The newest potty training device…

… is a Pez dispenser.

I know, I know, everybody says, “Don’t bribe them!” But seriously, we’ve been at this potty training experience for nearly a year now. He first showed real interest about December last year. A few months later he got scared of the potty so we gave it a rest for a couple weeks.

Then, he was interested again, but I was pregnant and sick, so I was not extremely consistent. Then I knuckled down and things seemed to be progressing… and our baby was born… meanwhile, during our son never initiated going on the potty, and sometimes he resisted our efforts to encourage him to go. I had a hard time reading whether this mean he wasn’t “ready,” or if he simply did not want to be taken away from his play time!

I’ve been using all the potty training suggestions from family and readers. But it just hasn’t taken off. It’s getting a mite discouraging – and having TWO in cloth diapers? Well, while cute, the laundry is reaching critical mass!

Since we have adjusted to having the new baby, we’ve been more persistent. He’s able to take his pants off/on now, which has helped tremendously. However, the sticker rewards lost their appeal, as did the M&Ms. Also I was forgetting to bring a reward with us when we traveled so it was not a consistent reward.

One tip from the article says to “Make toilet training a fun experience!” – we try doing this with rewards and a potty dance whenever he goes. We sing songs, watch DVDs and read books about Potty Time, get excited and, as discouraged as we are, try never to show it. We always act very happy and positive about any potty usage!

So the other night at the craft store (which incidentally is where I dragged hubby on our date night! LOL!), on a whim I grabbed three Pez dispensers – one for upstairs, one for downstairs, and one for traveling.

They were an instant hit. (And I am hoping not just beginner’s luck!). The first day, our son went on the potty many times trying to earn a Pez. Even though he still had a few damp diapers, he was more agreeable to going on the potty and very excited about this particular prize.

With this new incentive and a renewed consistency on our part, I’m hoping this is the start of a successful run at potty training!

What other tips (and encouraging advice!) do you have for me!?