tate interested in the potty.  Many weeks ago, I thought Tate was ready to use the potty since he talked about it and sat on it a few times.  I was mistaken in that assumption.  Weeks would pass and every now and then I would try again to see if he was interested.  I remember hearing boys are usually slower to learn than girls. However, I started getting a little frustrated, because most of the kids in Tate’s classroom were already trained or in the process of being trained.  It was eating me up inside and I couldn’t figure out why Tate feared the potty.  We did the usual motivational “tricks.”  We hung up a potty sticker chart and he was shown small rewards for each time he used the potty hoping they would provide encouragement.   We read books about the potty and Jack even showed Tate each step he takes to use the potty.  Unfortunately, Tate was unsuccessful.

My husband assured me Tate would eventually learn to use the potty.  I backed off asking Tate repeatedly if he was ready.  I gave him some space and let him do what he was comfortable doing.  I reminded myself he wasn’t even three years old yet and he would learn at his own pace.

Then, out of the blue, Tate informed me he wasn’t a baby anymore and he wanted to wear big boy pants.  I was caught off guard and thrilled!  I asked if he was ready to wear big boy underwear and use the potty.  He answered “YES” with a big smile.  We put on a new pair of underwear and over several days quickly filled up the slots on his potty sticker chart.  He had a few accidents the first several days, but he is going on a couple weeks accident free (daytime.)  His eyes light up and he tells everyone when he uses the potty.  His teacher lets me know how well he is doing at school, too.

So, I’m a firm believer that until your child is ready to use the potty, there is no reason to force the issue if they aren’t quite ready to move forward.  My friends told me this, but I was feeling a little pressured for some reason.  I’m very proud of Tate for taking this huge step and becoming a big boy.  Also, I’m elated to say after six years we can finally eliminate diapers from our monthly budget.  Woo-hoo!

Resolutions

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
New Years is an opportunity to set goals. Many people have big plans and resolutions. Some succeed and some fail. One of our goals for this year is to get Tate to use the potty.  Several months ago I posted about a possibility of him having an interest in the potty.  Unfortunately, that possibility quickly vanished.  Tate has a special seat, special book and even Toy Story underwear that Santa brought him, but he has expressed no interest in using the bathroom. He will talk about it. He claims to be a “big boy,” but he is still intimidated, I suppose.

We haven’t tried any of the extreme potty training tactics found online. We got Jack to use the potty by offering him dry pants and a sticker system. I do believe every child is different in the way they learn just about anything.  And since Tate has been our more challenging child, it is only fitting that he’s not showing any interest at this point.  I know it’s still a bit early for Tate, but by mid 2013 this house will be diaper free.  The idea of never buying a diaper again is motivating me to get Tate interested in the potty.

Tate surprises us everyday with new words, tricks and drawings.  I’m sure that special day will come when he surprises us with using the potty.   Until then, I’ll be enjoying every moment with our boys, diapers or not.

Happy New Year!

 

Potty training…maybe?

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle

Potty training already?  Wasn’t I just blogging about the birth of Tate and how Jack was a big brother?  The last two+ years have flown by, and my baby apparently isn’t a baby anymore.  It’s bittersweet, but happy to see the growth of both of my boys.

I started to ask Jack if he wanted to use the potty several months before he turned three.  At first he showed no interest, and I didn’t push it.  A month later I tried again and he was a little curious, but still would rather run and hide in the corner to do said business.  In the back of my mind I knew he had to be fully potty trained by the time school started in August, so I was on a mission.  I bought a couple different potty seats, made a potty chart complete with Thomas stickers, bought lots of Thomas underwear and commenced a reward system.  After a rough couple weeks, Jack was “day” trained and I couldn’t have been more proud.

Now that Tate is in Preschool at an earlier age and is around children that use the potty he is starting to show some interest in the potty while at school.  His teacher tells me he tries to go on the potty everyday and has been successful a few times.  That makes me happy, but I’m confused as to why he wants NOTHING to do with the potty at home.  I guess he is trying to prove to his friends he can do the same things they can do.  Jack is a big help and will explain to Tate exactly what to do when it’s time to use the potty.  It’s actually pretty funny listening to a five year old explain the process.

Tate’s teacher said it is very common for children to do certain behaviors at school and not at home or vice versa.  I didn’t go through this with Jack being exposed to learning about the potty early on in school.  I assume it’s just another “phase” children go through and eventually Tate will be trained.  He’s still a “baby” in my eyes, although, I will be ecstatic the day I never have to buy another box of diapers.

Moving up

Friday, May 20th, 2011

From Friday Mom – Jaime:
Andrew is one of the oldest kids in his classroom at day care. Almost all of the kids he came into the room with – all his best buds and girlfriends – have moved on to the angel fish room. But my guy’s still a turtle.

The defining moment which warrants your transition from turtle to angel is when you graduate from pullups to underwear. Andrew’s almost there…but not quite. Meanwhile, younger kids have moved up before him. They’re getting a different curriculum and interacting with a different group of teachers and kids…

I found out today that they want to transition the next group of kids into the angel fish room in July. I hope  Andrew will have the whole potty training thing down by then.

Does anyone else have these issues? How to do you convince, coerce, or otherwise finagle your son or daughter into putting down their toys and going to the potty when they know they need to go?

Creating a Monster?

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

I’ll be honest… Bribery is not beneath me.

You’ve probably done it too. Your kid is screaming her brains out, you’ve done everything you can think of to calm her down and the words, “I’ll give you THIS if you stop crying.” The “this” can take many forms – a hug, a cookie, a new toy. Anything to try to change the outcome and create more favorable behavior.

When we first talked to Andrew about potty training, we asked him what he wanted as a reward for using the potty. While he steadfastly maintained that he was NEVER going to use the bathroom, he told us he wanted cupcakes as a present.

I can’t even tell you the number of cupcakes I’ve bought and thrown away waiting for him to earn them. So we’ve used cupcakes, cars, books, coloring books, trips to the Great Adventure safari… But it’s gotten to the point where if Andrew even looks at the bathroom, he’s asking us for a present.

I guess we’ve created a bit of a monster with the whole giving him stuff as a reward thing.

But today we didn’t give Andrew books or toys and we didn’t have cupcakes. So I told Andrew we’d make cupcakes together after school. He ran to the car asking me if we had enough sprinkles.

We mixed up the batter. I frosted the cupcakes. Andrew decorated. And decorated. And decorated. I swear there is more sprinkle than cupcake on some of them.

But it was fun. It was something different. And it was great spending time with my little guy after a long day at work.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with my boys over the long weekend. Have a great weekend everyone.

No Stars

Friday, August 20th, 2010

I told myself that I wouldn’t devote a lot of web space to writing about potty training.  Yes, it’s something every parent struggles with. But when I started blogging about Andrew, I promised myself that I would try to avoid posts which would embarrass him to death later in life.

So I have tried to minimize the stories like this one: Andrew tried to get us up in the morning so he could use the bathroom.  Hubby didn’t hear him.  I didn’t make it to his door fast enough.  When I opened the door, Andrew was grinning like a Cheshire cat – his stuffed monkey in one hand, his diaper in the other.  Yeah…he had peeled it off and peed on the floor.

Sorry, Andrew!  I promise now that I’ve gotten this story out of my system, I won’t repeat it in front of your future girl friends, at your wedding or bar mitzvah.

But since I’m on the subject of potty training…

When you walk into Andrew’s classroom at day care, on the wall immediately in front of you is a chart with all the kids’ names.  It’s the potty training chart and for a lot of kids, it’s full of stars.  For a few of the boys, it has a couple.  Then there’s Andrew’s row…with no stars.  (There is one other little girl with no stars)

It’s not that Andrew’s never used the potty.  Just not at school.  And he steadfastly maintains that he doesn’t want to use the potty at school.

We asked Andrew what he wanted as a reward for using the bathroom.  At first, his response was “CUPCAKES!” Then he wanted cars.  Coloring books. Now he’s totally obsessed with characters from the Toy Story movies.

I’m not sure how to convince a stubborn 2 year old that he should be using the potty instead of just going in his diaper. Bribery isn’t working.  Neither is seeing all his other friends at school using the bathroom.  So I’m not really sure what to try next.

Who has any ideas for me?

Have a great weekend guys!