My son is almost 3 and I am trying to get him potty trained. He is pretty much there. But, I have been giving him a jelly bean everytime he goes. I don't know if this is too much sugar, and is it starting a bad habit??
2007-05-01 05:27:03 · 34 answers · asked by MG 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Your son shouldn't receive a 'present' for doing something natural.AND he should have been potty-trained long ago,what were you waiting for?Your delighted face is enough present for him.
2007-05-01 06:04:58 · answer #1 · answered by Livia 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
It shouldn't be too much sugar but it is kind of starting a bad habit. It can aid in tooth decay if your son does not effectively brush. It also can cause confusion when your son stops getting jelly beans for using the potty. He MIGHT regress to get that back. I think he is old enough to have a "chore chart" where using the potty and cleaning his room and things like that are on there and everyday if he does everything he can get a small sticker by the "job". It will help him learn responsibility and give him a sense of accomplishment. At then end of the week you can let him pick out a prize from a basket if he gets a certain amount of stickers.
2007-05-01 05:33:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm going to go against the consensus here. This is how my mother-in-law trained one of her grandsons who was very ready for it, and she was taking care of him while his mother was in the hospital with a high-risk pregnancy. Worked like a charm, and he's now in his 20s; as far as I know, he's not expecting a jelly bean for "going" any longer. For that matter, it didn't become a habit at all, just a temporary incentive to learn to use the potty.
When he's mastered the potty thing completely, just express to him (often!) how proud you are of him and what a big boy he is. Let the praise replace the jelly bean.
He gets a lot more sugar in a cup of juice than an entire day's worth of jelly beans, so I wouldn't worry on that score.
2007-05-01 05:41:01 · answer #3 · answered by Clare † 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay hon, I'm right where you are. My son will be three on May 31st. He's been using the potty consistently for a few weeks with no accidents (except for the last couple days, but he got a really bad ear infection that made his ear drum rupture so he's been miserable, so I'm not counting this little set back). I got him to use the potty by "paying" him with those chocolate coins. The first couple days he remembered every time he went that he could have chocolate. After those first couple days, he only remembered some of the time (and if he didn't remind me, I pretended not to remember either...why give the chocolate if he doesn't remember?). After about 5 days, he never remembered at all, and ever since he's been doing it without the expectation of a reward. Except my praises and stuff of course. He's so cute, if I forget to say it, he'll say, "I'm so proud of you!" to remind me. Then he'll give me big hugs. That he has come to expect all the time, but the chocolate he's given up. So I guess that tells you which one he valued more. Keep on going with the jelly beans is my opinion, you gotta do what works for you!
2007-05-01 11:01:06 · answer #4 · answered by A W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's great that you reward your son for his accomplishments and he's very aware of it too, because he's doing so well with the potty training. I don't think it's a bad habit and as far as the sugar content goes...it's just 1 jelly bean...as long as he's not loading up on sugar the entire day I think your fine. Once the potty training is a complete success & he's still looking for those jelly beans try another thing to accomplish, such as good behavior for the day, picking up his toys, etc....GOOD LUCK!
2007-05-01 08:10:01 · answer #5 · answered by LUV OF TENNIS 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you were giving him a whole bag of jelly beans that would be different, but I don't think one at a time will hurt. I too have a 3 1/2 year old boy and I know the feeling of doing whatever it takes to get it done. As for a bad habit, you can change that too. You can find a flavor that he does not like and give him just that flavor until he no longer ask for them anymore.
Good Luck! :)
2007-05-01 05:46:49 · answer #6 · answered by Emily B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there's other ways you can give him like say if he goes potty for a whole week take him to his favorite place or buy him a toy or do stickers. But one jelly bean should be fine. But there's other ways too besides giving him sugar. At least you can get your boy to potty my son refuses to go and he's 3.
2007-05-01 05:36:49 · answer #7 · answered by Adrianne R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not above sugary bribery at all!! I've got mine trained to strip, take baths, get pajamas on without any fussing for a hershey's kiss! We do what works, mama. And some nights they don't even want the chocolate, so they're being good just to be good. Who knew?
I would also consider making him a chart or buying him his own calandar. Reward him with stickers on a per bathroom use/daily basis. Then at the end of the week he can cash in his good fortune/number of stickers for going out to Saturday breakfast with mom & daddy, a small toy, some art supplies, etc.
We also have a bunch of goodies to use as rewards that aren't food based. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water color paints, you know Dollar Store toy aisle stuff.
You might want to ask him what he'd prefer: instant gratification with the jelly bean or a big prize at the end of the week. You never know, he might stop the jelly beans for a shot at lunch/games at Chuck E Cheese.
2007-05-01 06:33:32 · answer #8 · answered by wwhrd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A jelly bean...if only I could have been so smart. We had a piggy bank sitting on the back of the toilet and everytime she went, we would give her a dollar. Once they get the hang of it, they will expect it everytime. The way we taught my baby nephew to go was by just throwing a handful of cheerios in the toilet and telling him to sink 'em.
I don't think sugar is that big of a concern. Habit is what you would be worried about.
2007-05-01 06:54:22 · answer #9 · answered by Nessa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont' think one jelly bean will hurt him, but I worry about us rewarding our children with food - whether it's fruit, jelly beans, chips or a soy based snack! This is why so many of us "comfort eat" when we are older, as we associate eating with being rewarded. Praise your son as well and I like the stickers or stars idea - I am sure he will too! Good luck, he will get there soon!!
2007-05-01 19:58:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One jelly bean here and there won't kill him, but you might be opening a big can of worms because then he'll expect a treat EVERY time forever.... Once you get "there", you should start weaning him off the jelly beans into another reward - like a sticker chart that he can turn into a big reward like a special toy. (That'll also be helpful down the road with chores and homework....)
2007-05-01 07:04:05 · answer #11 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋