WDYT about offering candy to help potty train?

Sunflower777 · April 2009

I do not like the idea, but I'm kind of out of ideas to help get DS excited about potty training. He's 2 months away from his 3rd birthday and totally not interested. I ask every now and again if he'd like to pee on the potty or wear big boy underwear and it's always, "No, thanks!" The only time he'll pee on the potty is after bath. We tried a sticker chart, where he could earn prizes like books, etc. but in the beginning (we started this MONTHS ago) we weren't totally consistent with it, and it doesn't seem to motivate him.?

MIL gave me a little bubble gum-type machine, where you can have him put a coin in it and get a jelly bean and she's swearing by this method, but I'm not wild about using candy. WDYT? If it's a bad idea, do you have any other ideas to help get him motivated? ?

kevschickee2 · April 2009

I say what ever works for you go for it.

august06mom · April 2009

We use chocolate when DS goes on the potty. Hell, I'd give the kid cold, hard cash if it meant he'd use the potty more. Why so opposed to candy? If there was ever a time to motivate a kid, this is it!

~Kat~ · April 2009

I don't see a problem with it at all. DS gets a piece of candy when he poops on the potty, but not for just peeing.

sugarp · April 2009

Listen to the MIL on this one. I "rewarded" my DD with a little lollipop every time she used the potty. Worked wonders!

HisBetterHalf · April 2009

I used it for DD. She got 2 M&Ms for pee and a mini resees peanut butter cup for poop. After about a week and a half she stopped asking for it. So really it wasn't that much. She's trained now. I say "whatever works"!

Yodajo · April 2009

If it works, I say go for it. DS refused to poop on the potty for a while and I started bribing him with sips of Sprite. It worked and he poops on the potty now and he doesn't get the Sprite anymore.

Littlejen22 · April 2009

Yup, whatever helps.

Sunflower777 · April 2009

Hmmm, so maybe it's not such a big deal. One of the potty training books I read advised against it, and I already had it in my head that using food as a reward wasn't good, so I guess that's why I was so reluctant. But it's time to try something new, so I guess we'll give it a go. Thanks, ladies.?

hopefulmom · April 2009

I used chocolate stars (Brachs) for my older kids. Took 3 days and we were done. Not sure if it was the chocolate or that it was the "stars"...but they loved the idea. 1 for pee and 2 for poop. I swear, we were done in 3 days (and hardly any accidents afterwards...like maybe 3 times total).

Sulla · April 2009

I'd also say to maybe let up a little. My son was not trained by his 3rd bday and neither were most of his friends. The lightbulb really does go off eventually. In his case he was 3.5...GL!

TxGal · April 2009

I would not recommend that technique but I am a registered dietitian so I am probably not a good judge. Using food as a reward is never recommended for anything. DD does not eat candy at all. We used a sticker chart that was fun. We also talked it up that it was a "big girl potty" and that motivated her a lot.

I hope it gets better.

Andrewsgal · April 2009

There is nothing wrong with using candy as a reward, if used correctly you will eventually be able to phase it out. But I am one of those crazy Moms that believes everything in moderation and I actually let my DD have candy once in a while:)

Air_Force_Wife · April 2009

I am with auntie and txgal. I don't believe that food should be used as a reward. And also, food in the bathroom is gross!!!!!

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