If your child is ready for potty training, you will probably know it.  We’ve got some great potty training tips to help you on the “Path to Potty Training!” 

For boys, cut a small rectangle or square out of white paper.  Draw something on it that your child likes, such as a train, racecar or rubber ducky.  Put it in the potty and tell him to try and “hit” it and sink it.  Lots of fun!  You can use this method for girls, but it isn’t as fun because they can’t see it.

If your child is in a low sitting potty chair, get a special water toy or two that you only use at potty time.  Put a bowl of warm water next to the potty chair and place the toy in the water.  When your child starts to play with it, the warm water should make him or her have to go.

Potty = Reward, plain and simple.  If you go potty in the  big potty, you get five M & M’s!

If your house is private enough, place your little girl in a dress with nothing on underneath.  Usually the feel of the air will make them remember they have no diaper, causing them to ask for the bathroom when needed.

Finally, we always used the potty dance as our method of choice.  If you go potty on the big potty, Mommy or Daddy will do the potty dance.  Children will do almost anything to watch their parents jump around like a crazy person dancing and singing.  If they use the potty, act, sing and dance like there is no tomorrow and watch your child burst into uncontrollable laughter.  Then, just maybe your child will have to go again!

Remember, if your child resists training or has lots of accidents, it might not be time.  Let a few weeks go by, and then try again.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL POTTY TRAINING TIPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? WE LOVE FUNNY POTTY STORIES TOO!

My baby days are over, but I will never forget how I planned everything “just right” before my first was born.  “First, I will do this… then I will do that.”  But the moment your infant takes his or her first breath, all games are off.  When it comes to children, you can plan, but that does not necessarily mean you will be able to carry it out! 

Examples, you ask?  Sure!  I started with a boy.  And my boy was not going to have toy guns.  I don’t know why.. after all, I had toy guns when I was young and I turned out alright.  But “this world is too violent” so guns were out. 

But do you know what boys do?  They pick up sticks and go “bang bang!” even if they have never, EVER seen a gun on TV!  They are born with this stuff, plain and simple. It was Aunt Roxanne that gave him his first toy gun - a hand-me-down from her sons.  I was NOT happy.  

Fast forward to today?  My daughter has some pretty cool cap guns somewhere in her room.  My teenagers have pellet guns.  The boys are scouts and have shot .22’s and shotguns.  And my oldest, you know, the one with no guns as a baby, is a GREAT shot.  He is also an honor student in a college prep school.  And a good kid.  The “guns” aren’t a big fixture in their lives - they are too busy outside playing basketball, running or skateboarding.  Aunt Roxanne’s hand-me-down didn’t phase them a bit. 

Things just change.  What has changed with your parenting ideas?  Were you certain you would never do something that has since changed?  Oh wait, I have one more for you.  As a child, I swore I would never EVER say, “Because I told you so!” to my children.  Umm… I broke that rule too! 

Please share your parent changing stories!