I've asked a few friends with older kids how they potty trained and they all told me that they rewarded going potty with M&Ms. I guess they even do this in pre-schools. Not judging or anything, but I was surprised. I mean, I get it - M&Ms are great and must work wonders to potty train! But do stickers or something along those lines not work?
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BIL and SIL had a potty chart. I think there were 9 squares on the large board. Niece got to put a huge sticker on a box when she slept through the night without a wet diaper. Every 3 nights she would get a prize (banana split, etc). At the end of the 9 days she got a super treat.
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@chopsuey119: yeah, i guess i was thinking something more along those lines vs. an M&M for each pee or 3 M&Ms for a poop.
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I know my grandparents potty trained both me and my sister in one week each, both times when they were watching us while our parents were on vacation. They used Smarties (which are a canadian thing, but essentially the same as an M&M) in a little bowl kept next to the bathroom sink.
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I think the reward that works best depends on the child. I'll certainly try something other than candy first but if I have to I have no problem resorting to candy.
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I've seen M&M's and Jelly Beans. I guess whatever works!
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I"m curious to see what works for other moms because treats/snacks don't work for my LO. He's not a very picky eater so nothing seems like a real "treat" for him. He kind of likes everything equally.
He's not hugely into stickers either. He LOVES watching Jeopardy and Mickey Mouse clubhouse but I don't know how I would reward him with that?
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@banana: but if you used the stickers to build up to a toy related to either show...
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@auntpol: Man, I wish my LO liked toys! He hardly plays with his toys now. He's very mobile and loves the outdoors. Do you think stickers to build up going somewhere outdoors would help? I don't know if he would understand the concept of going somewhere fun.
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@banana: All I heard is that your son likes to watch Jeopardy! That is so cute!
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@andrea: Oh man. He LOVES jeopardy. I'll turn on a cartoon and he'll whine and fuss and point to the remote. Then i flip it to Jeopardy ( we have 5 episodes pre-recorded on our tivo) and he's all smiles and STARES at the tv. He'll clap and laugh when someone answers the daily double question correctly. And his favorite song is the Jeopardy theme song. Not sure what to make of that. Cute or strange?
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@banana: haha. That is so cute!! Now I want to see if my LO has any reaction to Jeopardy since she and your son are twins. I've never had her watch it before.
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@andrea: Oh try it! Maybe she'll like it. lol. His 2nd favorite non-mickey mouse TV show is Wheel of Fortune. For us, it's on right after Jeopardy. Back to back fun.
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@banana: haha. awesome. i'll tivo some this weekend.
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I used skittles until she got more potty trained where I would give her a pack of fruit snacks after dinner if she stayed clean all day.
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we used Mini M&Ms. It just depends on your child... What do you think will motivate her best? Start with stickers first and see how it goes.
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@prettylizy: @artbee: @NYCaliMama: M&Ms do seem popular. Ok then, good to know!
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We are practicing elimination communication, and I read the Diaper Free Baby book...in it they say not to reward the child or drawl attention to what is going on. (My neighbor is borrowing my book or I would give an exact reference. Sorry)
When DS goes potty now I smile at him and do one small clap or excited gesture. He gets super happy and all excited back, even before I notice if he went potty. We clean him up, put on a new diaper and go on our way. I'm not sure if this will work when we actually potty learn, but so far it is with EC. DS only has a BM in his potty and has been holding his pees more lately, so something is working.
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