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Parents will try just about
anything to get their children potty trained. When you consider that
we change roughly 4,000-6,000 diapers per child, it's easy to
understand the desperation. With desperation comes creativity, in
the form of potty-training tips. Some of my favorites from readers
include using peer pressure ("Watch Ryan go tinkle"), bribes (you
name it, it's been offered) and various methods to change the color
of the toilet water ("Look, the water turned green after you
piddled"). Even a prominent lawyer, later to become a judge, offered
his creativity: He became the Potty Fairy (secretly leaving rewards
for potty success)!
The one tip most well-received by parents, especially after I
presented it on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1992, is called "Target
Practice." Unfortunately, it works only for boys. You drop a few
Cheerios in the water and let him make a game of "target practice"
while standing on a stool. This tip was sent to me by four different
moms -- all from Montana.
Another of my favorites is the first tip below, a great idea for
young children who have a fear of falling into the toilet bowl.
Ride 'Em Cowboy
One day, many years ago when my husband and I were potty-training
our son, we left the house without his potty seat. When the time
came for him to use the toilet, we didn't know what to do. Then I
got the idea to turn him around so he was sitting on the toilet seat
facing the toilet tank. I told him to hold on to the lid of the tank
and pretend as if he was riding his horsey. He became totally potty
trained that instant. He would even run in from playing outside and
say, "Mom, I have to go ride my horsey." -- Anonymous, Broken Arrow,
Okla.
Casserole Baby Shower
One of the best things you can do for a new mom is to organize a
casserole shower. I gave one for a friend who was expecting twins.
Everyone had a great time, and it was really appreciated by my
friend. Each guest brought a frozen dish with reheating instructions
and a dessert like banana bread that could be eaten immediately or
frozen. -- K.T., Atlanta
Running and Riding With Baby
Babies and toddlers love to "exercise" with their parents. I
alternate between jogging and riding my bicycle each day, always
with the baby in tow. I bought a child's seat for my bike and a
jogging stroller. It's a fun activity that we can do together (my
baby seems to love it), and I feel renewed after each exercise
session. On bad weather days, I put her in a front pack and use my
stationary bicycle. -- K. Peterson, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Post-It Notes For Bedtime and School Mornings
Post-It notes have been the magical solution for managing school
mornings and bedtime routines for my two young children. Every
evening, I write them each a list of bedtime jobs on a 3-by-3-inch,
colorful Post-It. The jobs include brushing teeth, using the toilet,
bath, PJs and setting out clothes for the morning. I even order the
lists differently for each to help avoid collisions at the sink and
toilet. They manage their bedtime routine with minimal nagging, and
everyone gets to bed happier. This also helps them stay with the
routine when we have baby sitters.
This same system also works for school mornings. I have a
semipermanent list in my 7-year-old's room for getting ready for
school (clothes, glasses, make sure all lights are off, homework,
school papers, etc.). So far it has worked great. -- Tineke D.,
Silverdale, Wash.
TV Distracts From Fear Of Hair Cut
Put a toddler in a high chair in front of her favorite TV show when
it's time for a hair cut. She will watch the program instead of
wiggling. -- Janet J., Fremont, Calif.
(c) 2010 by Tom McMahon
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc. |
