Potty training your kiddo is bittersweet. It is bitter because it can be a grueling process (poopy pants, anyone?), and it is also a sign that your baby is no longer a baby. However, it is sweet because you will soon be able to skip adding diapers to your grocery list. It is also sweet to see your little one is growing more independent. If you are a first time parent who is looking for some potty training tips, you are in the right place!
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When my son turned 2.5, I felt TONS of pressure to begin potty training him. Every other child I knew around his age was already potty trained. There were even kids younger than him that were working on it! I felt like a huge slacker mom because my son wasn’t potty trained.
But I knew in my mommy heart that it wasn’t time.
Did I listen to my mommy heart? Nope. I was 8 months pregnant and decided that I needed to start training my son. It was a disaster. We worked for three days. He didn’t have one single success. I quit.
Then, when he was almost 3, I decided to try again. I made a fancy potty chart, got stickers and candy, and starting setting a timer to go to the potty. After a few hours, that timer was the sound of an epic meltdown starting. He would scream and cry about sitting on the potty. After a day or two, we quit.
I remember lamenting to my mom that I would be changing my son’s diapers forever. He had NEVER peed in the potty, even on accident. He wouldn’t even sit on the little potty to listen to a story. He wanted no part of any of it and no amount of candy or toys was going to change his mind.
A couple of months after he turned 3, I woke up one morning and decided it was P DAY. It was going to happen. Surprisingly, the sweet little boy cooperated. I told him he could bring the potty in the living room and drink “coffee” (chocolate milk in a mug) while watching TV naked. You know, livin’ the dream.
We had two accidents that morning. Then, he dribbled a little in the potty. I jumped up and down and did a little dance. He looked up at me and said, “That’s all you have to do?”. And that was it. He had to decide he was ready.
So, here are my tips for potty training success. Please learn from my mistakes! We had LOTS of accidents and LOTS of tears before he was ready.
5 Tips for Potty Training Success
TIP #1 – Don’t Rush It
Many parents make the mistake of rushing both into the potty training process, and the process itself. However, this can be a huge mistake. Potty training is something that is not to be rushed. When your child is showing signs of recognizing when they pee in their diaper, then maybe it is time to consider potty training. However, keep in mind that just because a child is showing signs of readiness, does not mean it is the best time to begin. If there are any major family changes (birth of a sibling, travel plans, a parent going back to work, etc.) it may be better to wait. DON’T RUSH IT.
TIP #2 – Rewards are a Must
Shouting, “Hooray!” clapping your hands, and celebratory dances are all fine and dandy, but also consider a physical reward of some sort. Perhaps keep a stash of dollar store toys in a basket to choose from, a penny to put into their bank, or a sticker chart that your child can fill up as they start using the potty. A physical reward in hand is generally more enticing than a verbal, “Good job!”. A friend’s son loved choosing M&Ms from a jar. My son is honestly the only kid that I know that wasn’t into the potty reward.
TIP #3 – Create a Bathroom Library
You certainly do not have to store your books in the bathroom, but make sure to grab some books as you head into the bathroom each time. If you have books about children learning to potty, the bathroom is a great place to read them! There is nothing more boring than sitting on the potty and staring at the paint on the wall. Young kids will lose interest quickly, especially when they know all of their toys are outside the bathroom waiting for them. So grab some books to keep your child occupied, and before you know it, you will both be hearing the sweet sound of success!
TIP #4 – Potty Seat or Mini Potty?
As if you have not had enough choices to make about parenting already! Now you have to stand in front of the miniature potties and potty seats at the store, and decide which one is better. While each kid is different, either should work just fine! We opted to get a cheap one of each and let our son decide what he liked better. However, be sure to choose a simple potty or seat. You do not want your child getting distracted by all of the bells and whistles.
TIP #5 – Always Try Before Heading Out
Whether your child thinks they have to pee or not, make sure to have them sit on the potty before you leave the house. Having to hold it in is new for your child, and they may not even realize they have to go. It’s also a good idea to have them try before leaving a store. Better safe than sorry!
…And One Bonus Thought
Again for the people in the back! If your child just isn’t having success, put the potty away and try again in a few months. My son showed all the signs of readiness the first two times we tried potty training, but it just didn’t work out. He wasn’t ready yet. At the end of the day, your child will not go off to college in diapers. And when they’re an adult, no one walks around bragging about what age they were potty trained. That’s just weird. So if your child is scared of the potty, has not had any successes, or is not interested at all, there is NO SHAME in waiting.
Are you a potty training veteran? What advice would you give? Share in the comments!
