Ask the Village: Best Potty Training Tips & Tricks

Welcome to Ask the Village where all of us moms come together to share our best tips, tricks, advice, and support to one another so we can all be each other’s village!

Today’s topic: potty training

Seems like everyone has potty training on the brain because it was the most requested topic we cover for Ask the Village! I’ve kinda been dreading this, but I know my son is nearing being ready. TBH he might be ready now, but we are about to move, so I’m going to wait until we get through that. If you’re thinking about getting ready, here are the best tips all the moms submitted! WE GOT THIS 💪

More Ask the Village posts found here!

Book+Approach Recs:

• Potty Training in 3 Days
• Oh Crap
• Big Little Feelings Potty Training Course

General Advice:

• Number one advice: WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE READY!! It will always go so much easier + quicker if you wait until they are ready. Don’t force it too soon.
• Zero pressure
• Hype them up BIG time once they go in the potty (positive reinforcement!!)
• Don’t take them every 30 mins day 1. Let them run around naked and once they start peeing pick them up and bring to the potty and explain pee goes in the potty. Introduce sitting regularly more on day 2.
• Figure out what works best for your little one – might be a little potty, might be a seat with a ladder for them to sit on the big potty, might be a seat on the big potty that you put them on. For boys, could be the baby standing potty. Follow their lead and go with what they’re most comfy with.
• Let them choose their own underwear so it’s exciting and fun for them.
• Make it fun: toys/books near the potty, have a fun potty song
• Read a lot of potty training kids books to help them prepare
• Watch Ms. Rachel’s potty training video to prep them
• If they’re hesitant to relax and go, put the potty in the bathtub filled with 1″ warm water
• Blowing bubbles with a straw cup helps them relax and go
• Sticker reward chart and get a fun toy
• Stay consistent even when you think you are getting nowhere, the breakthrough will come!
• Never let frustration get the best of you
• Accept that accidents WILL happen. Crucial to keep your cool in those moments!
• Get a travel potty for the car for peace of mind/ease
• You can start with putting them on the toilet when they wake up/before nap+bedtime
• Don’t ask them if they have to go (when starting), tell them
• Leave the potty out so they can get used to it
• Letting them have some control – we have to sit on the potty but you can pick the big or little potty, you can pick a toy to come with you, you can be naked or clothed, etc.
• Avoid doing it if completely alone (accidents will always happen once you stop watching!)
• Wear crocs or plastic sandals if you need shoes (much easier cleanup!)
• Don’t confuse them by putting diapers back on
• Plan to do it over a handful of days you can be home all day
• Cover any surfaces with large puppy pads to help with cleanup
• Bring the little potty to the living room/play room/wherever you are in the house most frequently
• Put their underwear in the diaper so they can feel themselves go, but the mess is more contained
• As much as the advice is to stick with it, if you can tell your little one is just not getting it, it’s OKAY to stop the training and go back to diapers and try again in a few months!!
• Stock up on Lysol wipes

Okay so you see everyone say wait until they are ready….but when even is that?! Well there are signs of readiness for your little one. There’s YOU being ready. And there’s making sure you don’t have any big changes going on (school, new sibling, a move, etc.). Some people potty train while their kid is 1, other’s when kid is 3. I would say if you aren’t sure, then they probably aren’t ready.

THIS article goes over potty readiness signs (and signs they might NOT be ready)

Best of luck to us all!! Report back on how it goes!