5 Potty Training Gifts That Say "I"m Proud of You"
Sometimes it feels like your child is perfectly ready to start potty training, but maybe they need some extra motivation. Or maybe you're planning to start acquainting your tot to the toilet and you want to make the transition extra special. These ideas are the perfect way to build enthusiasm and a smooth start. Add them to your child's birthday or Christmas list or wrap them up for any special day!
It's ridiculously expensive (at more than $60) for a potty chair, but if you want to motivate a frills and tiara type girl to sit and relax for a while, this is the way to do it. There's a toilet paper holder -- and a magazine rack (I'll take it!). If you take good care of it, you can actually convert it into an everyday chair once it's no longer needed for training. Take out the potty basin and pull down the seat cover... voila! A throne that you can use for a few years more.
On the other end of the price spectrum, you can make potty training a thrill by offering simple rewards for every time you child goes (small one for #1 maybe and bigger delights for #2). There is the traditional sticker approach. That worked well for my daughter, but my boys proved harder to impress. For my older son, we allowed him to collect point that resulted in a small gift-- like one of his beloved toy cars -- from a "good job" box that I had set up (I used this system later to reward good behavior and homework well done). For peeing, my son might get one point. For a bowel movement, he could get two points. Each treat "cost" 20 points. It could take him a week to work up that many points at first. Once the treat box was empty, we had a potty party-- complete with cake!
My Little Guy has been even harder to motivate. For him, it takes a mix of instant gratification and a hope of something bigger yet to come. We did a chart with stickers and lots of praise -- but we've also set a goal of being completely diaper free. We set the goal for his next birthday, It's actually a few months away and I am sure he'll be diaper free well before then, so it won't be a disappointment. Once he goes a full day with no accidents, he can get that Thomas the Tank Engine play set he's been begging for.
I have the kind of kids who are in no hurry to grow up. Big kid underwear, though, that gets them every time. The feel of cotton certainly beats the rub of disposable diapers, I assume, and I fully cater to whatever whim or Disney character of the moment my potty training masters are into. My stubborn son really got excited about the prospect of diaper free when he knew Mater the Tow Truck would be spread across his backside. Whatever it takes.
How do you get the wiggly worm who can't sit still for 10 consecutive seconds to chill on the potty long enough to let nature take its course? I strongly discourage toys (they don't actually get little ones to be still) and electronic gadgets (if you know someone who has dropped her phone in the toilet you'll understand why). Books with great pictures are my go to. My husband brought home some kiddie comics and I was shocked at how long they could engage Little Guy and get him to stay on the pot. He gets a new book as a reward for every good potty week. Whatever works.
1. Teamson Toddler Potty Chair - Princess
It's ridiculously expensive (at more than $60) for a potty chair, but if you want to motivate a frills and tiara type girl to sit and relax for a while, this is the way to do it. There's a toilet paper holder -- and a magazine rack (I'll take it!). If you take good care of it, you can actually convert it into an everyday chair once it's no longer needed for training. Take out the potty basin and pull down the seat cover... voila! A throne that you can use for a few years more.
2. DIY Reward Chart
On the other end of the price spectrum, you can make potty training a thrill by offering simple rewards for every time you child goes (small one for #1 maybe and bigger delights for #2). There is the traditional sticker approach. That worked well for my daughter, but my boys proved harder to impress. For my older son, we allowed him to collect point that resulted in a small gift-- like one of his beloved toy cars -- from a "good job" box that I had set up (I used this system later to reward good behavior and homework well done). For peeing, my son might get one point. For a bowel movement, he could get two points. Each treat "cost" 20 points. It could take him a week to work up that many points at first. Once the treat box was empty, we had a potty party-- complete with cake!
3. The Big Payoff Prize
My Little Guy has been even harder to motivate. For him, it takes a mix of instant gratification and a hope of something bigger yet to come. We did a chart with stickers and lots of praise -- but we've also set a goal of being completely diaper free. We set the goal for his next birthday, It's actually a few months away and I am sure he'll be diaper free well before then, so it won't be a disappointment. Once he goes a full day with no accidents, he can get that Thomas the Tank Engine play set he's been begging for.
4. Big Kid Underwear
I have the kind of kids who are in no hurry to grow up. Big kid underwear, though, that gets them every time. The feel of cotton certainly beats the rub of disposable diapers, I assume, and I fully cater to whatever whim or Disney character of the moment my potty training masters are into. My stubborn son really got excited about the prospect of diaper free when he knew Mater the Tow Truck would be spread across his backside. Whatever it takes.
5. Books to Encourage Sitting Still
How do you get the wiggly worm who can't sit still for 10 consecutive seconds to chill on the potty long enough to let nature take its course? I strongly discourage toys (they don't actually get little ones to be still) and electronic gadgets (if you know someone who has dropped her phone in the toilet you'll understand why). Books with great pictures are my go to. My husband brought home some kiddie comics and I was shocked at how long they could engage Little Guy and get him to stay on the pot. He gets a new book as a reward for every good potty week. Whatever works.
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