Potty Training and Eating?

I have the Sneaky Chef cookbook and it has great ideas for hiding veggies in foods. That being said, I would hide the veggies and continue to offer them on his plate as well. That way he gets them in foods he'll eat but continues to see them on his plate at each meal thus building healthy eating habits. And kids go thru cycles. My daughter (also 21 months) was champ veggie eater then started spitting almost every one out and now she's back to eating them again.

As far as the potty training you have to wait until they show interest. My daughter has been training since she was 17 months but she was very interested, would tell me if she peed or poo'd so I got her a potty and let her lead the way. We are basically diaper free at home except for nap and night time. They have to do it in their own time but follow the lead they give you when they show interest. I fall into the not a fan of pull-ups! Just more expensive diapers. I never made the connection with my kids that diapers equaled baby so they didn't fight me the times they needed a diaper while we were training. I am a big fan of bare bottom when you train. Makes them much more aware of their body. You do have to watch them closely and take them to the potty every 20 minutes or so in the beginning and yes, there will be messes but they really understand very quickly what those sensations mean!

In response to your potty training question, I would just keep the potty out and offer it every once in a while, let him come to the bathroom with you and see what you do, read potty training books, watch potty training DVDs, do everything to encourage it but don't push it. He will then show you when he's interested!

My son loves the “Just Tomatoes” products. His favorite is “Just Peas”. It makes veggies taste like a crunchy snack, but without anything else added the way veggie chips and veggie sticks have. They can be hard to find, but the Harvest Market in Hockessin carries them. There is a store finder on the website: http://www.justtomatoes.com/ but I’d warn you to call the store first because when I search under “Delaware” I see several stores that have been out of business for a few years.

As far as potty training, I 100% agree with what other moms have said; you have to wait until he’s ready. For some kids that’s 1.5, for some it’s closer to 3. If you push, he’ll know you want him to do it and it will be the first thing he’ll use against you when he’s mad.

Also, having fun toys and books in a special “potty basket” next to his potty seat helps too. Make it clear that these fun toys are only for when he is sitting on the potty. Just make sure everything is bleachable because as you’ll soon learn, little boys pee on everything!

Did your son overhear your mom telling you to wait? If he did, that can cause him to feel he's not ready. Some kids are ready early and some are not. My son was ready very early, but his daycare center was not so when they let him go potty, it only took 2 weeks and he was "bone dry."(No more diapers at all.) I wouldn't wait longer than 2 years though. You also need to let him see Mommy and Daddy potty, so he knows it's a natural thing to do. He also could be confused a bit, so tell him what a poo-poo belly feels like so he knows when to sit on the pot. Offer a reward for when he leaves a deposit on the potty like 1 sticker for pee and 2 for poop or a special candy/treat that's only for potty. Keep the poop reward greater than the pee reward.

Hi C., Well, keep offerering him veggies. Don't let him fill up on drinks or meats at dinner/lunch either. Just keep putting them on the plate and insist on at least a bite or two at each meal. He will "get over it" sooner or later.

Potty training? WAIT. He will let you know when he is ready. Believe it or not, hiding when pooing is normally a sign that he is almost ready (it tells you he is aware when he is doing it etc). This is a very tricky time, if you push you could end up fighting or worse yet, he could hold his stuff until he makes himself misserable or sick. (My oldest nephew did that one!) Potty training is a big control issue. He may not like the potty chair you have (mine would not use one...ever! we had to buy the little seats that go ontop of the regular toilet to get ours to go.) As my doctor told me, as long as they are trained before they go to school it's all good. All three of my girls trained at age 3...with no accidents. The little guy I babysit just trained and he will be 3 in a couple of months. So, IMO it's better to wait. As far as pull-ups go, well that's a personal thing, and I found them to be very usefull espically at night right before and durring the trainning phase. Not to mention the swimming ones they have now. Remember our kids are little for such a short time....grown-up is forever and you don't want to rush them no matter what other people think or say. Best wishes

1) I agree with the first commentor.. there is a great book that will help it out!

2) Potty train when he is ready. I potty train 2 year olds as a teacher and I LOVE pull ups (I have trained about 100 kids in my 6.5 years teaching). For some kids they don't work but you will have to figure that out for your child personally. The problem when parents think they don't work is they do not set their child up on a schedule. You cannot slap a pull up on them then let them run willy-nilly all over the place. Pull ups are designed to be used like underwear (easy to get up an ddown) but prevent your floors from being soaked every time a child doesn't make it. For potty training, if he is running from you, back off. Take him to the potty with you and your husband every time you go. Show him the potty is normal and this is what everyone does on the potty. ASK him if he wants to go, set up a specific time he needs to "try" but never ever force him into the bathroom. You will have a difficult time potty training that way.

Good luck.

First question - I know there is a cookbook out there that helps with great recipes and the kids never know there are veggies mixed in - but I don't know what it is... maybe another Mom does..?

Second question - wait until he is ready to do it. It will become a HUGE control issue if you push it and you don't want/need that. Every kid is different and it is fine to wait. As far as pull-ups are concerned - it was completely counter-productive for my daughter. She has always been a busy girl and it was too much like a diaper. I didn't use them at all with my son -we just used underpants and he did great - once he was ready!

Good luck!
C.

first try giving him some raw veggies and see if he will eat them.

As for the potty training does he show any signs of interest? I don't think waiting is ever good unless the child is still immature both emotionally or physically. Starting young for potty training is always a good thing! I was potty trained at 18mos my mom told me. My youngest ones were all trained by 2.5. My older 2 pt at 3yo and 4yo
V.

I'll tried to be very brief with your second request, since my 2 1/2 year old boy eats everything. I am a first time potty training mom of my oldest boy and decided to buy a book with very simple tips of how to potty train BOYS. It is called: Potty Training Boys: the easy way by Caroline Fertleman, MD and Simone Cave. For instance, one of the relevant issues of why not using pull ups is because when they go for number 2 and you pull it out, you will smear it all through the legs...not a good idea. I requested ideas about how to start a while ago in another site and they suggested to start with underpants like many child care centers do. For instance, Montessori does it this way, according to one mom. Your child will show you some sings of being interesting in starting potty training and the book I suggested, will tell them. I have to be honest, I have not started yet with my son because I have a young infant that takes time from me in order to dedicate the patience and the hours to do the first phase of the training. However, he has shown the signs of starting the training and I already bought a potty chair. Boys tend to delay this phase than girls, so be conscious about it and do not push it or you will end up frustrated as well as your son. You really want to do it when he is willing to do it.

Do not give up. My daughter goes on the party since 9 month old, she is 23 month now. She does not ask to go byherself, but every time i put her on the toilet she does what she suppose to do. Sometimes the second she sits down she tells me she is done. Just talk to your son about something that intrests him and dont take him right away from the toilet, just give him time and if he really have to go, he will. Good luck.