Don’t give up! If you are already knee deep in the potty training process, don’t stop no matter what.

Even if your child is giving you nothing but grief (and they very well might be) and you feel like giving up – please don’t!

If you do give up now, the potty training process will only grow more difficult later.

By surrendering to their wishes, you are teaching your child that they can have things their way, so long as they’re willing to commit to a bit of crying. They’ve probably been pulling on the arm of a slot machine for a while now, by throwing in the towel you are finally giving them the jackpot they’ve been waiting for.

The next time you try to start potty training, they’ll know that as long as they keep pulling on the handle, eventually they’ll hear the DING! DING! DING! of their winnings.

Potty training can feel as though it is endless, yet so do many other things that are difficult to do. Consider the last time you started a diet, or maintained a steady regimen at the gym. It was difficult at first, right? But eventually you were able to turn your actions into a routine until you saw the benefits of your effort.

The key with potty training, just as it is with diet or going to the gym, lies in consistency.

It is important to create and recognize your momentum. Potty training is a process and it won’t happen in just one day. By being mindful of the process and keeping your eye on the prize, you can see the small growth that both you and your child are making.

Keep the encouragement coming, never take your eyes off the finish line, and know that sooner or later this will all be behind you.

Ask any parent, potty training is far funnier when looking through the rear view.

Give up on the potty training process today and you will probably regret it tomorrow. Grin and bear it, and in no time you’ll be really happy you did.

Ditch the diapers today and find your freedom tomorrow.

You can do it! We know you can.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

Your child has successfully eliminated in the potty for almost three weeks. You’d love to crack open a bottle of champagne and start the celebration, but you just can’t.

Why?

Because they’re still not able to successfully have a bowel movement in the potty. At this point you’re probably frustrated beyond belief and ready to throw in the towel.

Don’t fret. What you’re experiencing is actually quite normal and happens to many families during potty training.

Even if your child flew through potty training by learning to urinate without difficulty, they may be tentative to tackle the bowel movement. Rather than thinking about this as a problem, however, it is far better to consider it as the final leg of potty training. Look at it as the first phase being complete while being well on the way through the second.

Before trying to teach your child to have a bowel movement, you should first make sure they are not constipated. If your child is having bowel movements that seem a tad large, hard or perhaps a painful to pass, it is possible they have developed a fear of going poop on the potty.

If this is the case then a simple increase in their fluids and dietary fiber could be enough to soften their waste, making it easier to pass through their system. If this is not the problem, work on the following tips to make your bowel movement related potty problems a memory.

Encourage your child to go poop in the bathroom, even if they are only going into the bathroom and doing it in the corner. Though they may be doing it in their diaper, they are at least moving in the right direction. Once they’ve done that, you can remove the diaper and have them sit on the potty.

Whenever your child has made any progress making a bowel movement in the potty, do all you can to celebrate their success. Try to ignite their internal trigger that will be looking for that praise.

Whenever there is an accident when your child goes poop in their underwear, calmly lead them to the bathroom, dump the bowel movement into the toilet and flush. This will reinforce the idea that poop is only for the potty.

Take your child with you to the bathroom whenever you have to eliminate. This may be slightly embarrassing, but it could greatly reduce the amount of time needed to finish the last bit of training.

If your child is old enough to understand, have them either clean their own underwear after an accident, or have them do it alongside you. This will help them to understand the cause, effect and consequence of their actions.

You should never make your child feel bad for having an accident, as this could only serve to slow down their progress.

Be consistent and understand that this last piece of the potty training puzzle can sometimes be the most difficult.

You can do it. We know you can.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

03 Reasons for Potty Training Your Child!

There are a million and one reasons for potty training your child. From social concerns to simple hygiene, to helping your child acquire the life skills they need to take their next steps, toilet training is an important step in the developmental process.

The best thing you can do is simply get started.

Here are 103 reasons for potty training your child

1. It’s terrible to feel like a prisoner in your house, just because you’re worried about accidents.
2. Because one in diapers is one too many.
3. Your child can do it and you secretly know it.
8 months is the average worldwide age training.
4. Your best friend almost has her toddler potty trained and you’d like to beat her to the finish line.
5. Poop stinks.
6. If you have to clean up one more accident, you’re going to start running in circles and babbling incoherently.
7. You’re spending more on diapers when you are on retirement.
8. Do you really need any reasons for potty training?
9. Your toddler is letting you know that they think they’re the boss.
10. Your child thinks accidents are funny and you do not.
11. There’s a spot in the carpet that is turning decidedly yellow.
12. Do you really need any more reasons for potty training when your mother-in-law is nagging you?
13. Your child poops in their diaper every time they want attention.
14. When you were your child’s age, you’d already been potty trained for a year.
15. Your cat requires less maintenance than your toddler.
16. Getting your child into preschool can be a great thing for their social development.
17. Really, isn’t one butt enough to wipe?
18. Those cute close they’re wearing will be a lot cuter when they don’t have diaper bulge.
19. Toilet training is funny in retrospect.
20. Once they’re potty trained, you can teach them more about hygiene — a great lesson to learn!
21. How much did you spend on diapers last year again?
22. Can’t lives on Won’t Street.
23. If a dog can do it so can your toddler.
24. The Brown beneath your fingernails doesn’t match your nail polish (One of the TMI reasons for potty training!)
25. You don’t need to be reminded about what you had for dinner last night.
26. It’s bad enough you have to clean the litter box.
27. You’d like to drink lemonade without thinking about your toddler’s last accident.
28. Each diaper holds way too much information.
29. Don’t let your fear of change stand in the way of their evolution.
30. You are tempted to spike your kids milk with Imodium.
31. The process will help your child will help to teach them about privacy.
32. Potty training your child will help to teach them responsibility.
33. Your child is asking why the dog doesn’t have to wear a diaper.
34. You should be able to flush a bad smell.
35. Your flower garden is doing just fine and you don’t need any more fertilizer.
36. Your child can say, “I need to be clean.” They can say, “I have to go.”
37. You’re tired of changing the subject any time toilet training comes up in discussion.
38. It would be nice to eat chocolate again without getting grossed out.
39. Really, corn? Again?
40. Once they’re potty trained, you won’t have to take them with you into the bathroom anymore!
41. Life has enough stress without considering reasons for potty training. Just do it already!
42. Your spending too much money on scented candles.
43. You’re tired of everyone looking in your direction whenever there’s a bad smell.
44. You’re tired of feeling like a sherpa whenever you leave the house.
45. You’re tired of the guilt.
46. You’re sick of Googling, “Reasons for Potty Training.”
47. You’re dreaming in brown and yellow.
48. There are a million better ways to use your time, and you can rattle off 987,631 off the top of your head.
49. You’re thinking about potty training while watching your favorite shows.
50. The process is a LOT funnier when seen through the rearview.
51. The hardest step to take is the first.
52. Your child will walk taller.
53. Sometimes you just have to swallow and get started.
54. You already taught your child how to build with blocks, say please and thank you, and wait their turn. Now it’s time for something bigger.
55. Your child will smile wider.
56. The average age for the completion of training in the 1940’s was 18 months.
57. The average age for completion (in this country) is now climbing toward three years.
58. They can do it and you can help them.
59. They have to learn sometime.
60. You will add more minutes to each of your days.
61. If it was somebody else’s child, you would be thinking they should be trained already.
62. Having a child who is ready to be potty trained but isn’t is like having several extra pounds that need to be shed.
63. You’re running out of excuses because you already have 63 reasons for potty training.
64. The sun will seem brighter, the sky will seem bluer, and food will taste a little bit better.
65. Because what they want and what they need are two different things.
66. Because they need to be trained and you want it to happen.
67. You should’ve started yesterday.
68. Your evenings out will be so much better.
69. It might be more fun than you could possibly imagine.
70. You’d like to go back to your old definition of the word accident.
71. The last thing you want is for your mother in law to be right.
72. It’s important to teach your child to try.
73. Life is undeniably better once you’re finished.
74. You’d rather wash underwear than throw it away.
75. Everything is possible with a solid routine.
76. Your child can be the example.
77. You can finally get some new furniture.
78. You can hear the other mommies whispering.
79. You could get popcorn the last time you went to the movies because you the money was earmarked for diapers.
80. You’re tired of telling people that you spilled coffee on the carpet.
81. The cat is starting to mark his own territory while competing with your toddler.
82. You’re sick of washing underwear in the sink.
83. It’s bad enough you’ve got a constant leak in the kitchen sink.
84. You’re tired of spontaeous eye-irrigation.
85. Really, isn’t “extra absorbent” kinda sorta gross?
86. You’re embarrased when your kid’s carrying a load in public and people looking at you funny.
87. Your kid saw a box of depends at the store and asked how come you don’t wear them
88. When you are having a Sh@^^y morning you really don’t want it to be literal.
89. “$#^& happens” is an expression you’re really sick of.
90. If you have time for a massage, you have time to potty train.
91. You almost got in an accident the last time you smelled their accident in the back seat.
92. Public grunting is embarrassing.
93. Your child’s self esteem will double.
94. If you don’t, you’ll be the last one in play group.
95. All the other kids are doing it.
96. Diaper commercials are holding you hostage.
97. “I did it!” are the three best words ever.
98. You can say goodbye to those squishy poops that squeeze out of the diaper and up your child’s back.
99. You miss eating chocolate ice cream.
100. You only need to see your meals once.
101. Think of all the things you could have, or money you could save, if you weren’t throwing it away on diapers.
102. Unless your job requires it, you shouldn’t have to wash your hands more than 15 times a day.

We hope these 103 reasons for potty training have been helpful. You can do it, we know you can!

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

There are many different methods for potty training children.

Each method is popular for different reasons, but the important thing to remember when doing your homework is that you must identify which method and suggestions work best for your child.

There are core strategies most methods share, but one size does not fit all when it comes to potty training.

Children grow and develop at different rates. If you have more than one chid, it can be shocking how different each child, is in spite of the consistency in parenting style.

When potty training children, choosing the right method can be the key to success. You want to train your child so you can ditch the diaper, hit the potty seat and smile at the success of your parenting.

Here are three ideas to remember in the process.

1. Inch by inch. Capitalize on your child’s desire to learn and grow.  Reading books related to toilet training as a family, picking out the potty seat  and underwear together reinforces the process and goal in mind.
2. Unnecessary Pressure. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on your child to succeed.  If your child is afraid of the seat or toilet, let him sit on it fully clothed daily for a few minutes, then work towards taking the diaper off so he can sit like Mom and Dad. This is a journey, not an event. Part of the process is introduction and planning for pre-training. Children need to feel as though they are part of the process, rather than thrown into the situation with the expectation that he will do exactly what he is suppose to after you read a couple of books and buy the potty seat and underwear.
3. Maintain hyperbolic excitement when potty training. Children desire our approval and this is a motivating tool to use when potty training. However, keep it real because you aren’t going to be able to maintain the confetti throwing party and treat train every time. Praise genuinely and give your child a moment to admire his success to promote the pride you both feel.
4. Approval and Praise. Nobody wants to be a failure. It is job one to ensure that your response is not visibly exasperated, frustrated, or punitive when your child makes a mistake.  Replace saying, “That’s not right or you missed again” with “We will try again, mistakes happen.” This keeps the child encouraged and teaches mistakes are part of learning.
5. Combat of the wills and will not. Oppositional behavior is sometimes a part of potty training children, as developmentally that is where many children are at behaviorally. This is because they are discovering their independence and the power of their own will. Do not get into a power struggle about going potty. You will lose every time and be frustrated beyond belief. If you minimize the issue in front of your child then you are making it apparent that the training is for him, not you. The power is in being tenacious and consistently providing the opportunities until success is achieved.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your child take his steps no matter what they are.

Remember, you are your child’s first teacher.

It is the encouragement and safety net we provide when potty training children that allows them to make mistakes and propel their achievement in whatever goals we set together.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

I’ve often wondered why there aren’t more potty training poems or children’s stories about going to the potty. I mean, let’s get real – this is something we all have to go through at one time or another, right?

Why not do everything we can to make the process an enjoyable experience, same as we would if we were teaching our child to read or write?

Though I can think of a few children’s books that discuss going to the potty, I don’t know of a single one that does it in rhyme.

And though the PTP Power System comes with Number One and Two it!, I still think there’s not nearly enough potty training poems in circulation.

I hope this little ditty can curb the appetite until the bookshelves are lined with potty training poems packed with pee-pee and poo-poo!

Many smiles – Please enjoy!

Pee-pee and poo poo. First dry and then wet
Oh this toilet training, I wish I could forget.
This screaming and crying, these tantrums and fits,
I wish someone told me that potty training’s the pits!

I want to be finished, I’m sick of the fight,
But oh how I hope that I get it all right.
What’s that you say? You have a solution?!?
With lots of advice and then swift execution?

Well, that sounds fantastic, please point the way
I’d like to get started, hopefully today!
I’m looking for help. I didn’t know what to do
I’m so very grateful that I happened on you

Once I was worried, but not anymore
In just a few days I’ll have no pee on my floor!
Potty Training Power… Up, up and AWAY!!!
The system has saved me and rescued the day.

Stay tuned! We hope to have more potty training poems in the future!

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

Planning for potty training a child is diferent for every parent.

You probably envision putting your child on the potty with new Batman underwear as step one-through 10.  “I have the perfect potty chair and brand new underwear – Voila!”

Done, right?

Wrong.

Training your child takes preparation. And properly planning for potty training can ensure that it is a relatively pain free process. The pre-potty information and the time invested in learning together means trial and error, accidents, bunched up pants (often on backwards), and Mt. Everest sized piles of toilet paper.

The long and short of it is eventually your child will learn and everything works itself out.

However, the events between pre-potty and full on toilet training are the steps that many parents seem to miss. Yet it would be like asking your child to walk before they could crawl. Don’t you think the experience is worth planning for?

Potty training is good old fashioned hard work, but the two most important tools a parent needs in the process is a sense of humor and pre-potty preparation. Instead of putting the pressure of expectations that this process will be over after 3 diligent days of potty training immersion (that might end up feeling like 3 weeks), focus on small pieces that help you prepare.

Your attitude will help you achieve your altitude and if you are positive and encouraging then you can expect your child to internalize your feelings to begin down the road to successful potty training.

Here are 6 questions to ask yourself if you are Properly planning for potty training.

1) What is the duration of time between wet and dry diapers?

2) Does your child wake up dry after naps and in the morning?

3) Do you put your child on the potty after waking up, before or after bath, before bed time just to see what might happen?

4) Does your child follow 1-2 step directions at a time?

5) Does your child ‘s facial expressions or posture change when a bowel movement or urinations is about to start?

6) Does your child articulate, “I’m dirty.” “Please change me” or take his diaper off and hands it to you?

If your answer is yes to half of these questions begin having practice time with the potty in preparation to fully potty train.

This will not be a fast process, but it is a good time to build up excitement.

Additionally, the act of pulling up and down the pants, making an association that the elimination of fluids and waste goes in the potty which is in the bathroom, and and washing our hands while we sing our ABC’s is all a part of the preparation for milestone of being potty trained.

Many people rush the process, skip these steps and forego the basic planning for potty training that could help them guarantee their own success.

Our children didn’t come out of the womb speaking in complete sentences.  You have immersed your child in language to reach the goal of hearing those beautiful syllables MaMa, (even though it is usually DaDa first).

The same is true for potty training.

Immersion in the pre-potty steps is just as important for success in the potty training process.

Planning for potty training means preparing for victory.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!

Afraid of the potty?

One situation that regularly occurs at some point in the potty training process is that a child will have no problems urinating, yet they will hedge when it comes to making a bowel movement.

Some children are afraid of the potty, and thus insist on a pull-up or just do it in a corner in their underwear and then want to be cleaned up after the business is done.

Children who are afraid of the potty or hesitant to have a bowel movement are perfectly normal. Believe me, you are far from alone.

To help your child learn to be less afraid of the potty, and their waste instead of letting it sit in a pull-up or underwear, please consider these suggestions:

1) If your child insists on using a pull-up or does it in the underwear, then empty the waste together to show him where it goes.

2) Remind your child that waste is yucky and dirty and have your child be a part of the cleaning up process. Tell them that there is never any reason to be afraid of the potty.

3) Look for signs that your child is going to have a bowel movement, facial expressions, or changes in posture. When you see them, have your child sit on the toilet. If he or she insists on keeping underwear on or a pull-up make sure the elimination process is still happening in the vicinity of the bathroom.

4) Read children’s literature on anything regarding toilet training to your child.

5) Maintain a patient and encouraging demeanor no matter what. Punishing or shaming a child can quickly turn the situation into a power struggle. If your child isn’t ready for this step do not give up.  Empower your child to be a part of the process including cleaning up.

Don’t worry to much about children who are afraid of the potty or who have issues putting their poop in the toilet, as it is usually a short lived phase, although it may feel like an eternity because, let’s face it, cleaning up is never fun.

However, with perseverance and consistency the benefit of having an independent and responsible toilet trained child is liberating and worth every hard earned step.

Potty training is learned behavior and as parents we are the first teachers to model expectations, teach our children to take their steps and practice repeatedly until the desired outcome is achieved.

Don’t be afraid of the potty!

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

Done with diapers?

Are you feeling sick and tired of spending so much money on disposable diapers, like you’re tossing your dollars with nothing to show?

Has it been over a year now that you have been working on sitting on the potty, talking about going in the potty, and yet your toddler is still in diapers?

Make it a New Year’s Resolution to ditch those diapers for good!

Forget the Pull-Ups. The absorbant wannabe underwear are a waste of money and your child still doesn’t know if he is wet or dry. Here is a good piece of advice. Babies who use cloth diapers tend to be potty trained more quickly because obviously they do not like to be wet.

Bite the bullet and go shopping with your toddler and shop for the cloth underwear like the big boys wear.

It will seem daunting at first.

The mounds of  laundry, messes on the floor, and accidents after they sat on the potty for what seemed like an eternity will all feel frustrating. Yet with a bit of preparation and simple planning, it will all be worth it.

Underwear is the true testament of the potty training process because, let’s face it, Pampers, Pull-ups and most other diapers are so good at doing their job to absorb wetness why would your child want to switch over?

Here is a quick check list to make sure you are ready to begin the process:

1) Cloth training pants or underwear

2) Rubber Pants to put on top to help with accidents

3) Trails of towels on carpet and furniture

4) Basket of clean clothes in the bathroom

5) Build awareness by reading books about going to the potty

6) Encourage your child to dress independently

7) Make sure clothes are easy to pull up and down

8) Provide incentives like a sticker chart

9) Provide a special potty chair that is low to the ground or place a smaller seat on top of the adult one

Maintaining patience is not easy, and it is sometimes difficult to remember that potty training is a process not an event. In the beginning, accidents will happen with frequency.

If you get stressed out your child will pick up on this and internalize the stress as well. Keep a cheerful demeanor even if it is only your best poker face.

Your child wants your approval and part of learning is making mistakes with the safety net that mom and dad are there to encourage and nurture the process along.

You’ll be done with the diapers in no time.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

“Look Daddy, I made corn in my poop.”

My friend was sharing a recent anecdote about the trials and tribulations of his two year old. You know it’s high time to start potty training when your child is taking the diaper off and showing you his accomplishments.

Young children are capable of understanding so many concepts, corn in poop included.

When it comes to potty training, usually it the parent who is not ready to bite the bullet and embark on the consuming task of training the child to eliminate in the proper receptacle.

Here are 6 ways to start your potty training success.

1) Have a talk. Discuss the key potty issues. For example, using the potty is a normal part of life and the toliet is the special place where we go potty.

2) Model. Show your child how the potty works. Go potty, let your child flush and explain how he will be wearing underwear instead of diapers.

3) Read and View. Take time to read books, watch videos, or YouTube about going potty. Make sure you involve the whole family in the process especially siblings who are already potty trained.

4) Partner Purchases. Involve your child in the purchasing process. Take a trip to the store together to buy underwear, a potty, step stool or small seat to go on top of the big potty. This will have a significant impact on your toddler because you involved him in the process.

5) Easy dressing and undressing. Ensure that clothing can be manipulated with ease. Ditch the cute overalls and go for elastic bands.

6) Accidents and Praise. Potty training is a process and you will need to change methods of praise/rewards based on the needs of your child. Think about how you will handle accidents and praise. Map out a plan ahead of time in your mind and decide if you are going to use pull-ups, underwear or bare bottom and stay with the decision so your child has consistency and isn’t confused. Consider potty training issues when you are away from home and maintain a calm attitude when accidents occur.

7) Inform Childcare Providers. Talk to your childcare provider and let them know you rae starting the process so that the caregiver can support you in the process.

The next time your child is looking at the corn in their poop, just smile and know it’s all a part of the process.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!

Wanna save money on diapers?

The best way to save money on diapers is by potty training your child early.

Tough most parents would probably find it difficult to believe, initiating the early part of the potty training process before your baby can even walk, or before they have reached their second birthday is far from psychotic behavior.

Rather, the practice of early potty training is eco-friendly, more sanitary and, in most countries outside of the United States, a perfectly normal expectation.

Besides, think of how much money you’ll save; on diapers, wipees and potty training rewards.

Although it can be an all consuming adjustment in the household once the process is started, it is also an excellent opportunity to strengthen the bond of the teaching learning relationship which exists from birth between parent and child.

It is these experiences which can draw a family closer, especially when approached with the right mindset.

You can still build block towers, sing songs and read as part of the day’s repertoire of activities, just do them while guiding your child to eliminate on schedule and in the potty.

Training your child to use the potty through consistent modeling, in addition to providing them with ample opportunities to practice requires a parent’s time, patience, and yes, hard work.

What is all consuming for an adult may not be for an infant.

Yet it is a lifestyle change for everyone involved. You’ll save money on diapers, they’ll grow up a bit.

Depending less on diapers and being consumed by the potty training process for a relatively short period of time is always worth it in the end.

After a small investment of time, you will feel the freedom of time, energy and, ultimately, dollars in your wallet.

If you want to save money on diapers, the best thing to do is to get started with the toilet training.

Potty Training Power… AWAY!!!