Below are the top 5 potty training tips from a fellow mom and a certified potty training consultant. I asked Odette Tebele, of The Potty Mommy LLC., to help my mom’s out. When it comes to potty training, especially as a first time mom, it can be overwhelming. Having a few pointers can make all the difference. Below you’ll find her top tips for making it through this journey.

POTTY TRAINING IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST DAUNTING MILESTONES IN A CHILD’S LIFE – TO BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE!

Think about it: For the first couple years of their lives, children never had to think about when they had to go, how their body felt when they did, or if it was an okay time- they just did it, simple as that! Fast forward and before you know it your child is ready to be potty trained. What do you do? Where do you start? Do you listen to your pediatrician, your mom, your friends, maybe none, maybe all of them??

As a mom of two myself, I know that this process is intimidating! I potty trained my own daughter as well as a number of clients. But as a potty training consultant, I also know it can be better than we expect it to be!

I’ve rounded up my top five tips to make potty training as smooth and positive of an experience as possible:

TOP 5 POTTY TRAINING TIPS – CREATE A COUNTDOWN

We don’t always realize this but half of the battle (if not more) of potty training is being mentally prepared. Like I said, this is a huge change for everyone and mentally preparing your child and yourself is so important.

The best way to do this is to create a countdown to no more diapers/pull-ups. Make it about a week before you begin full on potty training. This should be something visual, like a calendar or a chart that you and your child can physically mark off together each day. Then, show them that they are one day closer to making the change. When we do this, our children know that a change is coming, and the more they expect it, the more likely they are willing to be open to it.

OFFER BOTTOMLESS TIME

For the first day and a half of potty training, it can be super helpful to have your child stay completely bottomless. These first few days are usually spent at home focusing on potty training anyways. And going commando really helps to accentuate the body’s sensations.

Being bottomless also helps parents notice any cues that their child may have to go, or that they are about to have an accident. This can help point out those cues to them and get them to the potty quickly. However, it is important not to offer too much bottomless time so you don’t run into accidents once clothes are reintroduced. Transition slowly from being totally bottomless for a day and a half. First, to wearing pants without underwear, then to underwear a size bigger than usual.

UTILIZE A FLOOR POTTY

A floor potty is much less intimidating to children as they are smaller and more easily accessible than a regular toilet. They also don’t come with all of the uncomfortable sensory experiences of the toilet, like a splash or a flush.

A small potty moved around to wherever your child is comfortable means they don’t necessarily have to stop what they are doing to use the potty. This is a big deal when starting out and children are resistant to leaving the comfort zone of their diaper and expected to stop everything and go to the bathroom.  

GET YOUR CHILDREN INVOLVED

We want potty training to feel like something we are doing with our children and not something that we are doing to them. Try to involve them in the process as much as you can to give them a little control over something that often feels totally out of their control.

You can do this by having them pick out their own potty and new underwear that they like. Providing them with reasonable choices (i.e. if they want to try to use the potty upstairs or downstairs, before of after they have a snack, etc.) can help as well. 

STAY CONSISTENT AND CONFIDENT

This one is for you, Moms! I know it sounds simple and repetitive but being confident and consistent can make the potty training experience so much less overwhelming. Every parent goes through this- so know you’re not alone!

And every child gets it- so know that you will reach the goal! Potty training is a process, not a magic snap of the fingers, so treat it with patience and always keep up the positive energy!

There you have it my friends! Top 5 Potty Training Tips from the expert herself. If you have other tips you’d like to add Contact Me at 724-672-3123. I’d love to hear what worked for you.