A fabulous FYI: The following toddler potty-training experience is part of a 3-part series of sponsored posts for Munchkin®. All experiences are mine, all opinions are my own. At the end of this 3-part series, one lucky winner will win a $200 gift card to Munchkin.com! Leave a comment to enter to win. It’s the little things…
We’re now officially 3. Well, my girl is anyways. Wanna know what I got her for the big birthday? Princess stuff. Gown, crowns, art supplies and dolls. To her surprise, she also scored a royal throne. A Munchkin Arm & Hammer™ 3-in-1 Potty… with the convenient odor-eliminating disks to go along with it. It’s fabulous.
So now that we’re 3, I’m responsibly making an effort to reverse my obsession with our diaper pail and end my procrastination about potty training. Quick! What will capitalize on my tot’s fascination with all-things-princess and get her to squat on the potty? A scene like this, of course:
And as any razzle-dazzle entertainment professional would do, I staged a big reveal. You know, to amp things to the max. For your viewing entertainment:
Well that went over like a lead balloon. ?!?!?!!??! Not only did she refuse – REFUSE – to sit on her new throne, she promptly left the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Well I never.
Her older sister thought the whole thing was hysterical and humored me.
And then I remembered what I did with my older daughter: A TREAT. Sit on the potty and get a treat! (But then again, my older girl would pretty much do as I asked pretty much every time I asked it. This little one’s got her own agenda… always has.) The next day I striped the princess paraphernalia and sweetened the deal with a strategically placed pink lollipop.
To my shock, that didn’t work either. “I don’t want a lollipop!” she screamed at me. That, my friends, is the first time in the history of my personal motherhood I’ve ever heard that phrase. Ever. I guess princesses do exactly as they please these days.
My mind replayed the scenes over and over. She’s ready… I know she’s ready. (I mean, the chick promptly informs me about when to change her diaper and how…) I returned to the scene of my bomb-of-a-production, hoping inspiration would follow… watch:
I’ve since been looking up potty training tips. Do it in sessions. Ditch the diapers altogether. Don’t put more pressure on your kid if they resist. My girl – bless her feisty soul – is stubborn, headstrong and absolutely in-charge of her own self no matter what you tell her to do. (I’m going to vehemently deny any and all involvement and contribution to this particular trait.)
So I stopped telling her what to do for a few days. And then I walked into this… unsolicited. Just hangin’ out.
Princesses do as they please… when they please. In secret. (Nevermind that she’s not actually going, but at least she’s sitting on it, right? That’s a start?)
So fess up! What worked to seal the deal and get your kiddo’s butt ON the potty? Leave your comments and/or rants… next week I’ll be showcasing YOUR tactics (with my little girl) on this blog. I need you. Tell me what to try and I’ll try it. Tell me what works and I’ll work it. (Consider that a self-inflicted dare that you’re gonna see play out on video.) And just like I said: Somebody’s gonna win a $200 gift certificate to Munchkin.com in a few weeks (after I potty train this chick). Leave a comment to be entered to win (Facebook comments count too…) Contest open to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Friday March 27, 2015, 11:59pmPST. Winner will be announced and contacted Monday March 30, 2015. Now hit me!
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We have a boy and girl both under 3 that we are non the process of potty training. I’m a firm believer that their personality has a lot to do with how easy potty training will be. While our son can go days without a wet accident, poop seems to be hit or miss. (We’ve had several underwear casualties as a result.) My daughter is super strong willed, load and very stubborn and because of these wonderful personalities traits she wants to potty when she wants to whether that means refusing to go when prompted or pulling her pants down in the store when I tell her to hold on. (She’s definitely a head turner)
I hope you have luck with your little girl and I cant wait to see how the next videos unfold. I’m always open to suggestions.
Chelsea! Since doing this video I made some headway with my strong-willed little girl! Well, actually the SITTER did. Against all odds, my little girl actually sat on the potty and DID it when the sitter asked. Maybe us moms need to step out of the game! Unbelievable!!
Thanks for posting this. I will be potty training 2 little princesses at the same time. I need all the advice I can get!
ha! must say… i don’t envy you. should i send wine??
Hi Jill im currently kind of in the thick of it with you as well. I have a 3 year old son. He is my first child and i have been on the adventure of potty training with him for awhile now. He is currently doing number 1 on the potty but is for some reason scared for number 2 on the potty. My trick that i used to get him to do this much was a great tip from a friend. Now that your little one is interest enough to sit on the potty… you set an alarm for every 20 minutes. When the alarm goes off you take her into the bathroom and you get her to sit on it. You might have to sit on your potty to encourage her to do so. At first mine sat on it with his diaper on. Then he started going in his diaper sitting on the potty. Then i got brave and took the diaper off of him everytime he would sit on it. My friend when straight into sitting the kids on the potty without a diaper and that worked out well for her. Mine was a little scared to go straight into it. I encouraged him to keep going on the potty by buying him some fancy new big boy undies. At first i also told him that he would get a treat. He wasnt into the lollipop thing either (which if you know my son always wants lollipops). So instead i tried ice cream. Which worked. We bought little ice creams just for him when he would go on the potty. So now he is currently going full time number one on the pot but not number two. He is now coming to me telling me when he has to go. We went on a road trip just two days ago and told me when he has to go so i could stop and let him go. The trick is being consistent and giving praises. Make a huge deal about it. Give stickers, treats, clap and say yey. These things have all worked for me so hopefully they will help you.
Leeann! An ALARM!!!!! BRILLIANT!!!! Gonna try…
Hope it works for u. You will have to let me know
Hello mommy….ur family is too cute! What i did to get both my kids to sit on the potty is everytime they peed or pooped they would go outside and do bubbpes for 15 minutes…this worked for my daughter (since she loves bubbles) ….with my son…everytime he peed or pooped in the potty he got a scoop of icecream with his favorite topping on it which were sprinkles ..lol…it worked like a charm ,,,,then when u notice they r getting comfortable with the potty…start extending the treats…(ex. If u go in the potty twice, u will get ur treat ) good luck keep us posted
love it! i myself can go for a scoop of ice cream with sprinkles right about now…
Perfect time of the year to start potty training. As soon as my daughter would sit on the toilet I would give her a book and read to her. This really helped us. Good luck.
Reminds me when I was potty training. Glad that part is over lol
Ha Kristine… wanna come over here and do it for me, for old times sake?
I use her tablet to get my girl to sit on the toilet. My iPhone is always my last resort 😉
Good luck!
Tamar I’m *this close* to busting out my phone… hehe