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Simply Audra Marie

Potty Training

Mama, May I?

I accidentally started potty training Little Miss Princess a few weeks ago. How does one accidentally potty train? Well, it went something like this:

I was reading some emails about teaching your kids the value of money. One person said they had taught their preschooler to value money AND potty trained at the same. Basically, they held up the child’s diaper and said that every diaper he used cost money. If he didn’t use diapers, they would have money to buy more of his favorite toy animals. Another parent piped up that they had done something similar.

I told Little Miss Amber that if she didn’t potty in her diapers and kept her undies dry, she could have a baby doll. I have to admit, I was being a little flippant and not for a minute did I think it would work.

I left for the day to run errands and when I got home, Little Miss Princess was asleep on her older sister’s shoulder. In undies. Which she had managed to keep dry all day.

AND SHE HAD TALKED ALL DAY ABOUT HER BABY DOLL. You know, the one I didn’t buy because I wasn’t serious. I took off for the dollar store and bought three cloth dolls and two coloring books. Then I headed to another store and bought her a nice baby doll. The plan was forming as I shopped.

We got home and I had my daughter quickly make a chart while I praised Little Miss Princess for doing so well. I told her that if she kept trying, she would get a prize that evening. Every time we took her potty, she put a sticker on her chart if her undies were dry. If she pooped on the toilet, she got an extra star.

Most evenings, she got a prize, and by the end of a week, she had few accidents and filled in her entire chart. She earned her nice baby doll and cheers from her family.

I keep her in diapers at night (we co-sleep and I’m not that brave), but she rarely wakes up wet. I’m hoping to buy two or three cloth diapers for night time use before we run out of this pack of diapers (which will take a few months at this rate).

She naps in her undies and we recently went on our first outing with her in her undies. She did great.

Accidentally potty training Works For Me. 🙂

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About Audra Marie

sometimes quirky, sometimes serious, always real ~ lover of Jesus, wife, mom, photography lover, & writer trying to quiet the voices in my head

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Comments

  1. Kaye says

    We’re potty training too (although not accidentally). I wish you the best, as we are finally having measured success (knock on wood!).

  3. Gina says

    Sometimes you just really have to get to the heart of what motivates someone. Seems to be in your little one’s case it was a BABY DOLL!!!
    Good for her (and you!)!!!

    Ginas last blog post..Thumbs-Up! Thursday

  4. Jamie Ivey says

    I may have to try this with my son that I’m thinking about potty training. I think I’ll do the chart thing and have a prize after so many good days!
    :)jamie

    Jamie Iveys last blog post..Chapman article

  8. elizardbreath says

    What a great story! I’ll need to remember that soon when it comes time for Miss Selah! 🙂

    elizardbreaths last blog post..Planting Imperfections

  10. Artisticflare says

    Hrad work but she’s learning! Right mom? 😉

    Artisticflares last blog post..A video!

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  11. Bev. says

    I heard a few days ago that a lady who also used your style of training put the reward item on display in the bathroom to help motivate her child.

    Guess i’ll be decorating my bathroom in a train theme soon.

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

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