Disclaimer: “I’m not a professional. This is my own experience.”
Our potty training experience is practically over. This means my baby isn’t such a baby anymore.
1. Don’t Start Too Early: I was never told as a first time mom ” let him do it on his own”. I was told “Boys are lazy, they’ll take longer”. I’ve heard oh my daughter or son has been in underwear since 18 months, 1 year or 2 years. The best of all don’t use Pull Ups.” A is going on four years old and he isn’t like any other child. Said no mom ever. It didn’t matter if I took off the Pull Ups and used underwear. He would stay wet in it, for what seemed like hours. He didn’t go pee for the first time until the age of three years old.
2. Be Patient: Don’t Start I’m really sure what really did it was, was going to pre-k. Even though he is on an IEP plan a lot of the students in his class are socially challenged. I’m unsure if they are potty trained. Even though one of the rules of his school is you have to be potty trained. He got a pass on that since he is on a plan. At the start of last Summer when we would be out he would go on the toilet but no luck at home. Even though we have two potty seats. Then the fall came, Christmas and the beginning February came. He sparingly started going to the point the school noticed. Which, they are offering to help him go regularly. Now it’s April and he’s going regularly aside from the night-time.
3. Give them options: Like I said earlier. He has two potty seats. An actual potty and the over the seat potty. Which ever makes them more comfortable. In the beginning he liked the idea of his Mickey Mouse Potty. Later on he just didn’t like the concept. That’s when the over the seat potty seat has worked out even better. Now he uses it every time.
4. Buy cool underwear: We got similar ones like these ones here. He gets so excited now to wear them. He still wears a Pull Up at night. Since he is still in the dinosaur phase at this moment he wakes up every morning just to put them on.
5. Use the M&M trick: A loves M&M’s. So in the beginning, every time he used the potty I would give him one M&M. If he went poop he would get 2. Now that he goes consistently, I give him three if he goes three times in a row.
Do you have any potty training tips? I’d love to hear them?
Robin Rue
Both of my boys were trained in a weekend, so I never really had to worry much. I heard that M&M trick really works, though. A few of my mom friends used that one.
Jalisa
Robin RueWhen my son was in early intervention we were told to try it. I had no idea where to start. It really worked. I have a lazy boy so it really worked for us.
Kristina
I needed to read this. My three year old shows some interest but I know he isn’t ready yet. My other two didn’t until they were 3 1/2 – close to four. He does love wearing his Minion underwear!
Jalisa
KristinaMy son didn’t show interest for a while. It takes time for some. He loved Minions too.
thecoffeemom0617
Thankfully my daughter was potty trained easily. I have heard boys are more difficult though, so I am nervous for when my son gets older
Jalisa
thecoffeemom0617Haha yes.
reesann723
potty training is a time I never want to repeat! LOL!
These are such great tips though no matter the age of your kid!
Karen
haha – the “buy cool underwear” is amazing! Your tips are fantastic and on point for how to potty train a young child!
Jalisa
KarenYes. He loves his dinosaur underwear haha.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh
I haven’t had to potty train in years! My youngest is 11. She was easy. We bought special panties, and stickers, and she was thrilled to put stickers in a book. My oldest, and was horrible. I let her go at her own pace, she was almost 4.
Cynthia @craftoflaughter
Every child has their own pace but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be encouraged! Trying to hit the floating cheerio’s was a big motivator in our house
Terri Steffes
Pretty underwear and M and Ms did the trick for my now 30 year old daughter. I am sure she’d love me telling you all of that!!
Jeanine
My 3 year old is being pretty slow at the whole process. He hasn’t really shown a lot of interest but we are going at his pace and going off his ways… He loves undies and its a great motivation for him!
babiestobookworms
We’re slowly starting to work on potty training with my daughter, but I definitely don’t want to push it too quickly!
Tereza (@cityscapebliss)
Haha these are brilliant tips! And look how absolutely adorable is your little one! Such a little sunshine 🙂 x
Prime Beauty Blog (@PrimeBeauty50)
Great tips. Treats definitely do help with potty training. It’s amazing what little ones will do for a cookie or M&M.
Jalisa
Prime Beauty Blog (@PrimeBeauty50)Oh yes definitely. My son always looks forward to it.
Ana De-Jesus
I think the M&M trick is an excellent idea although since Easter is just round the corner Easter eggs would be even better! Cool underwear is another good shout too x
roxyturtle
Oh goodness I have had enough trouble housebreaking dogs, I can’t even imagine potty training! These are such great tips though so when my turn does eventually come with my own kids, I feel like I’ll be ready thanks to you!
Jalisa
roxyturtleHaha no problem.
Kim
I’m neck deep in this too! We’ve seen some success but it really is hit or miss. Saving on diapers is great though.
Vicky
Something else to remember is that every kid is different. My 16 month old saw her almost 3 year old sisters potty training and wanted to do it too. She was the first one fully trained because of her competitiveness. 🙂
Chel Guild
My son is 2.5 and we’re definitely approaching that stage. The problem is that he is big for his age, so even size 7 diapers are becoming too tight (!). I don’t want to rush him, but I do hope he potty trains before 3.5.
Kristin
These are such great tips! Picking out their own panties and underwear really helped with my kids!
thefashionableaccountant
I did something similar to the m&m trick! I did marbles in a jar and when the jar was filled he got a trip to disney!
asseenonjean
Some great tips! I don’t currently have any children, but as an early years teacher I know how challenging this stage can be. At the end of the day, all children are different and you just have to see what works best for your child!
Jalisa
asseenonjeanDefinitely. I’ve heard how some things help but others don’t.
Kate A
We definitely waited with my oldest until he seemed ready… the potty was in the bathroom from about 12 months old, but he was not fully day trained until just about 3, and night trained at about 4. I think rushing it, their bodies may just not be ready yet. I think we’ll take a similar approach with the youngest.
Jalisa
Kate ADefinitely. When he fully knew he was ready he just started to go on his own. He isn’t fully Night trained but has not had any accidents during the day.
Orana
All my kids potty training eras were terrible. I think I was too impatient though. Im so glad we are past that stage!
Jalisa
OranaI was kind of impatient for the fact of what other moms told me. The next time around I definitely will take my own advice.
toughcookiemommy
Potty training was definitely a challenge with our older son. I think we had an easier time by the time our second child came along because we were more experienced.
Mommy Engineering
Buying cool underwear totally helped my kid get potty trained ! Highly recommend!
lydia
As a nanny, potty training was always tough with the kids. These tips would’ve come in handy!
Meredith from Mommy in Leggings
These are such great tips, I’ll have to keep these in mind! Can’t believe potty training will be coming up relatively soon for us!!
Jalisa
Meredith from Mommy in LeggingsI know. I can’t believe she’s one already. I heard girls start potty training quicker than boys.
katrinagehman
both my kids were so different when it came to potty training. one had it down in a couple days, the other took a lot longer. i just let them do their thing in their own time.
Jalisa
katrinagehmanMy son definitely didn’t have it down in a couple days lol.
projectlifewellness
These are all really great tips that I can use for when I’m ready to potty train my little guy<3
Stephanie Lowry
All 5 of mine are finally potty trained and I can def. Say my boys were harder! Great tips.
Jalisa
Stephanie LowryHaha. I tried so hard to start early and definitely did not work out haha.
Amanda Appiagyei
Thanks for writing this. I really struggled with my now almost four year old. He still has accidents, especially when he is having fun playing!
Jalisa
Amanda AppiagyeiMy almost four year old still has accidents and I haven’t had him sleep with only underwear at night yet so I totally understand.