Myself Belts

With a potty training child, getting pants on and off can be tricky...especially when a belt is involved! So I was happy to learn of Myself Belts!

Easy for little hands to fasten and unfasten, Myself Belts uses velcro to stay put. And there are many great styles for little boys and girls (as well as adults who require assistance with fine motor skills, which I find to be a thoughtful extension of the Myself Belts company).

My daughter has the pink striped grosgrain ribbon belt and LOVES that she can work it on her own...and of course she loves that it's pink!

Visit myselfbelts.com to see all of the great prints, fabrics, styles and colors available...there truly is something for everyone! Belts start at $14.95.

Baby Bjorn Potty Training Products

When my son first started potty training I looked for the best possible products to purchase and quickly found that Baby Bjorn, the name I trusted from my infant carrier, also provided potty training gear. And not just any potty training gear...products produced by a company (in Europe) that had clearly thought of everything!

Baby Bjorn potty training items look great (that's where the European connection never fails); kids are drawn to the colors while parents appreciate their modern and sophisticated angles and designs. Each product is made of PVC-free recyclable plastic and is Bisphenol-A (BPA) free. They are also all very useful...read more about each product's details below.

My first Baby Bjorn potty training item was the Potty Chair, the larger stand-alone "toilet." I thought my son would like to have his own special chair. It arrived and I quickly noticed the non-skid bottom and the easy-to-remove basin which I thought would be easy to clean. My son took to the vivid color right away and started sitting on it with his clothes on as a chair just out of the box. I thought, "Between me and Baby Bjorn, potty training should be a breeze!"

I called my mother to tell her the good news and she brought to my attention the fact that I would have to repeatedly use the aforementioned easy-to-remove basin...something I thought about for a half-second and decided against. Not to mention that I'd have another transition to get my son through from potty seat to real toilet. And I didn't see the additional step necessary...but each child is different.

So I quickly got on the computer and ordered a Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer, the toilet seat insert. It arrived and was just what I had envisioned...it was great looking, had a handle for me to hang it next to the toilet, had a knob on the back to adjust it specifically to my toilet seat size, along with a non-skid rubber ring on it to hold it securely in place! Toilet training perfection! Well, at least the seat was perfection during the process...I can't say the same for my son and me!

For those of you in the Small Potty Camp, I suggest you also purchase the Little Potty to keep in your car, take on vacation or to keep at Grandma's house...and for only $9.99, the peace of mind that you always have a potty nearby is very comforting!

And for those of you in the Toilet Insert Camp, I suggest you also purchase the Safe Step. With it's non skid bottom and top, you don't have to worry about your child slipping when water inevitably falls on it during hand washing.

I know many of you are about to depart on the toilet training adventure this summer...and my first-hand experience recommendation is to purchase the Baby Bjorn toilet training products. And I wish you the best of luck.

Just remember, toilet training, like all other parenting milestones, despite seeming to take FOREVER, will be over in a blink of an eye. And if you're like me, you'll look back and think, "Now why was I so worked up over that?" And then you'll move on to another parenting obsession...or is that just me?

Baby Bjorn potty training items are available at babycenter.com where they are offering Free Shipping when you spend $49...simply enter coupon code FREESHIP49.

Pride From Within

A friend and I were talking about our children over a glass of wine a month or so ago. We were discussing the different struggles we've had since becoming mothers and how our theory of deliberately parenting for the long-term is much more difficult than simply being a parent each day. I mentioned an article I read that struck a chord with me when my son was potty training. The author prescribed telling your child "You should be proud of yourself" instead of "I'm proud of you."

It may not seem like a profound difference at first glance, but I believe there is a significant life lesson for children (and ourselves) when the focus is on pride from within, from one's own accomplishments.

Thinking long-term, a child who is looking for others to be proud of him/her is dangerous. All you have to do is think about the peer pressure waiting for your child when they attend school. Don't you want to instill confidence beginning today?

I took the advice from the article and put it to use months ago. And when my son called his grandparents and said in an excited voice, "Guess what Nana, I'm potty trained. I'm so proud of myself!" I have to be honest, I was proud of him...and proud of myself for passing along a lesson I hope will be with him all of his life.