Inside: Potty train your toddler with ease! Learn these 6 proven steps, tips, routines, and tricks to make potty training stress-free and successful.
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Potty Training Your Toddler
Thinking about how to potty train your toddler? Whether it’s your first time or not, remember—every child is different. What worked for others may not work for yours, and that’s okay! Setting realistic expectations is key. Potty training takes time, and it won’t happen overnight, despite what some methods claim. There’s no rush—just take it one day at a time.
Before jumping into the steps, let’s cover some important questions: What does being potty trained really mean? When should you start? What if your child stays with caregivers during the day? And what supplies do you actually need?
What Does it Mean to be “Potty Trained?”
Potty training my youngest, Tristan, just before his second birthday was a journey of patience and consistency. When I say we were able to potty train our toddler at 22 months, I don’t mean he never had accidents or is done having accidents now. Potty training takes time—usually weeks or even months.
What I consider to be “potty trained,” is a child who is diaper-free (except for naps and bedtime) and able to pull their pants up and down. Accidents will still happen over time—it’s natural and a part of learning! With the right approach, you can successfully potty train your toddler too.
Regression is a normal part of potty training and happens to almost every child. Your toddler might be diaper-free for days, then suddenly start having accidents again. This can be frustrating, but don’t get discouraged! Staying consistent is key. If you go back to diapers or pull-ups after accidents, it can slow progress and cause more setbacks. Instead, gently remind your child and encourage them to use the potty. With patience and persistence, they will get back on track!
Regressions are a normal part of potty training, but some habits might be making them worse without you realizing it. The good news? There are simple ways to prevent and stop regressions once they start. In this article, we’ll go over what causes setbacks and how to get your toddler back on track quickly. Stay consistent, stay patient, and let’s dive into the solutions in just a bit!
When Should You Potty Train?
Potty training is all about timing, but not just for your child—it’s about when you are ready. My son potty trained at 22 months, but before we started, I researched everything just as you are now. You’ll hear advice about “waiting for signs” or specific age ranges, but the truth is, success comes when you’re mentally prepared.
For us, expecting our third baby was our motivation to potty train. We didn’t want to have to buy diapers for two in today’s economy on a single income. Your child looks to you for guidance, especially during potty training.
If you’re not mentally ready for the commitment, accidents and setbacks can feel overwhelming. Stress can pass from you to your child, making the process even harder. The key is to stay patient and consistent. If you quit and restart later, you’ll likely be starting from scratch. Even small progress is still progress, so keep going. Trust the process, stay positive, and celebrate the little wins along the way!
What if Your Child is with Caregivers During the Day?
Potty training works best when you’re home with your child, but it’s still possible if they’re in daycare or with a caregiver. Daycares are used to potty training—just provide extra clothes and communicate your process. If a friend or family member is watching your child, you have even more control. Take time to explain your plan and get them on board. Buy them a coffee or something sweet to butter them up a bit! Even if potty training is split between different caregivers, success is possible with communication, patience and consistency.
Clear communication is key! My oldest son, Isaiah, was split during the week under the care of both relatives and daycare. We were still able to be successful within a few months of introducing the concept, it just took a bit more patience.
Potty Training Supplies
Before you get started, you should go ahead and get your potty-training supplies, so you are fully prepared. Here is a brief list of supplies you will need (linked with the items we personally chose):
- Training potty: Go for a realistic looking training potty. Themed potties are cute, but they often confuse the child into thinking it’s more of a toy.
- Rewards chart: Amazon has really good options for potty training rewards charts that come with stickers. Find a chart that has a theme with something your child is actively interested in. We chose this monster truck theme because we liked the chart, but instead of using the stickers that came with it we bought these motorcycle stickers to further get his interest!
- Rewards Treats: When potty training your toddler, rewards treats can be a great motivator. For us, while we do have the sticker chart to track progress, we also found that adding a small treat worked even better. Here’s what we used:
- Peepee in the Potty: 3 pieces of Annie’s Organic Bunny Grahams (no dyes, all-natural ingredients).
- Poopy in the Potty: 1 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kiss with Almonds.
This system helped keep things fun and manageable, without relying on sugary or artificial rewards!
- Potty training books to read with toddler: Reading potty training books with your toddler can make the process more fun and engaging. Books with colorful images, sounds, and simple stories help your little one understand what’s happening. Here are a few of my favorite potty-training books that are great for toddlers:
- Stock up on your favorite household cleaners for upholstery, carpet and all purpose. Check out my article Effortless Homemaking for my favorite natural cleaning products and recipes to make your own cleaning products with natural ingredients!
- Wet Dry Bags: These bags are great if you are out on the go and your little one has an accident, you can put their wet clothes in and put it in your diaper bag and not have to worry about them getting anything else tainted.
6 Steps to Going Diaper Free
Step 1: Introducing the Concept
Once you have your supplies and have a plan in place for rewards, you are ready to introduce the concept to your little one. The best way to do this is to clear your schedule for those 3 days, no errands, no work, no outings, you are just hunkered down at home.
Day One of Potty Training
Start the day after breakfast. Begin by showing your toddler some exciting new books, especially ones with sounds! Let them press the buttons while you sneak away to grab the potty. You can even wrap it like a present to make it more special.
Place the potty in a central location where you’ll spend most of your time. Dress your child in nothing but their birthday suit for the next few days, and have them sit on the potty while you read the books. Celebrate this new potty milestone with excitement, even if it feels cheesy! Encourage them to try peeing, but don’t worry if it doesn’t happen immediately.
Accidents will happen, so be prepared. Keep cleaning supplies close by and encourage lots of fluids to help them pee. Stay alert, and when they start to pee, move them to the potty to reinforce that “pee-pee goes in the potty.” Expect to repeat these many times in the coming days.
Remember, potty training is a long process. If you feel frustrated, take a break to recharge. Your toddler will mirror your feelings, so stay calm and patient. Avoid shaming them for accidents—this will only cause anxiety. Keep a positive attitude and remember, this is all new to them!
Day Two & Three of Potty Training
Start the morning by undressing your toddler and removing the diaper. Take them straight to the potty and encourage them to try. It’s okay if they don’t go right away!
Next, bring out the potty books and let them enjoy pressing the buttons while you read. Keep the potty training process fresh in their minds.
For the next two days, focus on hydrating them and watching for cues. Set a timer every 10 minutes to ask if they need to go potty. After a few tries, increase the timer to 20 minutes. Aim for at least one successful potty session to introduce rewards.
If they don’t succeed within these 3 days, don’t worry. Keep reading potty books, singing potty songs, and encouraging them to try. If you’re out, use pull-ups but stay consistent with your potty training at home, keep them naked, and set the timers. It will click!
Step 2: Introduce the Rewards System
After three days of potty training, your toddler understands the concept of going to the potty. The next step is teaching them to control the urge and make it to the potty in time.
To motivate them, use a rewards system with the supplies we mentioned above. Celebrate their success with claps, hugs, and excitement. Let them place a sticker on their chart and enjoy their special treat! We kept the chart and treats nearby, making it easier to create a routine.
To add learning, have them count their stickers. This method helped our 2-year-old learn to count while having fun!
Step 3: Brave Everyday Life
Now that you’ve introduced potty training and rewards, it’s time to keep moving forward. Start each morning by immediately removing the diaper and sitting your child on the potty. Keep potty training books nearby to reinforce the concept.
For the next few months, aim to keep them bare-bottomed while at home. This avoids confusion, as underwear can feel like a diaper and they will end up with more accidents. The key is easy access to the potty.
When running errands, skip the diaper and pull-up. Instead, bring their potty with you and make pit stops at each location. Stay prepared with extra clothes, wipes, and rewards. Accidents will happen, but they’re part of the learning process. Stay calm and let your toddler learn from each one!
Step 4: Potty Chart Completion
Congrats on finishing your potty chart! Now it’s time to reward your toddler with something special. We love going for an ice cream date at our favorite shop, and we take the potty chart along to show everyone how proud we are.
It’s time to start a new chart, and now you can point out the big, exciting reward once they reach the end again. This is also a great time to upgrade to a big kid potty! Let them know they’re growing up, and if you haven’t yet, consider switching to a full-size potty or ladder for the next stage. They’ll feel so proud of their progress!
We ultimately ended up with this potty seat and just bought a step stool that could easily be moved out of the way or folded up if necessary.
This is the potty seat they have an option for round or elongated to fit any toilet.
This is the simple stool we purchased so he could climb up easily, it comes in multiple color options for you. We 100% recommend this setup, it is so easy to use, and it still resembles a true “big boy/girl potty.”
Step 5: Learning to Pull Pants Up and Down
At this stage, your toddler is almost fully potty trained. However, if they still need help pulling their pants up and down, they’re not quite there yet. This step is all about independence. Encourage them to pull down their pants before sitting on the potty, and practice pulling them back up afterward. For boys, you’ll need to supervise and guide them.
It’s best not to use underwear yet, as it can confuse them. Keep their training process simple and consistent as they gain confidence!
Step 6: Rewards, Regression & Underwear
Rewards
When your toddler can finish a potty chart and independently pull up and down their pants, you’re in the home stretch! It’s time to wean off the rewards. Let them know this is the final potty chart and offer an extra special reward when they complete it. We celebrated with an ice cream date with family!
Regression
Remember, regressions are normal! If it happens, go back to the basics—keep them bottomless at home and offer rewards again. Stay strong—don’t return to diapers or pull-ups, as it can set back their progress. Doing this will encourage the regression to go deeper and it will confuse the child even more.
Underwear
Once they’re consistently using the potty, you can introduce underwear. If a regression occurs, continue with underwear and offer rewards for successful potty trips. They’ll soon dislike the feeling of wet underwear, making them more motivated to stay dry!
Closing Tips
When you’re in the car, always check if your toddler needs to pee. If they say yes, pull over as soon as you can to show you’re ready to help.
If they need to pee and you’re not stopped yet, tell them, “Hold on, we’ll stop in a moment.” Use “wait” instead of “hold it” so they understand.
At night, if your toddler wakes up needing to pee, reassure them that it’s okay. They may want to use the potty, so help them get up and make it part of their routine.
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