Hey friends! I received so many questions about how I was able to get Zoie potty trained so quickly. And by potty trained I mean, in undies all day, no diapers or pull ups during the day, except at night/naptime – so I’m here to drop some of my best tips and strategies to get your little one potty trained.

Here are easy tips I used to get Zoie potty trained in less than a week!

1. Before you attempt to potty train your little, start the conversation with them so it’s no foreign concept. If they are already following you into the bathroom, explain you’re going potty, wiping, flushing, pulling pants up, washing hands etc. Allowing them to see you do the routine will set a good example of how it’s done. It helps them get familiar with the process. Show them how you wipe front to back, bend your knees etc. Trust me, it will make a huge difference when they start on their own.

2. You, your partner, childcare, relatives etc. all need to be on the same page as well. Making sure that your team, your village, is all in support of potty training will help ensure success.

3. Let them choose their potty training tools. Take them with you to the store or let them sit on your lap while you order your supplies online. Allowing them to choose their own potty and underwear gives them some independence and choice in this transition phase for them. We let Zoie pick out her Minnie Mouse potty with the fancy flushing lever, but McKenzie was trained on a child seat cover. It’s all your preference and what your child feels most comfortable with.

4. Make them aware of incentives. If you’re making or using a potty chart with stickers, order and grab all that jazz, then create and decorate with your little. Place it somewhere where they can easily see for visual reminders. I’ve also found that escalated rewards help. (For example: 1 pee = 1 starburst, 1 poop = 2 starburst, 1 whole day accident free = ice cream for dessert)

5. Plan to start at the beginning of the week and establish a routine right away. Routine helps encourage a higher success rate, your child naturally has a rhythm, and you may even know it by now. Tune into it. Framing them to go to the bathroom about 30 mins. prior to when they typically go number 2 and then every hour to go number 1 in between. During the initial start, you should wake up each morning and change them into their undies right away. Keep them in their undies for the duration of the day.

6. One of the biggest tools/tips I ever received was keeping a potty in the back of my truck. You can buy an extra portable one or they also make fold up potty seats for those of you who may not have a large vehicle. Keep it in the back of your car so you’re not limited to being home during the phase or rushing to find a public restroom.

Disclaimer:

EXPECT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT! They will not just become perfect little humans and never pee their pants. It’s bound to happen, you’ll both be OK, especially if you’ve prepared. Keep carpet cleaner handy, towels, change of clothes etc. However, with consistency and encouragement, they should be reducing the number of accidents by the hour/day. I highly recommend having them sit for a few moments after they’ve had an accident to ensure they’ve fully relieved themselves. Again, we want to set them up for success. Have I repeated this enough yet?

Overall, the biggest take away from this process is preparation, patience, and positive affirmations; with those in tact you’ll see progress. You may not get your child potty trained in exactly a week like Zoie did, but remain consistent and it’ll get done. Just like us, our kids have bad days and are nowhere near perfect, but we can encourage and reinforce good behaviors.

Happy Potty Training Mama’s 

xo

** not mentioned above but a tool/supply certainly worth noting is treat of your choice. It most certainly comes in handy. We deserve rewards too!!

Got some potty training tips not mentioned above? Drop them below. Be sure to share your success stories!

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Tags : mama, mom, mom advice, mom tips, motherhood, potty training, toddler