Potty Training Tips That Make Sense

As a mom of two, I’ve learned that there’s no “right time” to potty train your kids. My oldest was almost two and a half when he was 100% diaper-free, and now, at 19 months, my baby is already interested in what everyone is doing in the bathroom. So, I bought him a potty and we are doing our own thing over here. I’m no expert, but here are some tips I’ve learned along the way:

Potty Prep

If your kiddo is showing interest in the bathroom, wanting a diaper change right after he poops or telling you that he peed, it might be time to get prepared for potty training. Let me set an expectation here: It’s not going to work right away because he has to be good and ready for the routine to actually stick. So, don’t stress — no kid is heading to college in diapers. To open up the conversation, surprise him with a new book about going potty and talk to him about what’s happening when he follows you to the bathroom. Once he can communicate with you and understand how his body feels, it will be easier for everyone.

Be Patient

Hey, it’s not a race. I’ve talked to plenty of mamas who went all-in over a weekend and pee in the potty worked like a charm, but poop was a whole other battle. Every kid is different, so you’ve got to tune into their cues and guide them from there. I thought we were late to the game with my oldest, so when he resisted after trying for the first time, we took a step back and waited a bit until he was more receptive. Now here I am with my second babe, and he’s (mostly) excited about it! Since he’s only 19 months, I’m just going with the flow, so to speak, and giving him some say in when he wants to go.

Be Consistent

You are already balancing so much, so adding one more thing to your plate can be tough. But I’m telling you, this part is so important. Start small so it doesn’t overwhelm either of you. I’ve started with having my son go potty right before nap and bedtime. He gets excited to dump his pee in the toilet and then flush it down, so I’ll continue to introduce more trips to the potty during the day that correlate with a specific activity. Whatever routine you’re doing at home needs to follow you out of the house too. Whether it’s grandma’s house or the grocery store, keeping things predictable for your kiddo is going to help your training to stick. Try to have him go before leaving the house and as soon as you arrive at your destination. That way, he’ll know there’s always a place to go even if you’re away from home.

Use Rewards

With my oldest, we did a sticker board in the bathroom. I bought every truck sticker book I could find and he got to slap one up there for a pee and two for a poop. He loved it! You can even try bite-sized candies like M&Ms, little toy collectables or a shiny new penny for each successful potty break. If your kiddo’s love language is words of affirmation instead of gifts, then simply cheering them on will let them know they’re doing a great job too.

Which potty to use

There are a lot of potty options for kids, but in my opinion, the simpler the better. Getting a bright-colored, music-playing potty is going to distract from the task at-hand. We went with a simple style from Baby Bjorn that’s not only easy on my eyes, but also no-nonsense for my son to use independently. When you’re tired of dumping poop into the toilet and then cleaning the baby potty, you can graduate up to a kiddie seat and ladder so he can do his business on the big potty.

Potty training boys

I’ve got three boys in my house, and I’ve trained all of them to sit when going to the bathroom. My six-year-old and my husband (yes, you read that right) sit to pee, and my littlest man will follow suit. Trust me, if you use this method, his future wife will thank you later. Worried about spash-back? Have them sit backwards — they’ll naturally aim down. If you’re one of those moms who enjoys cleaning the bathroom floor every day, you can always teach them to stand by having them aim at Cheerios or food coloring in the toilet. Sorry, that one is a hard pass for me.

Make it fun

New undies with Mickey Mouse on them? A watch that reminds you it’s time to go? A weekend at home to watch movies all day on a plastic-covered couch? Sounds like a blasty blast for your kiddo, right? However, as a parent, it can be stressful because you know there are going to be accidents and messes to clean up along the way. It’s up to you to keep it positive; kids always respond better when you are in on the fun too, but for your sanity during the process, grab some medical pee pads for the furniture and the car seat. They’re lifesavers.

Whether your kiddo is 18 months or three years old, potty training should go at a pace that’s comfortable for you and your child. Keep it simple. Trust your instincts. Give your child a voice in the process. Once they get it, you can toss that stinky diaper pail and never have to wipe their butt again!

Oh wait, I forgot — teaching a kid to wipe their own butt is a whole other story. Sorry, but you’ll be doing that for awhile, mama.