What didn’t work in potty-training
So here we are three months after Lawrence finally became toilet trained. It’s as wonderful as I thought it would be. Not only do I not have to change poopy diapers anymore, but a lot of the pants that I thought were getting too small get another few months in them now that he doesn’t have the extra padding. Not to mention, the little briefs and boxer briefs are just so cute.
When we had had some small success with him wearing underpants and keeping them dry for a few hours, I was emboldened enough to ask if he wanted to wear underpants instead of diapers to the brunch for my sister’s birthday. When he said, “No” I realized that it was a turning point. If he didn’t care about soiling them, he would have been fine with the idea. Him saying no made me feel pretty sure that he saw it as his responsibility to keep them clean. And I was right! Lucky guess. So since then he’s only had three or four accidents, and none in the last two or three weeks.
So what was the secret? I have no friggin’ idea, to be honest. I can tell you what didn’t work, though:
Bribery
Coaxing
Withholding privileges
Peer pressure (we were so sure that starting preschool would do it, but he couldn’t have cared less that there were other kids using the potty)
Stickers and a chart
The potty picture books
The dinosaur toilet booster seat
Buying cool underwear
Now, of course, all of these things have worked on other kids. Just not ours. Lawrence is very stubborn, and while I wouldn’t say he’s strong-willed exactly, he’s pretty close.
I was right about one thing, at least. I predicted that when he was ready he would do it really well, and he has. He was determined from the outset that he would not wear diapers again (except at night, of course). He won’t even let his teacher put him in a diaper for naptime.
It’s a beautiful thing.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Bribery worked for us till our daughter saw what came out of her … she was horrified.