Potty Like a Rock Star!

Source: Pinterest

Potty training is a torture for most parents. I hate it. I do however look forward to not having to change nappies any more.

With my first son it was pretty painless. Only a couple of accidents in the first few days and by the end of the week he was nappy free. My nearly two year old is a whole different story though...

With the warm weather finally here the time has come to break the the potty in. Silly me thought that second time round things would go smoothly and be pretty hassle free- WRONG! So far the tally is floor about 20, potty 0. The statistics are clearly not in our favour.

I think the biggest problem is that my youngest has the type of character that can't be still for too long. He's always on the move and loves nothing more than to run around and climb on things. My first born has always had a quieter character and enjoyed reading, colouring, puzzles and other tame games. Needless to say it was much easier to get him to sit still on a potty than it is for my youngest.

I've put potty training on hold as he currently has a tummy bug (not good timing to get rid of nappies). I'm using this time out to regroup and come up with a better plan of action.

I came across this post by Vanessa Brandy about a Potty Training Survival Kit and thought the idea was quite good. I'm printing off the progress chart and certificate (his big brother has a few certificates and so that might help motivate him as he loves to copy his big brother). I will most definitely be stocking up on chocolate and probably get in a bottle of wine to help my stress levels too ;)

I've also decided that our rugs will be packed away until he is potty trained. It's enough hassle having to disinfect the floor numerous times a day, rugs are just too much work.

How long did it take you to potty train your child? What strategies worked well for you?

I'm open to all suggestions and will be reporting back on our progress to let you know what got us using the potty like a rock star!

5 creative games for toddlers

Help your child grow his creative talents through play. Children love to be able to express themselves. A great way of doing this is through creative play. Not only will they have fun, it also helps with hand-eye coordination and will make it easier to learn tasks like writing later.

1) Drawing
Always monitor closely or you’re likely to end up with colourful murals around your house. Also be aware of the pens you give your child to use. Make use they are child friendly and washable (even the cleanest and most organised of children is likely to get a little messy). Give the child a variety of colours (the more the better) and experiment with crayons and pastels too so they can see the different effects. Pencils are best kept for the older children and can be dangerous.

2) Colouring pages
Try giving the child colouring pages of their favourite cartoon characters. A great change from just plain white paper. They’ll love colouring in their heroes. My son for example is a huge BEN 10 fan. Links to BEN10 colouring pages can be found in the side bar.

3) Painting
To add variety, try painting with water colours. This can be messier than with pens but your child will enjoy mixing the colours and seeing the different effects.

4) Finger paints
These will also go down well. Teach your child to do hand prints and you’ll also have a great souvenir to frame.

5) Playdoh
Hours of fun! Have several forms, stamps or biscuit cutters to use but also show your child how to make simple objects and animals.

TIP!

You can easily make your own playdoh with a little flour and water. Add food colouring to make it more interesting.

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Fingers everywhere

Right from the word go, babies love putting things in their mouths. I've even seen scans where babies suck their thumb whilst still in the womb!

 Photo Copyright Jo Linsdell

After a while they will become bored with wists and toes and start looking for other objects. It therefore becomes important to have a good selection fo safe toys that they can 'experiment' with.

As they get older, this curiosity for touch and taste grows. Toddlers will likely often be seen exploring their nose or sucking fingers or thumbs. Given that they will also be touching various other things - my son for example loves collecting stones and flowers when we go to the park or play in the garden - you may feel that this isn't exactly the best.

 Photo Copyright Jo Linsdell

Trust me, after a while you'll realise his just 'making anti-bodies' and building his immune system and you'll stop freaking out so much.

That being said, it's a good idea to clean hands often. Soap and water, wet wipes or disinfectant gels are all good, so make sure you have at least one to hand at all times.

Try teaching your child to wash his own hands too. If his anything like my son, he'll love the chance to 'play' with the water. Making the child actively involved in the action is much more educational for them (although it does mean you should be prepared for clothing changes and wet bathrooms).

Obviously you'll probably want to get them out of the habit of inserting fingers everywhere too. Be patient though. They will grow out of it. It's just a fase in their personal growth.

Do you have tips for keeping babies clean whilst they explore their new world? Is you're child driving you crazy with his 'finger exercises'? Share your comments.

What do you do when the only answer is NO?

As a mother of a two year old, it's been a few months that the most common answer I get from my son is "No" (even when not asking a question). He has in fact become fascinated by the word and will sometimes even yell it with all his strength (which can be slightly embarassing when it happens in a public place and everyone turns to look, giving me the 'you're not a bad mother are you' stare - I'm sure it's there- as I try to calm him down and explain that I was just asking if he wanted a drink -whilst giving my best 'I'm a good mother really I am smile').

If, like me, you're going through this period with your child,  you might find this article I can across useful :

Resistance: What to do about the endless no's 

It provides a nice action plan of ways to help over come the situation.

Have you got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments section of this post

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