We’ve taken the leap into the potty training world! The exciting, scary, overwhelming world of potty training. Although we’re potty training our first child, this is our second go-round at it.
When Katherine was almost 2, I decided to give it a try. She was showing a lot of interest, and I thought it might be time. As excited as she was when she had success, she was definitely not ready for actual potty training. And neither was I. Even though I had a basic framework in mind, I had no idea all the ways I needed to be prepared.
Even though we quit about 24 hours in the first time, I learned a lot about what I needed to do – or not do. So, I’m actually glad we did it.
Now, here we are again. Certainly, there’s a lot of learning still to come in the days, weeks, and months ahead. But there’s something about those first 48 hours. Maybe it’s the nerves going into it. But for me, there’s something really important about setting yourself up for success in those first days. It gives me the courage to keep going.
So, in light of that, I want to pass on what I’ve learned so far. All the practical details. I had no idea before about the actual logistics of potty training. Like what needs to be where in order to get through the day with smiles. My hope is it helps you set yourself up for success with your kiddos too. Here are my tips 48 hours in to this world of potty training!
Consider it a parenting milestone for you too.
I read somewhere a while back about how a big part of potty training is parents letting go of control. I’ve definitely found this to be the case. So, remember this is a milestone for you too. Just as your child will be practicing new habits, so will you.
Buy a bunch of underwear.
Not a single 6-pack like I started with the first time. When you think you’ve bought enough, buy one more pack. Enough said! (And I got fun packs with her favorite characters. A must!)
Introduce the potty earlier.
Katherine’s been familiar with the potty now for a year. At times, she’s used it daily. Then, she would go weeks without asking to use it. We’ve let her take the lead. And we celebrated any success with treats (see below). I haven’t found this to be a hindrance to potty training at all. If anything, familiarity has made it easier because she knows what to do – it’s just a matter of making it a habit to do it all the time. A few weeks prior to potty training, we started talking more about it. Things like, “Pretty soon, you’ll be using the potty every time!”
We also talk openly about bathroom stuff like it’s all normal and comfortable to talk about. It’s funny the things you realize you don’t usually talk about as an adult! So, yes, she knows what we do in the bathroom too. We want her to know it’s completely normal and nothing to feel awkward or uncomfortable about. And sometimes she offers us treats too – a win for everyone! Haha!
Have potty options.
On that note, have a child potty as well as a way for your child to use the big potty. I’ve found Katherine uses both, so it’s nice to have the option. (Here’s the child potty we have. You can see part of it in the photo above. Katherine loves the songs and flushing sounds. And the songs are cute and catchy enough that it’s not too annoying to have them stuck in your head forever!) For the big potty, she just uses her step stool to get to it. We have one of those child seats you can set on the potty too. I’m glad we have it, but she usually doesn’t want it.
Watch the Cocomelon Potty Training Song together.
Here’s the link. You can thank me later! It’s catchy, your toddler will remember it, and it gives you fun phrases to aid you in your potty training journey.
Have stocking stations.
Keep supplies handy. If you have a 2-story house where you’ll be using a bathroom on each level, keep some underwear in each one. I have hers in drawers. Easily accessible for Katherine but not super visible. I didn’t want to send the message that I lacked confidence in her abilities. For pants, I’m keeping them all in her room (again to send a message of confidence), although you could certainly stock those too.
Start on a weekend.
Or whenever you’ll have someone else who can help. Having 2 sets of hands is super important. This way, potty training continues on its routine in the midst of caring for other children, meal prep, or whatever else you have going on. It also can give you a break if needed. We started on a Saturday when my husband and I were both here all day. Not only was this helpful on day 1, but it helped me know how to prepare for when I’d be doing this solo. On that note, make sure you’re going to be home all day for a few days also.
Do laundry the night before you start.
This helps make sure you have plenty of clothing for the next day. You don’t want to have to keep doing laundry loads throughout the day. Then, do your child’s laundry each night – whether it’s a big load or a small load. We ended up with more laundry after day 2 than day 1 (and it looks like we’ll have more after day 3). I think this is pretty common as you and your child keep progressing and learning. Keep yourself prepared.
Make it a big deal.
Katherine likes to have a heads up about change. So, we excitedly told her about this milestone step the night before. We were excited and confident. No sign of nervousness visible on our faces at all. After she went to bed, I put some underwear in a gift bag and put it on the potty so she could open it the next day. She was really excited to see all the designs and choose which one to wear.
Set a timer.
Honestly, it’s more for you than for your child. I couldn’t keep up with the time frames any other way. But Katherine quickly realized also that the timer meant potty time, so it was helpful for her too.
I’ve heard a lot of people do time frames in the 10-30 minute range. We did 20 minutes on day 1 and 25 minutes on day 2. Katherine had a lot of success with those time frames. (If she didn’t have success, I set the timer for 10 minutes.) We toyed with 30 minutes, and it was often too long. Remember, once the timer goes off, it takes a few minutes to stop playing and get to the potty. It’s a whole new concept to stop in the middle of play. So, whatever time you choose, it will probably actually be 5 minutes longer. Once potty time ends, the timer restarts.
For us, it was a balance of finding a time where (1) she would often have success and (2) she had a good amount of play time in between. If she felt like she was always stopping to go to the potty, it was frustrating for her.
Alongside the timer, we stop for potty time before activities begin. So, we stop before going outside and before meals. That way, the day isn’t too disjointed where you’re having to go inside after 5 minutes because the timer went off. We’re talking about “listening to your body” to know when to go, but the timer is still key.
Reward.
I’m a huge fan of incentives on-the-spot. So, we are giving Katherine candy when she has success. Usually chocolate chips or M&M’s. She gets 2 or 3 depending on which kind of success, if you get my drift!
On that note, make sure you are well-stocked too! You deserve treats for all of your efforts. I’m eating Sno-Caps as we speak.
Keep diapers for sleep.
We’re potty training during awake time. Still using diapers for sleep. We’ll cross that bridge later.
Keep it relaxed.
Yes, it can be stressful. Yes, there’s a lot to it – for both of you. For us, we’re doing this along with having a 5-month old. It’s not easy. But, the more relaxed and confident I am, and the more I ride through the successes and misses (knowing that it’s all fine and normal), the better this will be for Katherine – and for all of us.
I’d also recommend reading the Moms on Call section on potty training. (You knew I couldn’t talk about a child’s milestone without talking about my favorite baby book!) It helped me with an initial framework. Then, we tweaked it for our family. And I’d also talk with your pediatrician. Ours really helped us to know when to take this leap. That’s all for now! I’m sure I’ll have more to say later on about this. Here’s to a successful, happy potty training experience for all!
