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!

We had 'one for a wee, two for a poo.' Chocolate buttons.

Oh god yes do it.

I remember we had a special song. I can't remember it though.

Every kid is different and I tend to go for the 'go with what works for you' line
My eldest decided he was wearing pants and wouldn't go back, my youngest is a stubborn bugger and bribery was a good way to break the initial resistance.
He no longer gets a reward for each wee, we are now working towards pooing in the toilet, he only ever does a poo at home in a very limited set of circumstances so we know he has control but it's generally in his pants or nappy or once in his brother's shoe (definitely on purpose) so we are now working towards a week of all poos in the toilet and he will get the gruffalo soft toy he desperately wants.

I only know how to use the toilet now because my dad taught me with choccy buttons 36 years ago.

Oh we bribed with sweets- the novelty wore off after a week or so. Would do again if I had to!

I think food as a reward is always bad idea, and bribery in general doesn't sit well with me, but if you really need to do it I'm sure a few days/weeks of bribery isn't going to do any long term harm!

Hell, yeah - use whatever works - they won't be scarred for life!! My now 12yr old needed stickers, points on his reward chart, chocolate buttons...you name it!! 🤣

Dd got the idea fairly quickly for wees, but like many kids had to be bribed for poos with a smartie.

Our break-through moment potty training was when she and i went on a long train journey together to visit friends and i bought a packet of percy pigs on the station out of fear at the impending journey. Dd clocked them straight away and asked who they were for? I explained. She immediately said she would like to go to the toilet as the train pulled out of the station. For the rest of the week she was immaculately behaved and went to the loo at her own request whenever needed. She was toilet trained permanently after that holiday. God bless percy pigs

My dh is 52, Mil used to bribe him with a new Dinky car from the toy shop if he did a poo on the potty!

I think food as a reward is always bad idea,
Never did mine any harm and they are adults now.
The author of that book doesnt like bribery full stop, but she is a self proclaimed expert, with no professional expertise.

Bribes worked in our house, nothing else did

Used milky buttons and she was potty trained in 48 hours. Done.

I used pound coins but I’d sneak them back when she went to bed haha. If chocolate buttons work then go for it! I know someone who bought an expensive toy, put it on a shelf and said her dd could have it when she was potty trained, it worked but extreme!

Yep, chocolate buttons all the way here too...worked brilliantly!

I read that book, thought it all sounded great. Then I remembered that I actually know my child, so before I'd even started potty training I decided I wasn't going to follow that approach and would use buttons as rewards. DS potty trained very easily.

So funny that it worked for so many. Same story here. Thought DD2 would never stop having accidents. Bought a big bag of chocolate buttons and told her she'd get 3 every time she used the toilet. She was fully trained by the following morning!

I actually remember being bribed with M&Ms to sit on the loo as a child. And my brother too. And I have used the same method with my DCs. No word on what my parents were bribed with in the 50s - probably neat vodka or cigarettes.