Potty Trainer to Moms Like Me – Even Celebrity Moms
5/7/2008 | by Jen Singer
When I tell people what I did, they think I’m making it up. But it’s true. I’ve been giving potty training advice to celebrity mom, Melissa Joan Hart. That’s right: I’m the Celebrity "Potty Training Whisperer."
I’ve been a Pull-Ups® Potty Training Partner for several years now, so I can give anyone the scoop on potty training. As a mom of two potty trained boys and the creator of MommaSaid.net, a web community for moms, I’ve heard it all, from the 18 month-old who self-trains in a week to the four-year-old who’s still in diapers. So I was prepared to give Melissa some potty training advice.
Melissa’s 27-month-old son, Mason, was already showing some signs of readiness, including sitting on the potty and staying dry through naps. He was even waking up dry in the morning! But Melissa just had a second baby, and she didn’t want to start seriously potty training during such a major change in Mason’s life. Smart move. I also recommend that parents should put off potty training during such life events, including moving, a new caretaker or a change in the family.
Mason was already getting a chocolate treat for sitting on the potty, but his success rate had been limited. I suggested that Melissa change the treat to signal the start of the potty training process in earnest, so she bought some small toy cars like the ones my boys used to line up in their rooms. I also recommended big hugs, high fives or a celebratory song and dance, because what toddler doesn’t find endless amusement in seeing their parents do their own potty success dance.
Like any toddler who becomes a big brother or sister, Mason was craving attention. So we decided that Melissa and her husband should set aside time to make a big deal out of Mason’s potty training efforts. They’d make sure to put Mason on the potty every hour or so, all the while making it fun by using books and videos as incentives, and the toy cars as rewards.
So far, Mason has had great success, but the cars no longer continued to motivate him as much as they used to. Melissa began incorporating gummy bears into the rewarding mix, and his enthusiasm continues to grow.
