Potty Training Motivators

Try putting dishwashing detergent such as dawn in the toilet, so that when he goes it makes bubbles. My son loved that.

My son didn't want stickers on a chart - he wanted to wear them. Would that work for yours? Also, the stickers reflected something he loved - construction trucks. Good luck!

We didn't use any rewards - we acted happy and excited when he was happy and excited. I don't think external rewards are necessary - DS was very pleased with himself. Also - since we don't feed him candy or do stickers or rewards for anything else it seemed like a very foreign concept to me. I suppose technically getting to wear big boy underwear was a reward.

My son was not into the candy or stickers either. What worked for him was a high five and a big smile from mom. The other thing that helped him was seeing daddy go potty and he really liked the idea of "being a big boy like daddy". My daughter enjoyed a special "potty song" that we made up and we only got to sing it when she was successful on the potty.
Another idea might be a check mark chart. Tell him he has to get x amount of check marks and then he can....... go to the .......... (where ever he likes to go) to the park, the zoo, the dollar store and choose a small toy, help cook dinner, play a game on the Wii, etc.

I was never a big candy person but I figure ONE M&M or one chocolate chip wasnt a lot of candy! how 'bout Yogurt covered raisins or organic fruit snacks? or if you dont usually give sweet colorful cereal you could call that candy. A lot of experts recommend that we dont reward urination but reward Every time they SIT on the potty.

I myself, do not feel that rewards are necessary either. I always made a big deal about it by saying "great job, big girl etc." I did not force the issue, only simply reminded her several times a day to sit and try. I had heard before I had kids that they will go when they are ready and this concept worked for both of my children. Potty training was tons easier than some other milestones. Good luck!

It needs to be a very small immediate reward. You know your child best. At first, I gave my son potato chips just for sitting on the potty. Then when he peed or pooped he got 1 Annie's Organic Bunny treat. It's not candy I know my son loved them so much. He also loves fruit leather (like fruit roll up but no added sugar) and I use that as a special reward for doing something REALLY special. My son first just naturally without trying night trained first. He got no reward since that is just how his body works. Then came poop and of course he got rewards. Pee was the last and I told him that if he had no accidents for a few days he would get a toy. It was an intermittant reward system so he never knew when he would get the toy. It worked very well (as a second tier reward system) after giving him the gummy treat each time. After 2 weeks no accidents at all.

Maybe a trip to do something...camping?....bowling?...special movie??...new game???...depends on what motivates your child.

Maybe temporary tattoos? My son LOVES them, but the sticker thing worked fine for us. Or maybe if he does good ALL day and doesn't have an accident..a trip to the park or the library. Maybe a long term goal would serve as a constant motivator. For example: As soon as he can wear big boy underwear all day and not have accidents, you'll take him to the pet store to pick out a fish/turtle or something like that. Its more of an over-all goal instead of just day to day. I too wanted to avoid candy/cookies. I've heard of ppl putting cheerios or fruitloops in the toilet to let them pee on or "aim for" if he can stand while he pees. Another idea, if he cares about it, you could make popsicles out of 100% fruit juice and reward him with that when he goes. He'll be taking in more fluid which means more opportunities for using the potty! (to be warned: could result in diahrrea from too much juice). Maybe you could ask what he would like his reward to be and give him some options that you approve of. Good Luck :)

With my eldest, we had a bucket full of matchbox cars and every time he used the potty correctly, he got a car.

With my second son, NOTHING worked. He just "clicked" on to it one day and that was that.

Good luck!

We didn't use any rewards except a smile and a "Good job!" It worked fine.

We started out doing "potty cookies" as a reward (colored vanilla wafers--a very special treat since we don't eat sweets!) for sitting on the potty, but he wasn't quite ready at that point to train. We waited 2-3 weeks and discovered he LOVED opening presents, so we had a basket full of wrapped gifts from the dollar store, and every time he pottied he got to open one, and could only look at them when he was sitting on the potty. I think I had bought $10 worth, and within a few days he was trained. A HUGE motivator for him! I see nothing wrong with rewarding them for their hard work.

Every kid is different so you have to find what works for your child. With my first son he loved being with his Aunt. There are 4 kids between the two of us. She told him that as soon as he potty trained they would have a special day; just the two of them. The next week he was trained.
My second one turned 3 in April. He loves praise and stickers and I did both. Still wouldn't do it consistently. He can't wait to go to school so I told him he couldn't go until he was potty trained. As of last week he has been wearing big boy underwear.
I believe praise and a nice reward in the end works best. Just remember, they won't do it until "they" are ready so have some patience. Good luck!
Both of mine just decided one day they were ready and we haven't looked back:)