Question for you moms......
As I mentioned recently...I feel like Emma is doing really great with potty training. She goes without hesitation when prompted, and is starting to tell us when she has to go more and more often. We're at the point where I'm wondering if there should be some sort of consequence for accidents. I know this is a question that might evoke some emotional responses because there's lots of positions on this...but I'm still going to ask...what do you think??? What did you do with your kids? I fell into the pinterest notion of "potty training in 1 day" at the beginning and quickly learned that that just was not reality for us, especially starting so early. There have, and continue to be accidents, and I think this is normal. The other day Matt's mom asked me if I put her in time out or anything when she has an accident and it just got me thinking. I'm not thinking time out would be an appropriate consequence...but maybe more along the lines of...no iPad or TV. Yes, our two year old would distinctly "miss" those priviledges whether she really knew what was going on or not. At two, Matt and I have been discussing whether or not she'll make the connection between the behavior and the removal of the priviledge yet or not. She sure is a little smarty pants, but I really don't know.
I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences.....
4 comments:
Since you asked...
I think any consequence has to be really direct... With my boys I never really found that delayed/abstract consequences or rewards worked when they are really little. (an immediate sticker or jelly bean was way more effective then getting a big prize for a week's worth of work). They would lose computer time for being rough with the computer, but not for being rough with the dog because it just doesn't make sense in their little world.
All we did was have the boys practice if they had the accident. After getting cleaned up I would take them back to what they were doing and say "if we are playing trains and we feel like we need to pee we say... " "GO PEE" (they say it) " and then we run to the potty ( they do it).... Pull down our pants (they do it)... sit down and go pee (they sit down, but probably don't pee)... Pull up our pants (they do it) and wash our hands (don't HAVE to do this one, but I always said it). Sometimes we would run 2 or 3 practices after an accident depending... It comes... she'll be there soon I am sure. It sounds like she is doing great and in a few months you'll be SO SO glad to be done with diapers and potty training!!
I agree with the other comment. Reagan still has accidents but mostly it is when it has been a while and I haven't asked her or when friends are over and she is super distracted. They are still so young. I always ask her if big girls pee pee in their pants and she says no no. As long as she knows she is supposed to go in the potty that's all I ask
If you review the medical literature there is a higher incidence of constipation and overnight accidents when punishment is used in potty training. We always encourage people to keep the potty fun and rewarding rather than scary and punitive.
Bottom line is you guys are doing great and it only gets better. Mason has the hang of it 98% of the time. But I also remind myself that the older two still had an accident or two when life got exciting or scary or out of routine for awhile so you just clean up, sigh and move on.
Thanks you guys! Sounds like Dr. Dobson would agree...so far in my readings of The Strong Willed Child. We'll stick with the rewards system!!!
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