I Used a Timer to Help Potty Train My Kids

This is a “Worked for Me” post.

here is where I really wanted to put a picture of a kitchen timer, just because I though it would be cute.  Our camera is broke and I was frustrated with trying to find a picture online.  If you think of it today, pray that we find such a great deal on a decent camera that we just have to get it!  Thanks.  And when I get my new camera, I hope to go crazy with pics for y’all!

Our 3 children were born in this order:  1st child; 5 years later second child; 12 months  and 9 days later 3rd child.  There were times that I thought I would absolutely lose my mind with juggling the two that were twelve months apart!  Wouldn’t change it now, but man was it tough at times.
Potty Training, Kim’s Way.  I was horrible at potty training.  I’m not sure if I was over-whelmed or if I was (like now) suffering from  “Mom Brain”.  I could not focus long enough to remember to take them to the potty on anything resembling a consistent basis.  I had good intentions.  But hey, this is Kim.  I pour a cup of coffee and come back 10 minutes later to see that I never got as far sweetener or creamer!  
My absolute salvation in the Potty Training phase was my kitchen timer. It helped cement for me that I was not too lazy, I wanted to do it.  I just needed help in remembering ON  A SCHEDULE. This was my reminder and made potty training so much easier for me!
This is what I did: 
In the initial stage of potty training, I would set the timer for 5 or 10 minutes.  Every time the timer rang, I would take the child to the potty.  If the child pottied, I would set the timer for a little longer until the next time.  As I learned the needs of that child, I would be able to set the timer for longer periods of time.  By the time we were at 1 hour, they were almost potty trained.  We reached 1 hour with a few days I think.  Once they knew what they were supposed to do, and didn’t then we were free to deal with those issues.  
The timer was used only for waking hours.  By some miracle, I have never had a child who, for very long, wet the bed once they were potty trained. 
Worked for me and I hope will be of help to someone else!

Technorati Tags: Works for Me Wednesday,Potty Training,Mom

Technorati Tags: Kitchen Timer

Check out WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY @ We are that family!
Would love to see in the comments section if other Mom’s used the timer as their best friend in potty training?