Getting Them to Go at Grandma's
Grandma's house can feel like a second home to kids, or it can feel... well, not quite right. I've been there myself, where my little one just couldn't relax enough to use the bathroom. So here's a quick fix that worked: start by letting them bring a familiar bathroom item. You'd be surprised how a simple Paw Patrol step stool can remind them of home.
You'd think kids would adapt to using any bathroom, but it's not that straightforward. New environments can disrupt their routine. Maybe it's the wallpaper that looks like it's from the 70s or the new, unfamiliar soap.
1. Familiarize the Environment: Once you arrive, take your child to Grandma's bathroom. Say, "This is where you'll go potty. See, it's just like home." Show them the toilet handle and how the flusher works (because you never know, right?).
2. Incentivize: Set small rewards for using the bathroom. "If you use the bathroom here, we'll have a cookie later." Whatever works as a little bribe — I mean, incentive.
3. Stay Close: For the first few times, stay close by the bathroom door. I once ended up sitting outside the door with a toy tractor just to make the process less frightening.
4. Use Humor: Make it fun. As silly as it sounds, tell a joke or sing a goofy song when they're inside. "Let's do the potty dance!" I admit, my singing is awful, and my dancing is worse.
A Real Example
So, one time, we're at Grandma’s. I say, "Want to try the bathroom? I brought your favorite towel!" They say, "No!" I calmly reply, "Let's try it for two minutes — we can go back if you don't like it." Slowly, they agreed, and a few minutes later, we were doing the aforementioned potty dance.
Ending Note
This won't fix everything, but it's a start. Sometimes, all you can do is try one small adjustment at a time. And, honestly, sometimes I still mess it up. The trick is to keep your cool or, well, sort of.