I’ve had a lot of conversations lately with friends and random strangers at stores on how to potty train effectively and my potty training tips. As most parents can agree, we learned by lots of trial and error with our first son!
We tried different reward systems and toilet methods and we found out what works best. Here’s our list of the DO’s and DON’Ts of potty training.
DO the Naked Method
Naked is best! It allows you to learn and read the signs your little one makes when they have to potty. It also helps you quickly rush them to the toilet for the big show! Also⦠less soiled laundry the week of training!
DON’T Use a Small Potty
You could agree or disagree with me on this one. Lots of kids we know used the small toilet and trained just fine! The problem with using a small children’s potty or toilet is that your child might expect that everywhere. Our child was scared to use the bigger toilets when we were at someone else’s house, restaurants, stores, etc. He only wanted to potty on his small potty. Unless you plan to carry around a huge bag and tote the toilet around with you everywhere, skip this item and go straight to a regular toilet. You could choose to use a child seat insert over your toilet bowl seat or teach your little one how to balance themselves and where to place their hands and just use the toilet.
DO Wait to Train Over a Long Weekend or Break
Try to plan your training around a holiday break. Especially if your household does not have a SAHM or SAHD, you will need a few uninterrupted days for the naked method to be successful.
DON’T Use a Device to Entertain While Sitting
This one is important! Don’t use a device to sit and try to potty. Children are smart little humans and will figure out how to manipulate the system. Our son would say he had to poop and then would just sit on the toilet ALL DAY to watch his favorite youtube videos. He then had some meltdowns when we took our phones away permanently once we were onto his game. Skip this step! Help your child learn their body signs for when they need to pee or poop and get them there quickly.
DO Incentivize and Pump It Up!
If being loud, screaming, and doing the happy potty dance isn’t your style, fake it till you make it! Incentivize and pump it up! Whenever you child uses the potty the first few days of training, make it the biggest deal ever.
Some people give food as a reward…some parents are strongly against this. Either way, do what is best for your child and your family. We buy a large bag of m&m’s to incentivize. We give 2 m&m’s for peeing and 5 for going poop. After a while we scale it back to just 1 for both and then quickly take it away all together. This way, our recognition is praise enough and then it is just the expectation that we use the bathroom every time we potty. It also helps for daycare since most won’t do your reward system you do at home.
DON’T Scold for Accidents
Don’t be so quick to scold for going in places other than the toilet the first few days. As they are learning, say good job feeling your body signs but next time, let mommy and daddy know right away so we can get to the bathroom quicker.
DO Invest in an Amazing Stool or Ladder
If you take nothing else from this post, take this advice! The stool that is below the toilet is a game changer. Your child will make it or have an accident depending on how fast they can get to AND sit on the toilet.
When we moved into our new house, there was a shower seat left there. We sanitized it and it is the best stool or ladder we have tried! The secret is that it is a wider base than every other potty stool or ladder. This gives your little one more room to stand up, turn around, and sit. Once the training period is over, this wider base will also help while they are taking off their pants so they don’t fall off the stool. We got a lot of bruises by falling off smaller stools.
DON’T Rush Potty Training
Don’t rush the training. Our first so finally got it on the THIRD attempt two months before his 3rd birthday. We were in a rush because he had to be trained for his daycare before he moved up to the 3 year old room. I know a lot of moms have that same pressure so don’t worry. It will only take a few days to train once they are ready.
Our second son who just turned 2, knows his cues andhas been trying to go on the toilet for a few months now. Realistically, I know he won’t actually be ready to train until 2 1/2. He is expressing interest quicker because he sees his older brother using the toilet and tries to do everything that his brother does!
I hope this post helps you prepare to potty train your little one! In the comments section below, please write other DO’s and DON’Ts you found helpful in potty training!