Those who used rewards of some kind during potty training,

when did you stop giving them?

I give a ton of praise, high fives, but for pooping I sometimes give a cookie or sticker, just wondering how long I should do it for.

Re: Those who used rewards of some kind during potty training,

I sort of gradually phased out the reward (M&Ms in our case)... once he was pretty consistent about using the toilet, I started not giving the reward when the situation was appropriate-- like if we were out and he peed in the toilet wherever we were... well, I don't have any M&Ms with me this time. Or when he did it right before dinner... well, we don't eat candy right before dinner. That way he sort of got out of the mindset that he was gonna get the M&M every. single. time, kwim? And then after a little while of that, I started just not mentioning the M&Ms unless he explicitly asked for it, which was only some of the time. And ultimately the whole reward thing just sort of died a natural death.

Re: Those who used rewards of some kind during potty training,

Oh lord, that's a good question! I'm currently going through this with my DD. I think she's entirely trained now for about 10 days or so, yet she still insists on the M&Ms. I'm hoping when I run out I'll just tell her we need to buy more and I'll conveniently "forget" and she'll forget eventually too...hope that's what happens!

Re: Those who used rewards of some kind during potty training,

we are gradually phasing the rewards out...and only gives for the poop and only if she asks...which she is phasing out on her own! It started off big! A toy for first poop and "gummies" (what she calls jelly beans) for peepee...

...now a week later it is gummies for poop only!

I also found what worked was that if she does poop in her underpants I take away the toy (little people princess castle..she loves loves loves this!) and she gets it back the next time she poops ON the potty! Saved me from buying a lot of toys

Now a week into doing it successfully (somewhat)..we have done two outings - the mall and the park....she did good in the mall...we made two on the potty peepee trips at the mall!

but we pooped in underwear at the park..didnt make the bathroom.. thank god I also put a pull up on as well for a precaution! So we are 1 for 2 (fingers crossed)

ETA: sorry - didnt mean to share so much! But we are excited we have tried for the last couple of months, gave up a month and restarted last week...I hope there is no turning back!

Message edited 5/27/2010 2:18:05 PM.