Real World Potty Training Tips

The experts have wonderful things to say about potty training, and you’re certain those strategies would work if you had enough time and energy to actually commit to following through. But sometimes the potty training world of the experts isn’t the same one we’re living in. If you find you’re having trouble fitting potty training into the real world, try a few of these real world potty training tips to hopefully find a bit more success.

Take Your Child to the Potty, Don’t Ask

Too often parents ask their children if they need to use the potty. While this is admirable, it’s often a waste of time. Most preschoolers don’t know if they really need to go and sure aren’t going to stop a favorite activity to try. Instead, take your child to the potty. She doesn’t have to go, but she does have to at least sit and presumably try. Eventually she’ll go on her own, but don’t expect that until she’s going regularly with your influence.

Schedule Potty Time

If you’re like most busy parents, it’s easy to forget about keeping track of potty time. So schedule it. Take your preschooler to the potty every hour on the hour and following meals and sleep. She may go, or she may not. But at least you know you got her there enough to hopefully make a difference.

Let Her Be Free to Potty (Literally!)

Go ahead, show some skin. Naked preschoolers may find it easier to tell when the urge strikes them. They may also balk at making a poop without the comfort of a diaper which is the perfect time to try out that potty. Make your celebration enthusiastic enough to override any qualms or panic your preschooler may have had over a potential accident or even a partial accident that was diverted by a fast trip to the potty.

Shout Out Potty Training Efforts!

Train your preschooler to give you a head’s up. When she feels a poop coming, let her shout it out. Encourage her to yell “Poo-poo!” or whatever politically sensitive term you use to not only let you know what is coming, but to help her learn about her own body’s cues. It also makes it hard to make that poo-poo in the diaper when everyone knows about it.

Use Multiple Potties for Potty Training

If your preschooler just can’t seem to get to the potty on time, go ahead and get more potties. Find some secondhand or borrow them from friends with already potty trained preschoolers. Wash the potties thoroughly and set them up around the house. Multiple potties make your rush to use said potty much shorter than trying to get back to the single one that is always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Keep on Potty Training

A final word of real world advice – if your potty training takes a day, month or year, stay focused on the goal. Your child is learning one of the most important skills of her young life, and you’re the one helping her do it. There is no such thing as perfect potty training, so just keep trying and the both of you will get there one of these days.

---

Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.