Potty Training 101

Potty Training 101  

Training tips from a mom of 3, who has successfully toilet trained one boy, and one girl (so far!). 

Teaching a toddler to use the potty is an exciting milestone that can come with much stress and mess. But with time and patience, you can have a potty trained child before you know it. 

Is your child ready?  Many children will not be ready to train until they are at least 2 years old. And they need to have dry naps. Also, children who do not like being in wet/soiled diapers are typically ready. Children with special needs may take longer to train. Speak to your child’s pediatrician with any questions or concerns.

Tools

•  Potty seat
•  Baby wipes
• Pull-ups (for bed time) Do not rely on pull ups*
• Underwear
• Cleaning supplies (be prepared for accidents)
•  Rewards (chocolate chips, TV, stickers)

And begin: Have a Plan

Introduce the potty seat

Have fun underwear for the child to be proud to wear; many children will not like to ruin their Disney (or any favorite character) underpants

Say “we go pee pee and poo poo” on the potty

Let your child sit on the potty seat, even let them put their favorite doll on it

Be consistent, be patient. This will take some time, and there will be accidents. With both of my children, they learned and mastered pee pee first. Initially I rewarded them with MnM’s or chocolate chips. After a couple weeks, I didn’t have to reward them anymore for pee pee. They were happy enough to do it on their own.

Successful potty training also includes teaching your child proper hygiene. For boys, it’saiming their pee-pee into the toilet. For girls wipe front to back. And everyone must flush and wash their hands.

Potty Training my children Boy V.S Girl

Books of note: I used Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frankel (Boy and girl versions) to read with my kids

Boy

• Started at age 2, wasn’t ready. Delayed until 2 years 5 months
• Bought potty seat and underwear.
• Stopped using pull ups (except at night)
• Used MnMs as a reward.
• Went to nursery school at age 3 years 3 months. Fully potty trained, and able to pull up/ down his pants.

Girl

• Started months before the age of 2.  Bought potty seat, and switched to underwear. (Except at night)
• Wasn’t successful until age 2. Used chocolate chips as a reward. We still encountered accidents. Fully pee potty trained in 3 months, and was wearing underwear full time(except nights).
• Pooping. Many accidents, and after many underwear ruined, we wore pull ups for a week and started again. It took about 2-3 weeks to get her to tell me she had to go and then to sit on the potty to poop.
• Fully trained by 2 years 4 months. Dry naps and dry overnight.  

Tip: I always asked her if she had to pee when she woke up in the morning, after breakfast, after lunch, before her nap, after dinner, and before bed. They will typically have to pee 20 minutes after drinking, or after a meal.

Tip: Be prepared when you leave the house! Make your child go potty before you head out. Pack extra underwear, pants, pull ups, and wipes.

Any issues or questions talk to your child’s doctor. And be patient! 

14 Favorite potty training books to check out http://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/books/potty-training-books/?slideId=47527