I did a lot of research to learn all about potty training. Moreover, I read several books and watched many potty training YouTube videos. I was able to participate in an online potty training class put on by my daughter’s child development center. Furthermore, maybe I did all that research so you don’t have to… Here’s the lowdown on how to potty train your toddler. It worked for me!
First Steps: How to Potty Train Your Toddler
Besides research via books and Youtube videos I also did the following:
- Check for signs she was ready.
- Shop for toilet training items (some of which I didn’t need)-See Below-
- Observed her bowel movements and peeing routine.
You can make a little potty training chart. Just check off or make little notes of either a BM or a Pee. The purpose is to track your toddler’s bathroom habit routine. A good time frame to start doing this is about a month or two before starting to train him/her.
This will help you to know about when your toddler is used to going. That way you know what time to put him/her on the potty.
Look for Signs your Baby is Physically Ready To Begin Potty Training
Signs a child might be ready physically to potty train might include:
- Being able to hold their pee and/or poo for several hours.
- He/she is able to undress or help dress themselves.
- Also, if they are showing interest in the potty.
- Being able to tell they have to go potty. Moreover, this might include doing the “potty dance” or other cues.
Look for Signs your Baby is Emotionally Ready to Begin Potty Training
The signs a child might be ready emotionally to potty train might include:
- The child might show the desire to please their parent.
- Also, you might observe them wanting to mimic or copy older siblings or parents’ bathroom habits.
- If they are verbal, they should be able to state they want to use the potty.
- You might notice your child hides when they poo or pee. They might also feel uncomfortable with a dirty diaper and asked to be changed.
What’s a Good Age to Start Training?
Generally, in the US, parents start to potty train their babies anywhere from 1.5 years to 4 years old.
When I officially started training, it literally took her (less than) 3 days to be get it down. It was worth it to me to wait until she was 3 years old. I didn’t have to deal with the “accidents” around the house. Unfortunately, I’ve heard parents who start younger toddlers have had to deal with this.
From what I have heard about potty training, if you start the child before 2 years old, there is a chance it might take the child longer to learn. I’ve also heard a doctor say that “there are many children who are still in diapers at 3 but rarely at 4”.
She does wear pull up diapers to bed but rarely actually pees in them at night. I have some waterproof bedding in case of night time accidents. Apparently, it takes children a couple of years (at around the age of 5) to be fully night trained to hold their pee while sleeping.
I should clarify that I actually thoroughly “pre” prepared my child for the actual official potty training. The day we actually took off the diaper is the “official” day of potty training to me.
What I did to Prepare My Child for Potty Training
I had been mentally preparing my little one for months in preparation for the day we would officially say “Bye-bye” to the diapers.
My baby was a little bit slower in regard to her speech milestones so I had to work with her on her speech. As she was communicating more at two years old, I was able to introduce the concept of the potty.
Things I did To Introduce the Concept of the Potty
- Reading children’s books in which the characters learn to go to potty.
- Watching cartoons in which the characters learn to go potty.
- Singing potty training songs together.
- Demonstrating by allowing her to watch me sit on the potty. While I did that I explained to her what I was doing.
- I would explain to her that everybody uses the potty. I made sure she understood this key concept. The only people who use diapers are babies. (Oh and some of our elders. But that’s besides the point right now).
Every so often, I would ask her if she was ready to potty train. Her answer was a consistent “No”. I felt this was a sign she wasn’t psychologically or emotionally ready.
However, I would tell her constantly that the day would come when we would say “bye bye” to the diapers and she would get her big girl underwear! The concept that she would be “graduating” to big girl underwear is key. This is a happy occasion and indicates she is no longer a baby.
Big girl underwear are some of the things that are recommended to buy for the purpose of potty training. There is a list of things actually.
Things I Bought For the Purpose of Potty Training
I bought her all of the toys that were recommended. Some of things I purchased we didn’t even use. I ended up just giving things away to my local “Free Stuff” Facebook group.
- The first thing I bought was a mini “toy” toilet that makes a flushing sound when you flush it. Note: We really didn’t use this as an actual toilet. She ended up using it for her dolls. Or at first, she would sit on it just to see what it felt like. I think these mini toilets are used mostly for smaller and younger toddlers. It’s easier to sit on these as compared to an actual toilet.
- I found a potty training doll on Amazon. This potty training doll came with a diaper, a little potty, a bottle, and a pacifier. This little doll actually can “drink” the water from the bottle and “pees” it out in the toilet.
- Not one but two toilet seats for potty training. One is for her grandparents’ house and one is for her home. The purpose of these is to help the toddler feel comfortable to sit on the toilet without falling in.
- A squatty potty stool for stepping on to get to the actual toilet.
- Additionally, I bought a third fold up toilet seat for when we go to a public restroom.
- I also bought her toilet seat covers for public restrooms. These cover just a bit more than standard toilet seat covers. You can’t flush these down the toilet. Note: These are not a necessity but are really nice to have in case there are no seat covers. Especially for not maintained toilets such at the park. They rarely have seat covers at park bathrooms.
- Poster for her Potty Training Chart. Also, we bought markers and stickers to decorate the chart.
- Little rewards such as little treats from the dollar store and/or one big reward if they fill out their chart
- Juice, water, water and more water.
Creating a Potty Training Chart (with Rewards)
When I researched potty training charts, I saw these very detailed examples online. There are some charts that list days of the week. One chart I saw had a picture of each step with a little place to put a star or sticker beside it.
I ended up just writing “Baby’s Potty Training Chart” on a poster. I explained to her each step of going potty. It started with pulling down her pants and ended with going to the potty. When she completed the whole task, she got one sticker to put on her poster.
Involve your Child in the Whole Process
It’s important to really involve your child in the whole process. I did by bringing her with me to pick out her potty training tools. We also happily created her chart together. She loved to choose her own sticker and put it on herself. Involving children in the decision making process allows them the space to really own the whole experience. It also gives them a sense of feeling more grown up as that is in fact what they are doing.
I also bought her some simple toys from the dollar tree that were wrapped up as gifts and told her she would get a gift at the end of each day of potty training. I ended up not even needing to use prizes as just the chart and the stickers were enough for her to be excited about.
Choosing the Right Time to Start Training
I chose to start training during a very relaxed weekend. It’s important to try to choose a time where you will be home with few distractions. Also, in general, try to choose a month where there aren’t a lot of stressful changes going on. Changes might include a new baby in the house, a move, taking a trip, starting a new school, etc.
After telling her for months that we were saying “bye bye” to diapers when she turned three. The weekend after her third birthday, I changed her into her “big girl panties” and we started the process.
First Day of Potty Training
Throughout the day I gave her a lot of drinks. She needed to produce the pee if she was to practice going to the potty.
It’s important in the first few days to sit your child on the toilet every 1-2 hours regardless if they produce anything.
Bye bye to diapers and pull-ups: The early childhood specialist who conducted the potty training class stated that the child has to feel the pee (or poo) and pull ups are not designed to allow that. She recommended having the child either in regular undies or else naked during this potty training period.
Steps to Going to the Bathroom:
These are the steps of using the restroom:
- Child realizes they have to go to the restroom.
- Makes it to the toilet in time.
- Pulls down their pants.
- Sits on the potty and goes.
- Pulls up their own pants.
- Flushes the toilet.
- Washes their hands.
Additional Tips:
Keep track for a few weeks of the times of days your child uses the potty. This will give you a good estimate of your child’s “potty routine”. You can use this information to know when to sit them on the potty.
Constipation issues are common when first learning the toilet. My remedy: Prunes, prunes, water, and more prunes. Of course exercise such as walking and movement will create bowel movements. (See my Constipation Remedy Recipe).
Please note: Sometimes you might have to stop training and wait for a bit for your child to mature and grow. This is common and perfectly normal.
If you have concerns, please talk to a medical professional.
Always Remember: Your Positive Attitude is Everything
Remember to always celebrate their successes not matter how small. Show your child you are overjoyed that they accomplished these steps or any of the steps in the process.
Reward them with a hug and praise. Do a little potty dance with them. It’s a fun and happy time of growth for all.
Please, please always have a positive, light attitude throughout the process. If there are accidents (and there will be) please don’t punish or let your child see you upset. Always remember to celebrate the victories!
Don’t let them feel bad about accidents, no matter how messy or frustrated you may feel. Deep breathing exercises are really helpful at this time.
This is One of the First Major Milestones
If you have concerns, please talk to a medical professional.
My baby’s “potty chart” is all filled up and we no longer need it. It’s a bittersweet moment. I mean, obviously I’m happy to not have to change another diaper. But it also marks another passing of a milestone in her life.
As always, Remember 2 Savor these moments. There might even be a time when you miss the diaper stage.
