Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

The Egg that Trained My Toddler

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I know you’re looking at the title of this blog post and thinking… come again?

Truth be told, I spent a long time deciding whether it was actually an egg that toilet trained Reid, or if hard work, persistence and a positive attitude reigned supreme. In the end, I decided to give credit where credit is due…

All bow to the mighty KINDER Surprise. Delicious treat and toilet trainer extraordinaire.

Okay, I’ll elaborate. Early last year, I joined the #KINDERMom program with Mom Central Canada. If you’re so inclined, you can read some of my posts here and here. But the truth is, as much as I loved the concept of KINDER Surprises, my boys just weren’t that into them. They liked the chocolate and they were fond of the toys, but they could take it or leave it. In fact, a box of unopened KINDER eggs eventually made its way to the next door neighbour’s kids without so much a word of protest.

That was last year. Fast forward to this summer, and the magical discovery of YouTube. I know you’re going to laugh at my little guys, but their very favourite videos in the entire world are the ones dedicated to unwrapping KINDER Eggs. Think I’m joking? I wish! If I didn’t take the tablet away, they would literally squat in front of the screen for hours watching videos like this one while trading insight on the size and desirability of the toy. And then, at every shopping trip, the boys asked for a KINDER Surprise. (I suppose “asked” is putting it lightly. They threw tantrums until I finally threw two eggs in the cart.) I thought of all the KINDER eggs I had previously given away and wanted to cry.

So when the opportunity once again came to join the #KINDERMom program, I jumped at it. Because the idea of not having to buy the Eggs for the foreseeable future was very appealing to me, and my boys more than just like the Eggs now. They’re obsessed with them.

So, I got to thinking.

Toilet training was going slowly. V-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. And with Reid being the last one in the household who still dabbled in diapers, I was very motivated to put an end to it. Suddenly, I realized that KINDER Surprises are not only a treat; they’re also a reward. They reinforce good behavior, and they celebrate a child’s accomplishments, big and small. And after almost six months of grossly ineffective attempts to toilet train Reid, we considered his willingness to use the potty to be a BIG accomplishment. Hence, I bartered with him: using the potty throughout the day = 1 KINDER Surprise after dinner.

My husband scoffed at me. Here’s a boy who defiantly shunned all toilet training attempts for over half a year. And here I was, thinking the promise of a chocolate egg would change his mind?

Reid was fully trained 3 days later.

 Do you have a little one who loves KINDER Surprises as much as Reid does? I’m happy to share with you KINDER’s newest partnership – Disney Princesses and Marvel Heroes!

Two in three eggs within specially-marked KINDER Surprise packages will contain a Limited Edition toy. So, get ready for your little princess or superhero (or possibly a combination of the two) to get really excited over their new toys. There’s also a brand new section to the Toy Gallery on the KINDER Facebook page showcasing some of the featured toys, so you can browse the collection and vote for your favourites.

I’m thinking that toilet training in 3 days earns Reid a superhero status. We’re so proud of you, little man!

 I’m part of the KINDER Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.
The opinions on this blog are my own

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Comments

  1. Too funny that all it took in the end was a Kinder Egg lol (and persistance and a positive attitude!)…my son was ready and willing to train, but I had to bribe my daughter with a Baby Alive doll LOL!

    My kids are 6 and still plead for kinder eggs every time we’re at the checkout! I personally prefer the taste of the kinder chocolate bars – they are soooo good!

    • I LOVE that you used a Baby Alive doll to ease along toilet training!! And I used to have a KINDER Bueno addiction.

  3. We have watched that Kinder unwrapping video probably a thousand times. I’m so glad to learn that it’s not just my kid who’s obsessed.

  6. It’s cute that he was potty trained because of Kinder Surprise. What a story to tell his girlfriend when he grows up. I want to also mention: Reid’s eyes are popping. I believe he got that from you.

    • Thank you Trisha, yes, he definitely has my eyes. And you can bet I’ll have all sorts of stories for his future girlfriend… potty training ones included!

  7. lol…..if an egg works! He is a little cutie! Always have Kinder Eggs on my list to buy for special occasions for my nieces & nephews!

    • I absolutely agree with you. Every child is different – some need positive reinforcement, some need rewards, and some need a good old bribe.

  10. Kinder Eggs have always been on my list for Christmas stocking stuffers, Easter Bunny basket fillers and just as a treat every now and then. Why am I not surprised that Kinder Eggs worked for the potty training… :o) I am going to look for those 3-packs with the limited edition toys in them – (stocking stuffers are all I have left to buy for Christmas now).

    • I’m so impressed that you’re already done your Christmas shopping, Flora! I love the limited edition toys – they’re amazing quality!

      • I have a plan so that I am not in the shopping malls or stores after November 15th.
        It also helps with my budget so that I don’t end up spending major cash all at one time.
        After Christmas, I make up a “list” of names for “major gift items”, then through the year as things go on sale or I see something that would be “perfect” for someone, I pick it up and write it beside their name – so that I can keep track of who I still need to buy for (and remember who a particular item is for). Luckily, I don’t have any little ones to go snooping in my closets :o)
        Stocking stuffers get left until November :)
        Might not work for everyone, but it sure works for me.

        • That sounds like a solid plan – thanks so much for the tips! You’re a savvy shopper – my favourite kind!

  11. Such a sweet photo of Reid!! I have heard that it is more difficult to potty train boys than girls. Sara was beyond easy…I think my Mum bought her a toilet when she was maybe 10 months old…a bit of a rush I think! I am so proud of Reid and a great bonus gift of a Kinder Egg! Well done you! When Sara came grocery shopping with me there was usually a Kinder Egg on the list :)

    • I’ve also heard that boys are more difficult to train, but having two boys, had nothing to compare them to. Happy to hear your daughter trained so quickly – what a smart girl she is!

  12. Love this post! The egg also trained my daughter! :) I tried stickers, but that was short-lived. What really worked were Kinder Surprise eggs. ;)

    • Ah, so wonderful to hear! We tried stickers too, but yeah, they did little to entice him. Three KINDER eggs later, and he was trained!

  13. Kinder eggs have really come a very long way over the years, not that they weren’t cool way back when!! I still enjoy that neat suspenseful feeling I get when I’m unwrapping one and eating my way to the toy! I never used ‘candy’s/food” as rewards, I’m glad it worked for your little guy.

    • They absolutely have come a long way! And yeah, I think we all just have to do what works. After 6 months of ineffective training, I’m happy to have found something that worked!

  14. What a great idea! As a parent, you definitely have to “think outside the box” and it worked for you!

  15. My oldest son loves his Kinder eggs too, and like Reid, loves, loves, loves the unwrapping videos. I like the voice of the man who unwraps the Trash Pack eggs (and a few others)…he makes it exciting, lol!
    Kudos to Reid and to you for being a diaper free home

    • Hahaha I know exactly which video you’re referring to – isn’t that sad?? Thank goodness I’m not alone!

  16. I trained my oldest with dollarama toys I put in a box. every time she went she could pick a toy from the box soon it was like she clicked in and she decided to go a lot I mean a lot to the point where I said kisses were the prize now. My youngest trained actually at 19 mths just by going on the little potty every time her sister went. I couldn’t believe how she went from diapers one day to going on the toilet and dry nights so fast. she basically trained herself. I don’t know about boys they say they are much harder to train. I have no problems with bribery. I would be crying to thinking about all the eggs you gave away, but then I probably would have eaten them myself.

    • LOL I totally hear you, as now we’ve moved on to high five’s as the prize. I can’t believe your youngest trained at 19 months, way to go!

  17. Small bribes work for my son, but giving a chocolate each time …. that’s not too good for teeth and kids that young. Brushing each time after eating chocolate will just be another battle. I usually offer little toys and small books which have worked really well.

    • Totally agree! That’s why my bargain was using the potty throughout the day = 1 KINDER Surprise after dinner :)

  20. Hey Lena my daughter is in University and I still buy them for her (she likes the girl version eggs!!!)

  23. We have a little one coming up for training in a few month,we will be sure to have Kinder surprises on hand!