Potty Training Essentials
- Rachel Hamilton
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
I've had a lot of friends asking about potty training lately, so here's a long overdue new post. There are a TON of methods. My best advice is to pick one, fully commit, and then know that there will be hiccups, bumps, and regressions no matter what. There is no magic. It's not 'one size fits all'. And a lot of the time it's just trial and error to figure out what works for your child, and then (hopefully one day soon) it just clicks.
Here is a list of my favorite thing's you'll need to get you started.
The right potty is one that is easy to clean. Too many pieces can be cumbersome. I like this one piece top to empty and clean. It's also easy to take to different rooms or purchase a few if you're able so you'll have a potty easily accessible in different rooms (yes, even the living room if you're that committed...)
Pro-Tip: After cleaning, line the bottom of the basin with toilet paper. It easily dumps into the toilet this way and is less of a hassle to wipe the basin clean.
You may prefer a seat that sits directly onto the potty. Some kids can manage this easily and others may find it challenging. I like the ones with the stools already attached. This is great if your child has a dedicated potty bathroom.
Cleaning Supplies: Self explanatory. Just keep these next to the potty to help with clean up.
Training Underwear - You want absorbent, not wicking. You want them to feel the sensation of wetness, but the absorbent catches more.
Pro-tip: Line the underwear with a disposable pad/cloth for easy clean up! The ones made for cloth diapers work well. This brand has an adhesive strip that I wish I had to try back in the day.
Boy Moms - get this. I mean simply for the novelty factory alone. But my boys LOVED it! We rinsed it in the tub/shower most of the time.
Travel - oh the dread. But this item made it easier. We had one in each car and it went on trips with us too. The bags make for easy disposal on the go.
Honest Flushable Wipes - great for on the go and in every bathroom.
Piddle Pads for the car seat:
INCENTIVES! The favorite at our house was Mini M&Ms. Then we moved to Dum-Dums. When we needed to really increase the rewards I went to the dollar store and got a bunch of little toys and put them in a bucket. He could choose 1 every time he went poo-poo. I'm not a fan of sticker charts and I believe most behavioral therapist will say to avoid them. Unless your child just loves stickers and this method, you want an instant gratification reward that they will want to get.
Talk it up. Get the books. Set the timers. Sing the silly songs.
Pro-tip: Sensors are a nightmare for potty training. You can cover them with post-its or toilet paper to help with the fear factor from unexpected flushing. We also had to carry noise canceling headphones into public restrooms for my sound sensitive kid.
Wishing all of you the best of luck! Just remember, give your kid and yourself some grace. It's a process...
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