I am a firm believer in using a little bit of bribery when potty training. It is one of those parenting moments when I say, "go for it" it it helps! Common bribes include candy, "forbidden toys", stickers, and even money. Some parents use sticker charts that help the child "save up" for a bigger prize. The bottom line is that you can let go of any 'parental guilt' involved with potty training. Bribe away and don't lose a moment's sleep over it!

Although bribery (aka 'positive reinforcement') works well for most children, some do better with verbal praise or even negative reinforcement. For your child, try, try, and try again until you discover his 'currency.' If something doesn't seem to be a powerful motivator, move on to something different. (Sometimes parenting just requires some good old common sense!)

Below is a sample 'sticker chart' commercially available product for parents to consider: