Lynda Loveland

Lynda Loveland's Babyology Blog

WRAL Morning News Anchor Lynda Loveland recently delivered her third child, Carys. In her blog, Lynda chronicles her experiences as a mother.

Potty Training Update

Posted: May 20, 2008

The Spiderman, spiderweb sticker reward poster thing, was a huge......disappointment. Caiden got several little stickers for going #1 on the toilet. Not a single big sticker for going #2. He just keeps going in his underwear. One night, we woke up to find him with his diaper off and poo spread around his room! Nothing says good morning, like the sight and scent of your son's excrement spread around his room!

A lot of you posted great ideas for potty training. I've tried several of them in the past. The commando thing turned out to be a bad idea. He pulled the sprinkler move in the living room across the fireplace, tv and wall. Not long after, he squatted on the rug and left a more solid calling card. I wasn't there at the time, but my mom tells me my 4 year old daughter saw it and went screaming into the bathroom, grabbed some toilet paper, picked it up and threw it in the toilet!! Can you believe it???

I just read a few more ideas online I might give a try. Caiden loves superheroes and one idea suggested using raisins to show that superheroes go on the potty. Won't THAT be an entertaining one to watch! I'll never look at raisins the same...

Another idea was to cut a hole in his diaper and let him sit on the toilet with his diaper on. That one kinda scares me. I'm afraid it will look like a rabbit got loose in the house.

I think I'll try the raisin thing. If that doesn't work, it's back to diapers in the evening. The last thing I want to do is stress out both of us when we could be spending the time having fun!

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Read More Posts from this Blog

One Big Urinal Posted: Jul 22, 2008
Potty Training the Baby Posted: Jul 2, 2008
They said what? Posted: May 29, 2008

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As A Nanny for over 12 years and a mom now, I have potty trained 5 boys, and 2 girls and have helped serveral others with suggestions. My suggestion: do the super hero raisen thing, that sounds neat. Then just take the pull ups, diapers AWAY (except at night if he can't stay dry yet) Reward w/ his favorite treat.. m&m's have always been a hit, and praise, praise, praise... he will get it. Never punish and just get used to doing some laundry and bringing lot's of spares on outings... Believe it or not, it's never taken me more than 10 day's to have full all of them FULLY potty trained.

BooHoo
May 20, 2008 3:19 p.m.

Lynda,

We have 3 kids. 2 girls and a boy. I found that the usual method that works for just about everything work with this also. Which is don't pressure them. When they show an interest in it then it's time to take action. When they are interested then boost up the rewards and excitement then they to whatever it is that you're working on. Basically we had a party when our kids went potty for the first time. Everyone in our house knew about it and we all clapped and made the pottier feel great about it. We also used the M&M rewards. We also ran in to serveral situation where pop was all over the place. We had pop in the tub. It's crazy.. I feel like we still don't know how to raise kids but we are pop experts.

5GDad
GOLO member since July 27, 2007
May 20, 2008 3:50 p.m.

The reward stickers worked wonders with my daughter who was fully trained before she was 3, but she LOVES stickers and we hung her "Potty Page" on her door so she could show the world what she did. My nephew on the other hand (which I keep 5 days a week) was harder to convince, he would rather get a sticker when she went instead of going himself. After much time and coaxing I finally got him to "let the pee pees go swimming." However, the #2 seemed like it was going to be harder, but it wasn't. All it took was one time of telling him he had to let the poohs go swimming before we could go swimming in the pool and he dropped them right off...lol. Maybe a reward of doing something he LOVES to do would help.

hjnboo
May 20, 2008 4:04 p.m.

We tried a few things and the only thing that worked... M&M's! Our daughter never got sweets or any candy at all, so the promise of 2 plain M&M's for a pee pee, or 4 for a #2 was what finally sealed the deal. She was trained in a few days. Good luck! Also, waiting til he's ready is KEY!

crystalc427
May 20, 2008 8:26 p.m.

Linda, when my boys were little I use to make a game out of going to the bathroom to get them over their fear. I used to ask them to take off a square of toilet paper and toss it into the toilet. I asked them if they could aim at the paper in the toilet. When they hit it, it made bubbles. One perk from this experience was whenever we went out in public the boys would not yell.."can I pee?" but they would say, "Can I got make bubbles?" I potty trained them at young ages doing this. I hope this idea helps. As for my daughter, she is competitive...she couldn't wait to learn to show her brothers that she is a big girl. :)

grenlyn1
GOLO member since July 26, 2007
May 21, 2008 7:07 a.m.

Ewww, glad I don't like raisins anyway.

It may be toilet training to you, but it sounds like he already has a remarkable skill set for politics!

davidgnews
May 21, 2008 7:36 a.m.

Linda you are so funny! Maybe he's just not quite ready for all of this. I have 3 children and they were all trained by age 3. All kids are different and some take longer. Believe me, he'll go when he gets ready. Can't wait to hear how the raisins work!!

wufpackfan
May 21, 2008 7:55 a.m.

Linda- Both of my children were potty trained right around age 3. The "nazi" wkend didn't work for either of them. Take a break from it. I'm convinced it is somewhat of a power thing with these little ones. My daughter loved the "Its Potty Time" DVD, which I ordered online. I think that is the only thing that helped. Its very cute (corny to us adults!)

Best wishes....

missparrothead
May 21, 2008 12:02 p.m.

I think one of the tricks to keep him from pooing all over the place is to have him help clean it up. You could make him get the paper towels or help scrub the carpet with a sponge. It's similar to when a toddler throws food. Once he or she realizes that they will be responsible for helping clean up the mess, they are less inclined to make the mess. Going #2 on the potty was an issue for my son as well. We actually went through a stage where he would hold it so long that he would get constipated. With time however, he started using the potty. It was a stressful month or so, but we made it. I'm sure your son will do it over time as well. Just keep encouraging! I have a 1 year old daughter and I am relieved to hear that girls are easier to train than boys!

Tabz
May 21, 2008 12:50 p.m.

Good grief, Lynda. I sure am glad I have girls. Both were easy. My daughter is Caiden's age and she's got it down. I think girls are more offended by the "gross-out" factor than boys. Just keep encouraging him. Good luck. Read everything you can! -Angela

Angela_the GOLO Editor
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
May 21, 2008 12:59 p.m.

Have you tried that video It's Potty Time, you can order it from amazon, that may help and when I googled it an Elmo one came up as well.

crystalweber
May 21, 2008 1:29 p.m.

Lynda, Man what a time you are having!!! You make me laugh so hard sometimes when I read your blogs. Good luck with potty training and thanks for making my day better when I read your updates.

gadawgsfan
May 21, 2008 2:52 p.m.

I would only mention it when HE actually uses the potty with his own free will. Then praise him. Otherwise, just forget it and let him tell you if he makes a mess in his pants or in his room. Use pull-ups at bedtime until he is dry all night. When he knows he has no power in the situation, he will come around, they always do!! I don't remember ever using candy or games to get my kids potty trained. Good Luck Lynda!

owlady
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
May 21, 2008 4:31 p.m.

I have a set of twins, and training Mackenzie was insanely easy, Morgan on the other hand. not so much. She would pee, no problem, but when it came to stinky, she would rather go hide, do her business and tell me about it when she was done. I learned to watch for signs it was 'go time'. then, we made a game out of it. I would pick her up or chase her...and coral her like a farm animal on the toilet and stay for 'moral support' Her sister even got in on it. She'd grunt with her...and clap for her when she made success. Nothing helps potty training like having a cheering squad. Now, when shes gotta go...she says 'Go Potty!!!' and runs for the bathroom. It didnt happen overnight it took a cpl weeks. But when we finally had success, theres no stopping her now.

amandadaniel27
GOLO member since November 20, 2007
May 22, 2008 10:01 a.m.

I'm sorry the potty training is not going well, and I know it must be frustrating! I just wanted to tell you that you are a good writer and I enjoy your blogs/reporting, etc. Keep up the good work with writing and being a mom!

iluvwilmy
GOLO member since April 24, 2008
May 22, 2008 10:52 a.m.

I definitly feel your pain. I have a 3 1/2 half year old son who refuses to become a big boy! He is potty trained as far peepee is concerned. Going #2, well, that's a different story. He would rather retreat to his room and go in his underwear than use the potty. I did put him back in pull ups for a while because I got tired of cleaning soiled underwear. This only backfired because he decided he no longer had to peepee on the potty either. So I am now back to cleaning soiled underwear. Rewards seem to work for a few days, but then he tells me he would rather do without the reward than go #2 on the potty. I do not think it is a fear issue. I think it is a control issue. Everyone has told me that it will happen and not to worry. So I am tring that for now. Best of luck to you and I can't wait to find out what ends up working for your son.

cam-josh-mom
May 22, 2008 4:13 p.m.

Hello Linda! My son turned 4 a few weeks ago...and is still doing #2 in his pants. He has hardly ever wet the bed and has been #1 trained since he was 2. However, this #2 issue is driving me crazy! Just this week he has only done #2 in his pants once. Everyone says it will happen when he is ready...Hopefully he will be ready soon!

dwade
May 29, 2008 2:04 p.m.

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