Potty Training Tips

5 potty training tips to help ease the pain of potty training toddlers

What's that? Did I just hear the sound of another loaded diaper? Are you ready to get rid of diapers completely and save money!? Before we go any further, how do you know if your toddler is ready? When your child is ready for the next big step, they're going to show you signs. For instance, my toddler would tell me right after she peed or pooped in the diaper at just about 18 months. We had to start potty training her early because she learned to take the diapers off every morning and after every nap. (Now Imagine that cleanup -_-) She was also waking up from nap dry, so we gave in and just started her early (by early I mean young - she was definitely showing signs). Your toddler may also be ready if they hide to relieve themselves, pull on their diaper once they've gone, having a dry diaper longer than usual, and/or copying potty using behaviors. Whether your child is 18 months (like mine was) or 3 years old, they all have accidents and make mistakes. This is a learning curve for all of us, so remember to be patient.

Whether you have been potty training for a few weeks or just getting started, the potty training tips below should help you no matter where you are in your journey. I have listed the top tricks I found personally helped us the most when we were potty training our daughter and hope they can be just as helpful for you.

Potty Training Tip #1 - Let them guide you

Once your toddler starts showing some signs, start the journey. You want to strike while the iron is hot because they are beginning to show signs of being uncomfortable. You're going to want to take advantage of that and use it to potty train. Start buying potty seats, portable potty seats, and underwear. Get them excited about potty training, so they feel confident and supported. Let them in on the process, so they have something to look forward to.

Let them guide you. Sit them on the potty for a few minutes a day, until they begin to feel comfortable. Do NOT reward them if they have not done anything on the potty. This will cause confusion when they actually do use the potty. You want your child to feel comfortable and confident using the potty. If your child is not responding well to sitting on the potty or is getting increasingly frustrated, take a break for a week or so and try again. This may indicate your child is not ready yet and that's ok! Do not push the potty when they are not ready, as this may prolong the process in the long run.

Potty Training Tip #2 - Do NOT use a pull-up

When you start to sit them on the potty, do not use a pull-up. Use underwear or nothing at all. I noticed with the pull-up, it was too similar to a diaper and she would regress. Let them get uncomfortable with the feeling of an accident. This may require more cleanup at first, but they tend to learn faster. As my daughter learned to go to the potty on her own, I would reward her with underwear. If she had an accident with the underwear, I would remove them again. She didn't like not having the underwear on, so she learned to pay attention to the feeling of needing to go.

In the beginning, I would use a pull-up strictly for long car rides or places I knew bathrooms were not easily accessible (pumpkin picking, amusement parks). Once I noticed she would remain dry, I used the pull-up only for naps and nighttime. According to MayoClinic, "Nap time and nighttime training typically takes longer to achieve. Most children can stay dry at night between ages 5 and 7". This may not be the case for your child. Some kids take longer and some may grasp the concept quicker. However, if you are going to try and potty train during naps and nighttime, I would recommend getting a few (at least 2-3) waterproof mattress covers similar to these. When one is in the wash, you have a back-up that can be used right away.

"Nap time and nighttime training typically takes longer to achieve. Most children can stay dry at night between ages 5 and 7." – MayoClinic

Potty Training Tip #3 - Be Consistent

Here comes the hard part. Just like any other habit, potty training must have consistency. Incorporate this new routine into the other existing routines you have in place (e.g. morning, lunchtime/nap, bedtime, etc.). All kids do well with consistent actions. They need consistency and repetition to learn, as they have no other way of communicating. They don't understand why they need to sit on a potty to relieve themselves because they spent the last few years using a diaper. Explain how they are becoming big girls and boys and need to learn to use the potty, just like you do. Whenever I had to use the restroom, I would take my daughter with me (or she would just follow) and sit her down on her potty. I wanted her to see that it was normal and mommy does it too.

The first few days are the hardest, but after about 2 to 3 days you begin to see progress, as long as you're consistent. At this point, they should be familiar with the feelings of needing to go and should communicate that to you. There are things I should point out. Some children will not poop when you first start potty training. That is normal. Luci would hold her poop for days until her body wouldn't let her anymore. Eventually they will need to go. Pay attention. If you see a change to their number 2 schedule, get them some probiotics to help them go. Be sure to stick to the routine no matter what. If you want to go for a walk or to the store, sit them on the potty before. Once you get to the destination, take them to potty. No matter where you are, go potty before you leave and after you arrive. Portable potty seats are super convenient and help keep you consistent. The portable potty seat we used is here from Amazon. Get them comfortable with using public restrooms because it will alleviate accidents. Get some sanitizing wipes to keep the seat clean and keep them in a bag with an extra pair of clothes (just in case).

I also used consistent phrasing. Not everyone uses the term "potty". Whatever phrase you choose to associate with using the bathroom, stick to it! When Luci would have an accident, I would just say "no peepee panties, peepee potty" and reiterate, "where do you do peepee? The potty". Next time, she would catch herself in the middle of an accident and repeat the phrase. Like I mentioned above, they are bound to have accidents and that's OK. With consistent phrasing and actions, she at least understands what she's supposed to do and we can only move forward from there.

Potty Training Tip #4 - Be creative and REWARD

Stickers! Stickers! Stickers! You cannot go wrong with stickers to reward your kids after they go potty. I would double or triple the stickers for number 2's (to make it more fun). You do not have to use stickers, but they get kids excited and they're cheap. You can find so many different potty charts online to help keep track of how potty training is going. Get creative! Number 2s were a bit harder for Luci, so I would give an extra reward when she would go number 2 without an accident. She loves books, so I one time I gave her a book about using the potty and another time I gave her a Cocomelon coloring book from the dollar store. You are the parent. You know what they're into and what they like. I would just recommend not rewarding with treats because that can lead to other issues down the road.

Potty Training Tip #5 - Be Patient

Be patient to yourself and be patient to the little one. Make it fun for them and it will be fun for you. Enjoy the moment and remember they will only be this little once. If you make it stressful for them, they will not enjoy it and they will regress. Get them excited about being a big kid, even though you may not be so excited on the inside (tear). Be their biggest cheerleaders, radiate confidence, and they will surprise you!

Don’t worry, you got this!

Teamwork makes the dreamwork. Work WITH your littles to make a positive transition into this new routine. Potty training may seem intimidating, stressful, and just overall bad. You are not alone in this process! There are so many resources and potty training accessories to make your life so much easier and convenient. Subscribe below if you want more mama tips. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions or want to share some stories/advice of your own. We're in this together!