To use chocolate as a reward for potty training?

[RoseGoldEagle]

I read ‘The gentle potty training guide’, as I have quite liked other books written by this author. She advises not to use rewards of any kind for potty training (other than praising them), as she says children need to learn to go when they need to go, not just so they can get a reward. I nodded wisely when I read that and thought it made sense, but DD is refusing to even try and sit on the potty. If I told her she’d get a chocolate button if she does a wee on the potty, I know she’d happily try then. But would I then be creating problems? AIBU to ignore the advice and give her a reward for using the potty? Have other people successfully potty trained their children without rewards? Any advice appreciated, thanks!

Chocolate buttons. Used the trainer seat on the loo for wees from the start the potty for poos for the first three days, then used the trainer seat for both. We were done by day 5. She was 3 though. She didn't miss the chocolate buttons when they stopped after a week.

Yep those chocolate milky way stars were only thing that worked. 1 for wee and 2 for poo. When dc had the knack then it was 1 for dry morning and one for dry afternoon. Then it was 1 a day then we just stopped

I used chocolate buttons and I’m not even sorry. They are 8 and 11 now and no longer require chocolate to do a wee on the toilet. I used to have to sing to get the younger one to poo. This is no longer required either.

Chocolate buttons are amazing. They also facilitated one of the children wearing glasses at 3. She has a squint and buttons were quicker and more than effective than debating with a toddler.

Ive told grandparents not to gove ds milkybar buttons so ive got them in the locker for potty training! Im activly planning using bribery down the line! Good luck with it

I'm totally against using food-related bribery in any other situation but made an exception for potty training!

YANBU worked like a charm on my (now) 9 year old DS. Although he always has to go for a poo midway through his dinner so maybe I’ve subliminally linked them .

He insisted that I got a button every time I went for a wee too. It was a pretty great weekend. Sometimes you just need a toddler to tell you ‘Good job mummy’ and get a chocolate button just for peeing.

Would a sticker chart be better ? Pick a lovely sticker everytime the potty is used and the stickers add up to something she really wants or would enjoy ?

@Pascha 😂😂😂 I don't know why I hadn't thought of bribery before - but as soon as the HV suggested it , it felt like I had official permission. The months of sheet washing every day from the horrific smell could have been avoided all for the sake of a bloody chocolate 😂

Well ds was 8 by the time he toilet trained. There were some mammoth rewards involved (it was a pretty big achievement)....chocolate buttons would have been cheaper, but wouldn't have worked sadly!

I did. Three year old now uses the toilet independently.

We used chocolate buttons when our ds was starting out, as he was very resistant. It worked getting him started, and he actually became determined to used the potty for the reward. We eventually weened him of it by only giving him one if he went (with exceptions, of course). With time, we emphasised the treat incentive and just had him try on a schedule. He'd ask for a treat sometimes, but other times he'd forget. Eventually, he just forgot entirely and we continue not to bring it up. One caveat is that his nursery was on board and helped him there with no treats (there were older boys that he wanted to mimic in using the toilet).

All kids are different. What works works.

Chocolate buttons?!? Bloody Hell I had to buy my eldest son a bike!!!
Second one did it with no problems & no reward needed
21 & 16 now & no harm done 😀 take all advice with a pinch or 10 of salt

The youngest child was refusing to sit on the toilet, only the potty. It got to the point where he was having accidents . So I told him that if he used the toilet he would get some chocolate , it worked , and we only needed to give him the chocolate once.

I did chocolate button bribery with DS1, who's now 25. It was 1 for a wee, 2 for a poo & it worked brilliantly.

Then I tried it with DS2. This time it didn't work. On being offered a chocolate button for a successful sit on the potty he looked at me indignantly and said, 'want packet!' Outwitted by a two year old

Used chocolate stars for mine, one day he managed to squeeze out 20 teeny wee’s

I'm sure similar happened in my house.

I bribed both of mine with chocolate buttons 🤷‍♀️ they soon forgot when it became second nature

We have a downstairs loo, so when potty training we had 'wee races'. I'd sit on the toilet, he'd sit on the potty, first one to wee got a chocolate (to be fair, I'd sometimes sit there not weeing to give him a chance!) I got a fair few chocolates for the first few days, he was not amused. It didn't take long, all I'd have to do is shout 'wee race' and he'd be off. Worked a treat!

I did with all my kids and it worked better than praise and fucking stickers.

YANBU. Anyone whose child genuinely does not respond to chocolate for using the potty...well...let's say I'm sceptical

I did a wee dance to encourage mine! Whenever they did a wee or poo they got to see me doing a ridiculous dance in front of them on the potty. It worked, but I always made sure I was out of the way of any windows so I couldn't be seen by anyone outside!

I used chocolate and stickers with mine.

I don't get what the problem with it is to be honest. You are not creating a rod for your own back, because you only need to use them for a very short time while they get used to breaking the habit of a lifetime and using something other than a nappy. It's not like they will be 15 and shouting down for a chocolate button after they have gone for a shit!

I thought everyone did that! Start with a button every time, gradually reduce. It only needs to be done for a week or two.

You get the same shite in dog training books too. Loads of praise is enough reward, they claim. Obviously neither my children nor my dogs read the books as the hard currency of food treats was required for them all.

The book worked great for me without rewards. But of course everyone is different. Do what feels right to you.

DS was just shy of 3 when we potty trained, and we did the chocolate button thing, which he didn't catch onto straight away. DD, who was 18 months, DID catch on...she would take her nappy off, wee on the potty, and hold out her hand...I hadn't even intended on training her for at least another 6 months!