I bought a new potty seat for Micah today. I figured that we'd better have one for upstairs and downstairs if we'll ever be successful in training the boy. Not that we're trying or anything.
Holy Pete! Have you SEEN those things?! No longer do they have the little seat with the removable bowl underneath. They now have miniature versions of potties, complete with flushing handles and tiny tanks. I was afraid to read all about it, but what does it do when you flush? Because that stuff isn't going to be spilling out all over my floor if that's what they're thinking.
And I saw music notes coming out of the john-john on one of the boxes. Does it play music if your little one tinkles or if your little one flushes? Because either way your child may be messed up when they're at the mall and suddenly have the urge to go. Sure, they'll go no problem then but it may never happen again with the lack of musical accompaniment. Talk about regression.
In the end I bought a seat that sits on our big potty because it was the cheapest. It did come with a hook to hang it on the wall, because that's what you want on display for all the world to see when they walk into your bathroom.
And then when I got home I noticed that the girl in the picture happily standing (fully clothed) beside her seat on the potty (with absolutely no intention of using that thing, I'm sure) was WAY too old to be potty training. They could at least get a more realistic model. And then my conscience reached out and smacked me upside the head. It yelled "you just bought that thing for your 5 year old, you moron!" Oh, yeh. Point well taken.
And since we're all about potty talk today, I'll share with you what I learned at the Downs clinic this week. I asked the professionals and sure enough, I got answers to help. There's a reason that I'm baffled as to what to do with this child of mine even though I've successfully housebroken 3 other kids and countless numbers of dogs.
The other kids simply need pointed in the right direction and off they'll go. Much like riding a bike. Sure, they'll fall and get hurt on occasion, but in the end they master it and are good to go for life.
With Micah, each step has to be pointed out. It'd never thought about it before, but there's a lot involved in relieving oneself. You've gotta be aware of the urge, know what it means, consciously hold yourself, think where the nearest restroom is and where you are in relation to it, get yourself there, undress yourself, position yourself for the task (standing or sitting), do the actual relieving, redress yourself and then clean up after yourself both on the toilet and at the sink.
See? I'll bet you'd never thought how involved the whole thing was either. We take it all for granted, and assume that our kids just "get" it. And most do. Sure, we need to remind them to wipe and wash but for the most part they get the rest all by themselves.
I'll be starting out by getting Micah to actually sit on a potty. Right now he only stands and I forsee problems with that. Like pooping. So I bought M&M's today along with that overpriced potty seat and will be rewarding him for simply sitting his keester on it.
He's a smart boy and I don't think it'll take long for him to catch on.
Small steps are the story of our life.
24 comments:
I was looking through a catalog recently and it had little urinals you could buy to potty train boys. I like the ring for the toilet, too. I always hated the thought of cleaning up potty chairs and I figure it's better off to start them in the right place. I think this is especially true with Micah. Looking forward to hearing how he does.
yeah- the potty training things have gotten way out of control! It has to be possible without all this stuff since hundreds of years ago these items were not available- and yet we all manage to pee in the right spot without musical rewards ;) Anyway- I do still use one of those fold up seats. I still take it when we go out to eat so Ashlyn doesn't have to actually sit on the potty in the restaurant.
Oh my gosh...little potties...flush?! That is insane. Like debbie yost, I had seen the little urinals for boys, but the thought of actually buying something so elaborate seems a little costly to me for something you, well, pee on.
I'm glad to hear you got some good advice. Good luck with it :) I'm sure everything will work out in the end!
I am SO looking forward to potty training with trepidation. And yet perversely, my son is going to outgrow diapers (at his current speed) by 15 months.
*sigh*
I guess Depends are in our future.
Small but sure steps are what works! I'm sure Micah will be peeing in the potty soon!
Small steps are good. I had no idea all that was going on with potties though. I found it an interesting read too, what does that say about my life? :)
You're right. He's a smart boy. You're a smart mom. What could possibly go wrong?
Seriously, that's a lot to keep in mind. Where's dad when you need him? :)
That's what we're doing wrong! See, I haven't bought any potty chairs because I don't see the point in teaching my kid to pee in the living room, only to have to teach her that isn't actually the right place to do your business. I know, I'm crazy. Surely she will instantly get it if I buy her a potty seat that plays music and flushes.
I can't believe those little toilets that look just like regular toilets! I hope Micah gets that hang of it soon - when the time is right!
Take care and have a good day - Kellan
You know, I never really thought about all the little steps that going into going potty! Maybe I need to do a better job of breaking down some of those steps for Punkin who will happily poop on the potty all day long, but pee? forget about it.
There really are a lot to steps involved. Good luck with pointing him down each one. I have faith that you will do a great job working with him until he gets it.
p.s. I think we have the same potty seat. Does it have ducks on it??
I had one of those musical ones for my now six year old. They are over priced and I never used it. Boys are fun. I am working on my three year old right now. We have almost got it, now if we can go pantless out in public we would be in business! Food is always a good incentive!!
"I'm goin' on the potty now,
It makes me proud cuz I know how.
I'm gonna use it every day
And I can sing and shout 'hurray!'"
(to the tune of Ring Around the Mulberry Bush)
want me to sing another fancy overpriced potty chair song? I know them all! It sings each time the child goes pee or poop, or if you have a boy and you teach him to "point down" while sitting.
and while Justin put the potty in the living room in front of the TV, I always kept them in the bathroom because (1) that's where you go potty, and (2) in the event of a potty-chair malfunction, I didn't want to clean the carpet.
I never thought about pointing out each step. We're going through potty training madness too. I may try implementing this. I feel like I've tried everything. Well, everything except the potty that plays music.
Sometimes all of us need small steps to get through what may seem like second nature to other people. I know I do.
He'll get it, I'm sure of that.
I've never understood the idea of leaving a potty in the living room while potty training. That said, it totally worked for my sister's twins, so I should just shut up. Heaven knows I am the LAST person to ever give potty training advice. I am terrible at that stuff.
Good luck!!! :)
I so used bribary everytime I potty traine done of my kids. M&M's work wonderfully! Good Luck adn let us know how he does.
We may just have to cave in and buy one of those seats... our potty training isn't really progressing.
My two older boys were getting jealous of all the "freebies" our toddler was getting for using the toilet . . . but, hey, it was working.
The only thing we're working on now is the fact that our little one has to take off every stitch of clothing (including socks) when he has a BM. Not convenient when we're at a public restroom.
Good luck with Micah . . . m&m's would do it for me!
There's a site where you can print pictures of each step for your kids, I'll look it up because I can't think what it is now. I need to repost it this summer to get mine better trained! Good luck.
good luck with the potty training! There sure are a lot of steps that we don't think about anymore since it just comes naturally.
We used the M&Ms w/Kayla too, and lots of cheering, clapping and happy dancing!
I bought a plain potty chair that can either be used on the floor, or you take the seat off and it attaches to the regular toilet. Kayla wanted nothing to do with it at first, so I left it in her room to get use to on her own time etc. She eventually would sit on it w/her pull up on and finally with it off. We also would sit her on the seat right before her bath with the water running, that seemed to help! And before and after she would go to bed and naps. It was still a long process (and she's not night time trained yet either).
Wow, I had no idea there was such a world of potties out there! I'm lazy. I have no seat and just make the wee ones balance on the regular toilet.
Pointing out all the steps is definitely enlightening. So much that you don't think about when you ... don't have to think about it. Definitely let us know how it's going, and I'm glad you were able to get some suggestions!
When turned upside-down, my training potty looked just like a cowboy hat. So...any guesses as to what I used it for? Hey, at least it was clean.
k, the site is do2learn.com.
The picture cards under self help have pictures of every minute step. There's a lot of other stuff on this site.
Well, what the heck-- you'd think this kind of information could have been available to you before now. You are a strong Mom (and a great blogger). Do any of those seats cook you breakfast-- oh wait, would I want a breakfast from that....
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