doesn’t want to praise. You do have to let your child know, in some
manner, that peeing on the floor is “not good” and on the potty is
“good.” I don’t recommend those words, but you must find a way to
convey the notion because otherwise, you’re teaching your child that
it’s okay to pee wherever, which is not what potty training is about.
I’m particularly fond of having the parent say, “You did it,” and/or
having the child say, “I did it!” This gives the success over to your
child as theirs and, for some kids, has more impact than standard
praise or mirroring.
Poop
Poop is a huge deal. HUGE. So huge, it’s got its own chapter (the
longest chapter in this book, actually). For now, though, let’s just
address the single biggest poop question I get, which is what to do if
you missed the poop or your child didn’t poop at all on the first day of
potty training.
Most kids show some sort of sign that they are about to poop, but
some can drop it like it’s hot. If you miss the poop that first day, it’s
okay—the whole process doesn’t fall apart. Get back on the horse.
Don’t let it undermine your confidence. Clean it up and say
something simple and to the point. This is where reflecting back to
the child is really helpful: “You pooped on the floor. Poop goes in the
potty. Sit on the potty to poop.” Simple and direct. You don’t want to
scold your child on this first day, but it’s very important that you
communicate in tone, voice, and body language what you expect.
This concept is brand-new, and your child needs to learn the rules of