My youngest kiddo is 2 and although we aren’t 100% ready to go all in yet it is time we start preparing to potty train. As we do so I thought I would share with you all my top 5 tips and tricks (mom hacks if you will) for potty training. But before we begin I think it is important to first say, “RELAX.” I promise you that your child will not go to college in diapers and sometimes if you try these steps and they aren’t ready they may need to gain a little more maturity. If you find yourself slamming up against a brick wall, take a brick give it a month or two and try again. You can do this and so can they! If you find you are ready to potty training here are my 5 mom hacks I have found to be very helpful.
- THE SEAT MATTERS – get your child a potty seat where they feel comfortable and that makes them feel like a big kid all while making it easier on yourself as a parent by investing in a seat that makes it super simple to clean. I highly recommend Mayfair by Bemis Little2Big™ built-in potty seat. This seat comes in a round or elongated seat version and is replacing your existing seat for your toilet. This seat has a lift up/down toddler potty seat and then a regular seat on the bottom. You will LOVE that it no longer requires any dumping out and cleaning out small potty seats on your part and your little one will love that it makes them feel like a big person and they are using the big potty comfortably! You will also love that it eliminates the clutter of storing an extra potty seat somewhere in your home. All Bemis toilet seats are made in the USA with eco-friendly materials and processes. The Whisper Close® hinge even prevents pinched fingers by closing slowly to the bowl.
- FORGET THE PULLUPS- Seriously, pull-ups are NOT helpful when potty training (except for maybe during rests and for night time sleep). Go straight for the underwear. Take your child with you to pick them out and allow them to get their favorite character or pattern. Something that will excite them and they won’t want to “get dirty.” Unlike pullups which feel the same way as diapers do when they are wet or dirty, underwear are uncomfortable when wet or dirty and kids won’t like the feel of being wet. Trust me on this one!
- STAY HOME – if you are like me this is the part you dread the most but it really does make it SO much easier on both yourself and your child if you plan 3-4 days to stay home where you can easily clean up accidents and watch your child like a hawk. This way you also have easy access to your amazing Little2Big potty seat and access to plenty of fluid which brings me to my next tip.
- DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS- this isn’t the time to limit the sweets. Let them drink as much and whatever they would like. Pull out the juice, the popsicles, and whatever you can to get them drinking and then watch them as a hawk encouraging them to try to go potty when you see them starting that “potty dance.”
- MAKE IT FUN – This part is in my opinion the most important part. Find out what motivates your child and reward them. Maybe they love stickers? Maybe a skittle or M&M makes them want to go potty again? Perhaps it is a special new toy or special playtime with mom or dad. Whatever it is find what motivates your child and use it as a tool. And no matter what when they do PRAISE your child when they do go. Get big siblings to praise your child. Call Dad. Call Grandma. Praise is proven to motivate your child and will encourage them to want to try again.
I hope you find these tips to be helpful and make potty training an ease! Make the force be with you, friends! And when it gets hard think just another reminder that they WILL NOT go to college in diapers and just think of all the money you will save on diapers once they do potty train. 🙂
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